+ Recipes Kids Can Make Themselves
No matter their age, kids can cook! Get started teaching your kids the kitchen skills theyll need to care for themselves and their families.
Most of us have baked cookies with our kids at one time or another. It can be fun and also frustrating! Kids can be messy, slow, and distracted cooks. Boy do we know it. And its probably because of our own frustration that many of us dont venture beyond the realm of homemade treats and special occasion foods when teaching our kids to cook.
But its time to change that. We do our kids an important service by teaching them to cook ordinary, everyday foods the kinds we rely on to run the household. When kids learn basic, essential cooking skills, they gain confidence in their abilities, and pride in being able to contribute to the familys food in very real ways.
So whatever your kids ages, get ready to take a leap of faith. Because heres what we need to do to raise proficient home cooks:
Vegetarian Omelet With Bell Peppers
The Spruce/Ahlam Raffii
Omelets are a great one-dish meal for Mother’s Day breakfast, and are easy to make vegetarian. Kids can break the eggs and whisk them with water while an adult chops the veggies, and preheats the skillet for cooking up this colorful, tender, good-for-mom vegetable omelet. You can let kids try flipping one side of the omelet over the over too, if you don’t care about perfection!
Recipes That Kids Can Cook In The Kitchen
Before you invite the children in to join you, its a good idea to brush up on basic kitchen safety and knife skills for children, and then get properly equipped. I use a sturdy stool, a childs apron or two, and a few tools that are small and fit their hands nicely.
Then, its important to have a good recipe that has simple steps that children can do themselves supervised, of course and delicious results that will leave them excited to cook and bake again.
Here are some of my favorites.
Breakfast
I loved Karas recent post about Cinnamon rolls on a Saturday morning with her sweet daughter, Jillian. She demonstrated perfectly how baking together was a valuable mother-daughter bonding time and couldnt help but notice Jillian took great pride in her work. Naturally.
Baking with my boys in the morning is one of my favorite times to talk to them. Its often a Saturday, and as we stir together pancakes we talk about the past week at school and the plans for the weekend.
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Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
A delicious easy no-bake fudge recipe thats made in the microwave in less than 5 minutes. Peanut Butter Fudge using condensed milk has just 4 ingredients. An easy no-bake chocolate fudge recipe perfect for kids to create around any holidays.
This blueberry smoothie with cottage cheese is made with Wild Blueberries blended with spinach, banana, milk, and a touch of maple syrup. Its then layered with cottage cheese and your favorite toppings.
A high fiber smoothie that is packed with superfoods. A simple and delicious smoothie that the whole family will love.
Strawberry Smoothie Without Yogurt, a creamy and refreshing morning, afternoon or evening treat. Packed with a serving of fruit, this strawberry smoothie recipe without yogurt is delicious and nutritious.
Peanut Butter Powder Smoothie is made with bananas, yogurt, and peanut butter powder. It’s a simple peanut butter smoothie that cuts calories but not flavor.
The Best Chocolate Cupcakes
Double the chocolate, double the fun! Chocolate lovers will rejoice with each bite into these moist chocolate cupcakes topped with a rich chocolate buttercream frosting. Give your kids a chance to ice the cupcakes. Hey, if they add too much icing, I promise you wont hear any complaints!
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Cranberry Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
This would be perfect for an older child that loves chocolate chips for breakfast!
You dont have to mention that granola bars are healthy, just point out the chocolate chips and cranberries!
This recipe went fast at our house!
Save some tortillas from the tortilla pizza recipe and let your child whip up a hearty dinner.
This is one of my oldest sons favorite recipes!
Quiches are simple and hard to mess up.
Your kids will love that this dish has loads of cheese in it!
Fun Things To Bake When Youre Bored And Craving Something Sweet
Sure, you can binge Singles Inferno on Netflix or try reading that self-help book . But why resign yourself to the couch when the oven is calling your name? Feel productiveand reward yourself with dessertby making one of these 70 fun things to bake instead. Whether youre just bored or need to whip something sweet up on the fly, your taste buds will thank you for the following cookies, cakes, pies and more.
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Roasted Turkey And Basil Cream Cheese Pinwheel Sandwiches
These colorful pinwheels can be made in the morning and kept chilled for an easy lunch or afternoon snack. For little kids: Let them wash and spin-dry the lettuce. For big kids: Let them layer the ingredients and roll up the sandwiches.
Get the Recipe: Kids Can Make: Roasted Turkey and Basil Cream Cheese Pinwheel Sandwiches
Fluffy Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
Theyre vegan, theyre gluten-free and they only dirty one bowl. Oh, and they use less oil, subbing some of it out for almond butter, giving you a boost of protein and fiber in each bite. But all you have to tell your kids is that these chocolate chip cookies come out fluffier than Agness unicorn in Despicable Me.
