Easy-Bake Oven
Yeah, the Kenner Easy-Bake Oven was marked towards girls, and it was unlikely that most boys were going to add it to their Santa wishlist. But once the yummy treats started emerging from oven, ready to be gobbled up, gender took a backseat to appetite, making the Easy-Bake popular with anyone within close proximity.
Kenner released the Easy-Bake Oven in 1963, and it quickly became a must-have toy. The popularity sustained through the 70s, with more modern versions (including the spiffy model available in avocado green!).
A 60-watt light bulb served as the heating source, offering just enough heat to get those baked goods rising, but far less likely to cause a third-degree burn like the adult appliance counterpart. That’s not to say that you wanted to wrap your paws around the glowing light; it could still supply a decent burn.
Using the oven was remarkably easy. Kids were supplied with plenty of tiny baking pans and packages of various mixes. Simply whip up a batch of batter, pour into the pans, and then began an excruciating wait. It really didn’t take that long, but between the baking time and the cooling time necessary, time seemed to come to a crawl.
Anxious though they might be, however, most kids found the time to apply the last step, a generous helping of sugary frosting, before devouring their homemade confections.
By the end of the 70s, the Easy-Bake Oven had achieved iconic status, but new and exciting changes were on the horizon regarding the kid-friendly appliance. Soon, it would take on the appearance of the newly-introduced microwaves and was re-branded the Easy-Bake Mini Wave.
The newer version even sped up the cooking time a little, thanks to an increase in bulb wattage from 40 to 100. Of course, no matter their size, bulbs eventually went out, and should one do so in the middle of baking your batch of cupcakes, you had a culinary disaster on your hands if you didn’t have a replacement bulb close at hand.
The Kenner Easy-Bake Oven is still available. They bear little resemblance to the 70s version, however, which provided countless hours of entertainment to any kid from the era in possession of a sweet tooth.
Were you the proud owner of an Easy-Bake Oven? What were your favorite concoctions? Ever suffer a nasty burn from your experiences. I’d love to hear any and stories about this iconic toy in our comments section below.
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