Who needs an "Easy Bake Oven" when you can assit your child in an activity that makes cookies; is a science experiment; and saves real energy!

Project is to be done outdoors, with parent supervision.

Cardboard Box Oven

Preparing the box:
First, you will need an empty box that is large enough to hold a cookie sheet inside plus at least 1" spacing between the cookie sheet and box.
Cut off the flaps off of the box so that you have an opening without obstructions.
Next you will need some high quality durable foil. Wrap the entire inside of the box with two layers of foil so that no box is exposed.

Preparing the heat source:
First lay a sheet of foil on level (non-burnable) ground. (i.e. dirt or rocks)
Lay charcoal and a fire starter on the foil.
Place (4) empty equal height tin cans around the charcoal. (These are to hold the cookie sheet.)
Light the Charcoal and let it heat up for about 20 minutes.
Next spread out the charcoal so that they are dispursed evenly under the cookie sheet.
(Cookie Sheet will go on top of the (4) tin cans above the charcoals after cookies are on cookie sheet.)

Baking the cookies:
Place cookie dough on cookie sheet.
Place the cookie sheet on top of the four tin cans above the hot charcoals.
Place the foil lined box over the cookies and charcoal. Use a small rock to vent the bottom of the box. Vent box away from the wind.
Let the cookies bake for as long as cookie recipie instructs.

Note: Be sure and lift box straight up or you will "dump"the heat. No peeking allowed!! Anything you can cook in an oven at home can be done in a box though I prefer things that can be done in 30 min or so. Good Eating!"
For all box ovens:
Control the baking temperature of the oven by the number of charcoal briquets used. Each briquette supplies 40 degrees of heat (a 360 degree temperature will take 9 briquets).

This is a fun way to bake some cookies!!! Plus, you will not be using the energy that your stove requires. For those of you who enjoy camping; you may enjoy this during your outdoor adventures as well!

This sounds like fun. I can't wait to have kids so we can do fun things like this!