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Perfectly Safe Frying In The Air Fryer
The air fryer is one of those gadgets that seems like itll just take up space, until you realize the cooker can do so many different things. And while an air fryer can get hot enough to require potholders, it uses very little oil so theres no chance of spilling or popping. Add a salad or some frozen vegetables as a side.
What Can Kids Cook
Have a kid who always seems to want to help you make dinner? Im sure you wouldnt mind the help, but if you dont know where to start, below, Ive provided examples of tasks kids can complete based on age as well as recipes that will help them get more confident in their ability to help out.
Once theyve mastered these recipes, you can feel more comfortable delegating some of the cooking on nights when you need an extra pair of hands.
Keep in mind that the list is a general overview, but every childs capabilities will look different, assess where your childs abilities best fit and modify as needed.
3-5 YEAR OLDS
- Washing and putting away produce
- Prep Lettuce
- Stirring, mixing, and folding batter
- Dough: kneading, rolling, cutting
- Greasing pans or baking dishes
- Cracking eggs
- Using a small knife for soft foods
- Using a small pair of kitchen scissors
- Grating skills
- Measuring dry and wet ingredients
- Seasoning and rubs
- Using heat: stove, toaster oven, griddle
12+ YEAR OLDS
- Using food processors, slow cookers, instant pots
- Cleaning meats
- Cooking from a Recipe
If you find this type of material helpful in teaching your kids how to cook, this post goes more in-depth on the types of tasks and responsibilities you can designate based on ages.
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Christmas Cooking With Toddlers
Christmas lends itself to cooking with the kids and we have included cooking as some of our advent activities with the kids since they were very little our reindeer cupcakes were among some of the first recipes we included on Rainy Day Mum.
One of the traditional Christmas foods in the UK are mince pies these are sweet pastry and dried fruit treats but as you know pastry can be difficult to make for adults I have two very different solutions the first one the store bought option with ready roll pastry and the second a no roll kid friendly pastry recipe to make flakey mince pies ideal for serving to Santa.
Gingerbread cookies are another Christmas essential and we have found the perfect snowflake cutter to make some gingerbread snowflakes.
Recipes To Bake With Kids
The best childhood memories are those spent in the kitchen. Helping mom stir, sprinkle, and whisk are moments of pure joy you’ll never forget. Pull up a stool, tie the apron strings, and get ready to bake these easy and delicious recipes with your favorite young bakers.
To help you pick the right recipes for your junior baker, weve sorted these 16 recipes into a rough order by age and skill level. The first row offers simple batter recipes that young children can help stir, such as pancakes and quick bread. The second row includes recipes with easy-to-measure-and-mix ingredients. Next, we have fun multi-stage recipes with easy decorations like simple frostings. The final row gives older kids a chance to be more hands-on, though parents should still guide the process.
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Easy Cake Mix Lemon Pie Cake
The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Only four ingredients, including store-bought cake mix and prepared lemon curd, go into this luscious, lemony cake with a taste that will remind you of lemon meringue pie. Kids can help you to use the stand mixer for blending batter and finish the cake with homemade or prepared creamy frosting.
Microwave Risotto With Ham Peas And Cheese
Microwave Risotto with Ham, Peas and Cheese by Tablespoon
OK, so this isnt a classic risotto like youd get in a restaurant. But its delicious and filling and takes very little knife work, so its a great way for your child to get the hang of cooking. Your kid can can opt for pre-shredded Parmesan or shred it from a block if she likes to do that.
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Hearty Smartie Chocolate Cake
This recipe is perfect for older children who fancy their hand at a spot of serious baking, especially if they’ve been watching the Great British Bake Off with you. They can learn how to make a mouth-watering chocolate cake with our simple step-by-step recipe and how to decorate it with Smarties.
14
S’mores Ice Cream Sandwich
This Smores Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe is the perfect SUPER EASY Summer Recipe. Beat the heat with ice cream, chocolate frosting, and marshmallow fluff all frozen between two graham crackers. Kids go crazy for this fun and simple Ice Cream Sandwiches hack. Nothing beats an ice cold smore on a hot Summer day!
A simple orange smoothie that tastes just like an Orange Julius. Fresh oranges are pureed with milk and vanilla – a delicious way to get more fruit into your family!
Hot chocolate bombs are a homemade Hot Chocolate mix recipe thats super creamy, extra chocolaty, & made with simple ingredients.
Funfetti Yogurt Pops are made with tasty ingredients, drizzled with dark chocolate ganache and topped with colorful sprinkles. These popsicles are the ulimate dessert to enjoy as a weeknight or weekend treat!
Outstanding 7 layer rainbow popsicles! Make your own homemade rainbow popsicles with lots of fresh fruit!
Everyone goes crazy for these Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods dipped in melted caramel and chocolate and sprinkled with your favorite toppings.
