Popin' Cookin': The Fun and Creative World of DIY Japanese Candy Kits

Step into a world where kids can develop their mind and satisfy their sweet tooth. Popin' cookin' diy candy kits have provided unlimited opportunities for parents and children to have fun in the kitchen.

Introduction to Popin' Cookin': A World of DIY Candy Fun

Popin' Cookin' is a series of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) candy for children. Each unit is a complete kit containing different edible parts made from candy. With the help of their parents, children use the contents to make miniature dishes. When done right, the results look like popular foods such as cakes, hamburgers, sushi, donuts, and ramen, but they are all made out of candy.

Launched in 2005, Popin' Cookin' is the core brand of Kracie Foods, a Japanese confectionary company based in Tokyo. According to several company promotions, the goal of Popin' Cookin' kits is to help kids have fun playing master chef while fostering healthy collaboration between them and their parents. The kits mimic complex pastry meals but are easy to make using mostly powder and water.

Currently, there are eight Popin' Cookin' DIY candy kits. Each has its own unique recipes, ingredients, and individual parts, allowing kids to get as creative as they want. Let’s explore the most popular of these kits and how to use them to make tasty candy snacks.

Tanoshii Cakes: A Sweet Adventure in Candy Making

Tanoshii Cakes is the first Popin' Cookin' kit to hit the market. It mostly consists of delicious strawberry with vanilla, and according to online reviews, it’s a favorite among parents and kids in Asia and the US. You can use this kit to make ice cream, tarts, and cakes.

Contents in Popin' Cookin' Tanoshii Cakes Kit

1. Multi-sectional tray

2. Two rectangular-shaped wafers

3. Pink and blue packets (strawberry and vanilla powder, respectively)

4. Spoon

5. 2 cones

6. Squeezing bag with two sections

7. Bag of sugar sprinkles

8. Tart shell

How to Create Mini-Cake, Tart, and Ice Cream with Popin' Cookin' Tanoshii Cakes

1. Cut the wafers into any shape of your choice.

2. Cut out the triangular cup from the tray

3. Add powder from packets into individual tray sections

4. Fill the triangular cup with water and pour into each section before mixing with the spoon until the content is creamy enough.

5. Fold open the top of the squeezing bag and fill one section with vanilla cream and the other with strawberry cream.

6. Use scissors to cut the bottom tip of the bag and squeeze the contents onto whatever you want to make.

7. To make mini-cake: cut wafer into 3 pieces, squeeze cream on each piece in a stack, and add some sugar sprinkles.

8. To make tart: put pieces of wafer into the tart shell, squeeze some cream on them, and add sprinkles.

9. To make ice cream: squeeze the cream into a cone, then add sprinkles and pieces of wafer.

 

Kawaii Gummy Land: Crafting Colorful Gummy Candies

Kawaii Gummy Land is the latest addition (2019) to the Popin' Cookin' family. The final results after preparation are jelly-like candies or gummies made of grape, ramune soda, and lemon. It’s perhaps the most appealing to kids because it offers a variety of vibrant color and shape options. 

Contents in Popin' Cookin' Kawaii Gummy Land Kit

1. Mold set

2. Multi-sectional tray

3. Land sheet

4. 3 color powder packets (red, blue, and yellow)

5. Gummy powder packet

6. Dropper

7. Fork

 

How to Make Gummies with Popin' Cookin' Kawaii Gummy Land

1. Partially fill the small rectangular sections of the tray with water.

2. Add color powder to sections 1, 2, and 3, and mix with the fork. You may combine primary colors to create other colors.

3. Pour gummy powder into the rectangular tray section labeled with a star and flatten with the fork.

4. Select from the 12 different molds and place it in the gummy powder.

5. Use the dropper to soak and squeeze colored water of your choice into the mold.

6. Leave it for a few minutes and remove the mold. Your gummy will be ready in the shape and color you chose.

 

Tanoshii Bento: Assembling a Miniature Candy Bento Box

This DIY candy set is ideal for beginners. Tanoshii bento is super easy to use and you can make at least six different candy ingredients to pack in your makeshift bento box.

