5 Ways to Make Potty Training Fun + Sweet Incentives

We’re celebrating potty success with help from our sponsor, Pull-Ups Training Pants! Check out these 5 ways to make potty training fun plus a recipe for crazy cake below.

We’ve been on our potty training journey for a few months now and I’m happy to tell you that our youngest is now 100% potty trained. And we couldn’t have done it without the help of Pull-Ups Training Pants. Pull-Ups products are all about providing parents and kids with tips and advice to help make potty training easy and fun, plus they provide plenty of tools specifically designed to keep children engaged throughout the potty training journey. Pull-Ups has potty trained 50 million Big Kids and counting – so I’ll take this one from the experts.

Potty training success starts with attitude. And if you don’t have the right attitude, neither will your kid. This is such an important milestone for toddlers and it’s also an opportunity for parents to work together with their children to reach the end goal: potty training success! It sounds daunting to so many parents, but why not make it fun?

5 Ways to Make Potty Training Fun

1. Purchase your first pack of Pull-Ups – 

Pull-Ups Training Pants help your child recognize potty training as a significant milestone in their development by providing independence, teaching physical and cognitive skills, and offers a consistent representation to your child of their potty training journey.

With different design options, let your child choose a package that they identify with to make the process fun! 

2. Singing the “Time 2 Potty” song – 

Following the fun path, sing the Time 2 Potty song with your kid to get them used to the idea of being a big kid and all that being a big kid entails. 

Time2Potty Song:

We’re gonna do this together, 

we’re gonna stick to the plan. 

Do everything we can to make it easy and fun,

It’s time to potty everyone!

They’re designed like underwear, 

special friends make ’em fun to wear.

So boys and girls sing out loud:

I’m a Big Kid now!

3. Donate unused/leftover diapers – 

Find a local diaper bank that needs diapers or donate your unused diapers to a friend or family member with a baby to help your child get used to the idea of transitioning out of diapers and into Pull-Ups. By removing the diapers from your home, you’re preparing for the potty training journey and removing any crutches.

Once your child has transitioned from Pull-Ups to underwear, you can do the same thing with your unused Pull-Ups. My daughter decided to gift our Pull-Ups to her 1 year old cousin (hence the bow on the package in the photos). She may be too young just yet but my daughter knows that all the Pull-Ups were given to her cousin and we don’t have any more in the house to use. 

4. Print, color, pose and post with a Potty Training Certificate –

Grab a Potty Training Certificate and print it out for your child. Let them color and personalize it, then snap a photo of them with it to commemorate the moment. You can do the same thing when they’ve successfully potty trained to commemorate their progress and their “graduation” into big kid underwear.  

5. Celebrate potty training success with sweet incentives – 

When your child has transitioned into Pull-Ups and starts to have accident free weeks, consider a sweet incentive to encourage them even more. We would use lollipops and other small prize rewards to give to our kids when they successfully went on the potty, when they had an accident free week, and finally, when they transitioned from Pull-Ups to big kid underwear, we celebrated with a Crazy Cake! 

Cakes mean celebrations for us and this Crazy Cake recipe is one that my husband’s family has been making for years. It’s a super easy recipe that the kids can help with AND it’s egg and dairy free. Most of the ingredients are staple pantry items. 

Chocolate Crazy Cake Recipe

Chocolate Crazy Cake

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups cold water
  1. Sift dry ingredients together directly into a 9 x 13-inch ungreased baking pan.

  2. Let your child make three wells in the dry ingredients. Pour the oil into one well, vinegar into the second well, and vanilla into the third well. Pour cold water over everything and stir well with a fork.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  4. Frost with your favorite icing.

What sweet incentives would your child love to celebrate with? 

Loved the tips we shared in this post? Check out these other potty training tips: 

Pin this article for later! 

Click the Pin button on the image below to save for later. 

10 Red Velvet Desserts With A Twist

10 Red Velvet Desserts with a twist - if you're as obsessed about red velvet as I am, you have to give these a try!

Are you as obsessed with everything red velvet as I am? Well you are in for a treat! I am loving red velvet desserts lately and decided to take a look around to find a few I could enjoy with the family. And these desserts? OMG! From cookies to ice cream (no machine needed!) to amazing milkshakes, this list has you covered! I suggest going down from 1 to 10 and trying everything. But that may take you a few weeks to complete. Just don’t blame me for the weight gain. I kid!

10 Red Velvet Desserts With A Twist

  1. Red Velvet Cake Heart Bites
  2. Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe
  3. Sweet Cream Red Velvet Ice Cream (No Machine Needed)
  4. Red Velvet Cake For Two
  5. Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies
  6. Red Velvet Trifle
  7. Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownie Recipe
  8. Red Velvet Cake Milkshakes
  9. Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
  10. Red Velvet Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Desserts with a twist

Are you a big Red Velvet fan?

Cinnamon Zucchini Cake

Cinnamon Zucchini Cake
Getting creative with what we harvest from our garden has never been too tough. There are so many ways to make veggies delicious and fun. This time isn’t any different. I had the kids help me cut up the zucchini and shred it in our food processor. They love getting involved in the kitchen and are even more apt to try things that they make. Even when it’s zucchini. 
 
