For anyone who ever baked a package of dry brownies over a 100-watt light bulb, it's a sad realization, indeed.
Next year, a federal ban on the manufacture of energy-gobbling incandescent light bulbs means an end to the Easy-Bake Oven as we've known it for almost 50 years. Hasbro, the oven's manufacturer, has released an official statement concerning the oven's future:
In Fall 2011, Hasbro will launch the Easy Bake Ultimate Oven, introducing a new way to bake for the next generation of chefs. This new oven features a heating element that does not use a light bulb and offers an extensive assortment of mixes reflective of the hottest baking trends for today.
It's just not the same.
In memorial, a few of the Easy-Bake's finest moments.
The 1960s - Piggybacking on Spirograph In the beginning selling a box with a light bulb in it just didn't have enough appeal, so Kenner had to pair the Easy-Bake Oven with the far less incandescent Spirograph. No one knows what happened to the not-included popcorn popper. Everyone who tried to use it died in house fires.
The 1970s - Betty Crocker Easy-Bake Oven Nine years after hitting the market, Easy-Bake joined forces with Betty Crocker to make the best generation of housewives yet.
The 1980 - Betty and Easy-Bake Go Nuclear There wasn't really any difference between the regular Easy-Bake and the Mini-Wave. Mostly because uranium rods tainted the flavor of the cakes.
The 1990s - Easy-Baking Laser Beams In the '90s, the best way to sell anything was to make a commercial that looked just like your fifth grade yearbook picture.