Canadian Bacon and French Toast Kabobs make a fun and delicious breakfast! Loaded up with fresh fruit, Canadian bacon, and french toast these will become a new favorite way to eat breakfast!
Lunch Kabobs are a cool and exciting twist for lunch or snack time. Packed with kid-friendly ingredients, these kabobs are sure to be a hit by everyone!
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Choose An Easy Dessert Recipe
A difficult recipe isnt the place to start when youre baking with kids. Instead, choose a pastry or dessert, like chocolate cake or an oatmeal cookie. You could also choose a simple sugar cookie recipeperfect for using cookie cutters and making shapes with the dough. You could even start them off with a kids baking set thats specially made for small hands.
Easy Pancakes From Scratch
Easy Pancakes from Scratch by Sweet Tea and Thyme
Lets start with the all-time breakfast favorite, shall we? If youve only used a boxed mix until now, youll be surprised at how simple it is to make pancakes from standard pantry ingredients. Even simpler: Sheet Pan Pancakes , which get cooked all at once and dont require flipping. Set out some peanut butter or almond butter to spread on top, if you like, to make these more filling.
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Easy Baking Recipes For Kids
Weve rounded up our easiest baking recipes for kids including Mary Berrys iced fairy cakes, homemade chocolate digestive, and porridge bars too.
If youre looking for something simple to bake with kids, were here to inspire. Our baking recipes are child-friendly and perfect for all ages, with a little help from you, of course. Theyre aimed at children who are just starting to get interested in baking, and helping in the kitchen.
Teaching kids how to bake is a great way to get them thinking about food origins and how its made. Plus with all the mixing and cake decorating, its a great way to practise some key skills like coordination and counting.
And if your child is an avid baker it could be worth taking a look at our roundup of the best baking sets for kids. There are some great choices that will make baking some of these recipes much easier.
Halloween Recipes To Bake With Toddlers
After making these for the first time when T was only 9 months old and J was 2 and a tiny bit for our first Halloween party it was easy to see that they were toddler friendly Witches Cauldron Cakes need a bit of support from us but using our fairy cake recipe and the kids favourite jello you have some really creepy cakes that everyone will enjoy.
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From Toddlers To Teens
The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Put your budding bakers to work in with these kid-friendly baking projects that are easy enough for children to handle . From brownies and muffins to holiday cookies, cakes, and even homemade bread, these great-tasting baked goods will teach your kids practical skills and help to build their confidence in the kitchen.
Some Precautions About Letting Kids Cook
Before you let your kids take over the kitchen, heres a few safety precautions!
- Avoid deep frying unless youre continuously supervising
- Teach your kiddos about proper sanitary kitchen rules.
- Teach them the danger of kitchen fires and how to extinguish them.
I teach these safety tips to my kids before we cook or bake.
I also re-emphasize them every time we cook or bake together.
Ready to let your child begin a cooking adventure?
Dig in and have fun!
Psst!
If your child is a preschooler or toddler, just let them help on a much smaller scale.
They can smear mayonnaise on the bread or roll up some cookies.
Those are still important kitchen skills to learn!
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
Although chocolate chips and coconut are hard to top, the base of these energy bites could lead you in all kinds of different directions.
Get creative in making different flavor combos, based on whats in your cupboards. With a bit of flaxseed in there, youll boost the omega-3 content which is important for kids.
Get the recipe by Marly of Namely Marly
Check Out Our List Of 10 Easy Bake Sale Ideas That You Can Make With The Kids As Well As Some Free Bake Sale Printables
You’re just settling down to watch your favourite TV show when someone suddenly remembers… it’s the school bake sale tomorrow!!! which means they need something delicious to sell. Fear not! Whether you’re baking for the School Fair, the Church Coffee morning or the Village Fete here are our 10 top picks for fun and easy bake sale ideas that are tasty, impressive and kid friendly, so you and your children can enjoy cooking them together.
Easy Bakes
for your School Fetes”
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Bbq Chicken Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes
Grab a rotisserie chicken or use leftover chicken breast from last night’s dinner. Use whatever BBQ or buffalo sauce you like best, and top the stuffed sweet potatoes with anything from mozzarella cheese and red onion to blue cheese dressing and chopped celery. Get the recipe for BBQ chicken stuffed baked sweet potatoes here.
Our Top Fun And Easy Baking Recipes For Toddlers & Kids With Quick No
If youve never baked with your kids or are just looking for something simple, then these easy baking recipes for toddlers and kids are a great place to start. Weve got lots of recipes on the site to suit all occasions and level, but here youll find our really easy baking recipes for toddlers and kids. From simple biscuit recipes for kids to try themselves to easy bakes and puddings that toddlers can help you to make, there should be something here for even the youngest, newest baker!
These recipes are a great place to start if youre stuck at home on a rainy day or are looking for activities for homeschooling children or preschoolers.
Ive separated our top recipes into sections depending on what youre looking for:
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