Since it’s almost the end of the summer and I really didn’t think I’d still be growing zucchini out of my ears, we’re making the best of it and even incorporating veggies in our baking. And these zucchini aren’t the little dinky zucchini you find in the grocery store. They’re huge!! So huge that one would probably make enought for 3-4 times this recipe easily. But we don’t need that many baked goods in our home right now.
This cake is moist, slightly sweet but not too sweet, and amazingly delicious. It’s perfect for an afternoon snack without the icing but adding the icing takes it to dessert level. And it pairs perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Cinnamon Zucchini Cake with Frosting

Cinnamon Zucchini Cake

Cake
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • ½ cup cinnamon applesauce
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups shredded zucchini
Frosting:
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×9″ baking pan* with non-stick cooking spray (we like coconut cooking spray).

Beat eggs, coconut oil, cinnamon applesauce, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl.

In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Mix 1 cup flour mixture into egg mixture until combined. Repeat using one cup at a time until all of the flour mixture is used.

Fold in zucchini and stir until completely mixed in. Pour batter into prepared 9×9″ pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

While the cake cools, mix together frosting ingredients and spread over the top of the cake. If desired, sprinkle the top of the cake with cinnamon and sugar. I love the cinnamon sugar grinder from Trader Joe’s for this!

*If using a 9″x13″ pan, bake for 35-40 minutes. If making into 24 cupcakes, bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.

Peanut Butter Fudge S’mores Mug Cake Recipe

This shop featuring a Peanut Butter Fudge S’mores Mug Cake recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LetsMakeSmores #CollectiveBias #sponsored

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe

With the unofficial start of summer here, there’s no better time to enjoy the tastes that remind us of summer. Barbecue, simple sweets, and having fun making it! For us that means making some tasty s’mores treats. But you don’t need a campfire, or even a stove, to make these delicious s’mores inspired mug cakes. All you need is a microwave.

This variation of our chocolate mug cake is one that came about after my daughter asked if we could roast marshmallows one night in our fire pit and we realized we had no idea where our roasting sticks were. Since moving to our new home last year we had somehow misplaced them. So I figured the microwave was as good as any place to make smores!

Peanut-Butter-Fudge-Smores-Mug-Cake-ingredients-in-packaging

One thing I love to have on hand is a good dessert to go-to in case a need for sweets hits. We don’t like to keep cake or other sweets in the house because we know that they won’t be consumed in moderation. So I enjoy a few recipes that require little prep but still take care of the sweet tooth.

This s’mores mug cake takes less than 10 minutes, from start to finish, to prep and “bake” in the microwave. How’s that for instant gratification?

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe ingredients

And the addition of peanut butter to the classic flavors of a s’more just takes it to another level. But I must warn you. Make sure you have a cup of milk next to you because this is one rich dessert.

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe with toasted marshmallows

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake

  • 3 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 Hershey's chocolate bar
  • 2 Honey Maid Graham Cracker Squares (exclusively at Walmart, crumbled)
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter (melted)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • Kraft's Jet Puffed Marshmallows
  1. Combine 3 tablespoons peanut butter and 1 Hershey’s chocolate bar in a small bowl, then melt in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir until smooth and set aside.
  2. In another bowl, combine melted butter with graham cracker crumbs and stir until moistened. Grab your mug and press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom to create a crust.
  3. In a bowl. whisk egg, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add in flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa, stir until a thick batter forms. Stream in melted peanut butter and chocolate mixture, mixing to combine. This will be very thick.
  4. Add half of the mixture on top of the graham cracker mixture, then add a marshmallow or two. Add remaining batter on top. Cook in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes at 80% power.
  5. Remove and top with 1-2 additional marshmallows and a few pieces of Hershey’s chocolate bar if desired. Microwave for 5-10 seconds to make them melty and slightly puffy, or put them directly under the broiler for about 10 seconds to toast if desired (I always burn stuff I broil so I went with the microwave).
  6. If you used the microwave to melt the marshmallows, you can use an aim n’ flame or kitchen torch to char. Sprinkle with graham crumbs and grab a fork!

Peanut Butter Fudge S'mores Mug Cake Recipe bite

You can find all of the ingredients you need for the perfect s’mores dessert at your local Walmart. Look for the special s’mores display or head to the candy and cracker aisle to find everything.

Smores at Walmart

 

How do you change up a classic s’mores dessert?

Have more time? Try my s’mores brownies! Or my healthy peanut butter s’mores. Both made in the oven!

Smores Brownies recipe

 

Peanut Butter Smores

5 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake featured on Someday I’ll Learn

Gluten-Free-5 Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberries

 Need an amazingly delicious dessert for date night in? Definitely try this 5 ingredient flourless chcolate cake with raspberries. Not only does it come together quickly, with the help of a stand mixer it’s almost no work at all!

Similar to my 2 ingredient chocolate hazelnut cake, this flourless chocolate cake only has 5 main ingredients – including some delicious allergen free Pascha organic dark chocolate – so it’s simple and more than likely you already have all of the ingredients on hand!