Contents in Popin' Cookin' Tanoshii Bento Kit

1. Multi-sectional tray

2. 7 powder packets

3. Squeezing bag

4. Fork

How to Make Bento Box with Tanoshii Bento

All six of the dishes have similar methods of preparation. They involve matching the colored powder to the appropriate section. You’ll start by pouring water from the triangular cup into a section before adding the color powder. Next, you mix it with a fork and leave it to settle for three minutes. Here’s a summary:

 

1. Broccoli: Match green powder to section 1.

2. Egg roll: Match yellow powder to section 2.

3. Sausage: Match red powder to section 3.

4. Rice ball: Use two cups of water instead. Match blue powder to section 4. You can mold into any shape and use the black packet to add features, like the panda drawn on the package.

5. Fried chicken: Match brown powder to section 4.

6. Spaghetti: Use two cups of water instead. Match orange powder to section 4. Put mixture into the squeezing bag and twist before cutting off a corner and swirling out the spaghetti.

7. Complete Bento Box: Use the fork to roll the egg out and to remove firm candies from the tray. Pack your box!

 

Popin' Cookin' Donuts: A Deliciously Creative Activity

The Popin' Cookin' Tanoshii Donuts contain all you need to create tasty mini-donuts. You can also decorate the results with vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.

Contents in Popin' Cookin' Tanoshii Donuts Kit

1. Multi-sectional tray

2. 6 powder packets 

3. Spoon

4. Squeezing bag

5. Sugar sprinkles

How to Make Pastries with Tanoshii Donuts

1. Pour water into the tray section with an inscribed musical note.

2. Add the yellow powder and mix with the spoon until it thickens.

3. Knead the dough into two equal-sized balls.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3, but this time with brown powder.

5. Press each ball into the flower-shaped mold in the tray and then remove. These are your donuts.

6. Pour the powder from the blue packet into the heart-inscribed tray section, add a cup of water, and mix. This is the vanilla sauce.

7. Pour the powder from the red packet into the star-inscribed tray section, add a cup of water, and mix. This is the strawberry sauce.

8. Pour the powder from the black packet into the musical note-inscribed tray section, add a cup of water, and mix. Put the mixture in the squeeze bag and twist, then cut off a corner. This is the chocolate sauce pen.

9. Decorate the donuts with the three sauces and some sprinkles.

Ramen and Sushi: Japanese Cuisine in Candy Form

We’ve explored the main Popin' Cookin' attractions. However, there are two other kits that deserve a mention: Tanoshii Ramen and Tanoshii SUSHI. Created in 2007, the sushi kit is one of the earlier releases, and it contains simple ingredients like grapes and ramune soda. Use it to make a dish of rice, seaweed, omelette, tuna, salmon roe, and soy sauce.

Tanoshii Ramen was launched in 2017, at the same time as Tanoshii Waffle. It came with an exciting ingredient combo of strawberry, ramune soda, mango, and cola. Use it to make and eat a ramen dish of mango pudding, boiled egg toppings, spring rolls, gyoza dumplings, and noodle soup.

 

Engaging Kids with Popin' Cookin': Educational and Fun

Popin' Cookin' kits don’t just taste good; they also teach kids the patience and discipline required to prepare a meal. Their creativity improves when they have to experiment with different flavors and decorations. Also, many of these kits use Asian themes, allowing children to explore their culinary heritage. While learning all of these, the kids get to act like adults in the kitchen and request help from their parents and siblings.

Conclusion: Popin' Cookin' as a Must-Have in Your Grocery Fun List

Popin' Cookin' kits offer some of the most creative and enjoyable experiences for all ages. We can’t think of many candy brands with the same effect. If you’re looking for healthy ways to engage your children, shop at Bokksu Market and get some educational Popin' Cookin' DIY candies!