Aladdin Family Activity

*For more movie-themed activities check out my website: http://funfilledflicks.com/. 

I love movie nights with my kids.  You just can't go wrong with Disney classics.  I wanted this movie night to be special, so I planned some Aladdin themed activities to do before we watched the movie.  There were 5 different stations.

First, they made Aladdin's apple juice.  (You know how in the movie he's always showing off with apples?)

They wanted to practice stirring before we put the juice in the pitcher.  Stirring is their favorite part.

We made 2 cans of apple juice so each of my girls had a chance to pour in a can.

There it goes!

Mmm!  Aladdin's apple juice.

Second, we made Abu's Monkey Bread.  We used this Monkey Bread Recipe that I found on Pinterest (I'll put the recipe at the bottom of this post.)

Buttering the Bundt pan.

Princess was such a good helper.

Watching the dough form.  Goofy wasn't too sure about the noisy mixer.  After the dough formed we stuck it in a bowl and let it rise.

While the dough was rising we turned on the Aladdin soundtrack and the kids had Genie's parade around the kitchen.

Princess marched around singing along to A Whole New World.

Goofy playing with the instruments.

Cute little Bud.  He had fun watching his sisters marching around.

March, march, march!

So fun!

Once the dough had finished rising, Princess helped me roll it in butter, then the cinnamon-sugar mixture, and then put it in the pan.

Covering the whole dough ball in butter.

We had to let the dough rise for another hour.

While the dough was rising a second time we took the kids on Jasmine's magic carpet ride.

The kids absolutely loved this!  I pulled them around the house on a blanket.

Whee!

You can tell they are having fun.

Even Bud went for a nice, slow ride.

The dough finally rose, so into the oven it went.

While it was baking the kids fought Jafar.

Here's a little better picture of our snake.  It was just a pool noodle and a balloon.  I tied the balloon to a string, put the string through the pool noodle, and tied the end of the sting to a baby ring to keep it in place.

I gave them each a fake sword and let them chase the snake around the room.

Get him Goofy!

Princess didn't want to stop chasing Jafar--not even for the movie.

Bud liked batting at him too.

Time to watch the movie.

The monkey bread finished baking.

Yes, it was as good as it looks.

Eating Abu's bread while we watched the movie.

We had a blast!  I hope you are inspired to have some fun with your family.

The Best Monkey Bread
(From Mel's Kitchen Cafe)
Dough:
4 T butter divided, 2 T softened and 2 T melted
1 c milk, warm (about 110 degrees)
1/3 c water, warm (about 110 degrees)
1/4 c granulated sugar
2 1/4 t instant yeast
3 1/4 c all purpose-flour, plus extra for workspace
2 t salt

Brown Sugar Coating:
1 c packed brown sugar
2 t ground cinnamon
8 T butter (1 stick), melted

Glaze:
1 c confectioners' sugar
2 T milk

Directions:
Butter a Bundt pan with 2 T softened butter.  Use a pastry brush or paper towel to get in all of the nooks and crannies.  Set aside.

In a large measuring cup, mix together the milk, water, melted butter, sugar, and yeast.  Mix the flour and salt together in a standing mixer fitted with dough hook. (Instructions for mixing by hand here.)  Turn the machine to low and slowly add the milk mixture.  After the dough comes together, increase the speed to medium and mix until the dough is shiny and smooth--6 to 7 minutes.  If you think the dough is too wet (i.e. having a hard time forming a cohesive mass), add 2 T flour at a time and mix until dough comes together (it should still be on the sticky side, but not overly wet).

Coat a bowl with non-stick cooking spray.  Place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat lightly with the spray.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled, 1-2 hours (alternately, you can preheat the oven to 200 degrees, turning it off once it reaches 200 degrees and place the covered bowl in the oven to speed up the rising time).

For the sugar coating, while the dough is rising, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl.  Place the melted butter in a bowl or a shallow pie plate and set aside.

To form the bread, gently remove the dough from the bowl and press into a rough 8-inch square.  Using a bench scraper or knife, to cut the dough into 64 pieces.

Roll each dough piece into a ball (it doesn't have to be perfect, just get it into a rough ball shape).  Working one at a time, dip the balls into the butter, allowing excess butter to drip back into the bowl or pie plate.  Roll the dipped dough ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, then layer the balls in the Bundt pan, staggering the seams where the dough balls meet as you build layers.

Cover the Bundt pan tightly with plastic wrap and let the monkey bread rise until puffy and they have risen 1-2 inches from the top of the pan, 1-2 hours (again, you can use the warm oven approach to speed this up).

Heat the oven to 350 degrees (remove the pan from the oven if you placed it there to rise).  Unwrap the pan and bake until the top is deep brown and caramel begins to bubble around edges, 30 to 35 minutes.  Cool the monkey bread for 5 minutes (any longer and the bread will be too sticky and hard to remove!), then turn out on a platter or large plate and allow to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

For the glaze, while the bread cools, whisk the confectioners' sugar and milk together in a small bowl until the mixture is smooth.  Using a whisk, drizzle the glaze over the warm monkey bread, letting it run over the top and sides of the bread.  Serve warm.

Here are some other activities:

Where's Waldo Tunnel

Lord of the Rings Date Night