Check out the recipe for this dessert on Someday I’ll Learn today!

Gluten Free Flourless Chocolate Cake with Raspberries ingredients

Pinterest Inspiration

2 Ingredient Chocolate Cake with Spiced Honey Roasted Hazelnuts

review affiliate link disclaimer
2 Ingredient Chocolate Cake with Hazelnuts

There were some flavor combos that were just meant to be together. And most of my favorite combos always revolve around chocolate. So weird, right? So when I heard I could make a 2 ingredient chocolate cake I was kind of skeptical. But totally on board!

So I picked up some Nocciolata (you can purchase it here on Amazon) that was sent over to me for review and decided to jump in and try this 2 ingredient chocolate cake. All you need is Nocciolata hazelnut spread with cocoa and milk and eggs!

The outcome was delicious. I waited for this cake to completely cool, topped it with some delicious spiced honey roasted hazelnuts and a drizzle of Golden Blossom Honey. It definitely hit the spot. [Read more…]

White Party Cake with Strawberries Recipe + Baking Tips

Tracking Pixel

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PAM Cooking Spray.

white party cake with strawberries

My baby is turning 3 tomorrow. 3 years old! How did that happen? In celebration of her birthday we baked together and made her a delicious white party cake with pink strawberry frosting. It’s a trial run for the cake I’m making for her party on Sunday and I think it’s a winner!

Every year I bake my kids a cake or cupcakes for their birthday party. We end up having both cake and cupcakes but I try and make one of them. And without fail I’m baking the night before the party and always have to re-do everything because my cakes stuck to the pan. Well not this year. I busted out my secret weapon: Baking PAM Cooking Spray. Not only is it the perfect non-stick spray, it also has flour in it so my baked goods come out perfectly every time.

The kids are slightly disappointed because they don’t get to eat up all of the cake crumbles from the broken cakes that I’ve just about ruined. But I’m happy because a cake that slides right out of the pan means less work and stress for me!

[Read more…]

Holiday Baking with Land o’ Lakes Butter {Gingerbread Cake Recipe}

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This Land o’ Lakes butter shop and gingerbread recipe have been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.

Gingerbread cake - This gingerbread cake is not only full of spices and yum, it's also not overly sweet. It goes great with a nice cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream.The holidays are here and my kitchen is in full gear for all of the holiday baking that’s going to be done over the next two months. Luckily I stocked up on butter and the rest of my needed pantry staples so that I can whip up whatever I need when the time comes.

Since I’ve been hosting quite a few playdates I wanted to test out a great cake recipe that wasn’t too sweet. My husband and I love baking and the number one rule in our home (and a little inside joke with the husband) is that our fridge can never be without butter.

While we were at Walmart picking up a few crafting items for my daughter’s upcoming birthday I jokingly asked my husband if he was sure we had butter in the house. He sighed, rolled his eyes, and ran to go grab a 4-pack.  [Read more…]

Simple Low-Fat Pumpkin Spice Cake with Apple Cider Glaze

Low-Fat Pumpkin Spice Cake with Apple Cider Glaze

Ah… Fall is in the air! Today I walked outside and felt the cool breeze on my face and immediately knew that it was finally time. Finally time for pumpkin! Now sure I’ve already had my #PSL from Starbucks and have been sipping on pumpkin spice coffee from my Keurig, but it’s finally cool enough to actually enjoy the slightest hint that Fall is here.

This simple and easy to make low-fat pumpkin spice cake is moist, delicious, and a crowd pleaser. Topped with a yummy apple cider glaze it’s sweetness hits my craving for dessert without making me feel as if I’ve gone overboard. Paired with a nice cup of coffee it could easily be a breakfast treat or great for a brunch. Or you can save it as the perfect Fall dessert to serve to guests.

Just like any boxed cake recipe, I’m sure that this would taste delicious with other cake flavors as well. I’m thinking Devils Food for the next one! Maybe with mini chocolate chips sprinkled in the mix? [Read more…]

The Perfect Party Pleaser – Marble Bundt Cake

Marble Bundt Cake

There’s nothing better than a moist, delicious cake to celebrate the birthday of a loved one! And this cake is my husband’s favorite. His birthday has already come and gone and this recipe has been sitting here waiting to be shared since April. Yeah, I know.. I’m a bit behind.

But I figured now was a good time to share this delicious recipe and maybe make a few alterations as we head into Fall. I’m thinking a little swirl of pumpkin instead of the chocolate would be a nice addition. And maybe a maple cream cheese icing? Mmmm…

If you’re looking for the perfect marble bundt cake for a party or just want to enjoy some delicious dessert, try this recipe. You won’t be disappointed! But don’t go easy in greasing your pan or else you might have to turn this cake into a trifle. [Read more…]



© A Crafty Spoonful - All Rights Reserved
It is OK to use one of my photos provided a link back and/or proper credit is given. It is NOT ok to copy and paste a whole post including instructions. Please do not remove watermarks or alter images in any way. Please contact me with any questions at danielle@acraftyspoonful.com

.