The following 40+ kid-friendly baking recipes are my suggestions if you’re baking with young & eager kitchen helpers. The purpose of this page is to help adults find recipes that are fun and manageable when baking with children. As always, young bakers should have adult supervision in the kitchen. Page includes recipes free from common allergens as well as average recipe times.
Baking is an exciting activity that everyone can enjoy. Not only is it quality time spent together, baking ignites creativity, teaches how to follow instructions, involves math & counting, and always brings smiles. Between my entire team and I, we’ve baked with kids enough that we understand what goes into the process. In this post, I’m sharing which recipes are fun yet manageable with children as well as the helpful advice I’ve learned along the way.
Q: What’s your best advice when it comes to baking with kids?
Muffins, like these banana muffins, are my top choice for baking with young ones. They’re quick-to-make, quick-to-bake, and individually portioned.
5 Tips for Baking with Kids
- Embrace the Mess: If you feel most calm in a tidy kitchen, set your expectations before starting. Baking with kids can be messy, but that’s the fun of it.
- Big Bowls: From experience—use very large mixing bowls so there’s plenty of room for stirring, pouring, splashing, etc.
- Pre-Measure If Needed: If you’re baking with more than 1 child, it’s likely helpful to have some ingredients pre-measured so all they have to do is pour into the mixing bowl. If you’re baking with 1 child who is beginning to understand math, it might be fun to have that child help measure so there’s learning involved. For example, “We have 2 cups flour and 1 cup oats needed, how many cups total do you think that is?”
- Allow Enough Time: Baking takes time and baking with kids takes longer. The recipes listed below include the average time, but including children in the process may slightly extend those times. Consider it a fun journey rather than a means to an end.
- Assign Jobs/Make it Fun: For example, if you have an 8-year-old and 4-year-old in the kitchen with you, give each a specific job such as the older child measures and the younger child stirs. If you’re baking with a child who is beginning to learn counting, have that child count all of the ingredients. To create excitement, you could call the child “chef” such as “please hand me the whisk, chef Sally” and label your kitchen tools with fun names such as “Sally’s Super Special Spatula” or “Dominic’s Mighty Mixing Bowl.” (This works wonders with super young bakers!) You could even pretend you’re doing a cooking show and make up a fun name for your show.
40+ Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups
You just need a few ingredients to throw together these healthy baked oatmeal cups and have breakfast ready for the week. See post for other flavor variations, like pumpkin and chocolate.
(35 minutes; gluten free if using certified GF oats)
1 Batter for Infinite Muffin Recipes
Muffins are my #1 suggestion for baking with kids, because they’re versatile, convenient, and quick—just like this recipe! Use this base muffin recipe to create any flavor muffin you love.
(45 minutes)
Whole Wheat Mini Pumpkin Muffins
These simple whole wheat mini pumpkin muffins are perfect for little hands and full of pumpkin spice flavor. Chocolate chips are optional, but obviously kid-approved.
(35 minutes)
Baby Apple Banana Oat Muffins
Although I developed this recipe with very little ones in mind, kids of all ages love these mini muffins. The batter comes together in a blender and truly couldn’t be easier to make.
(1 hour; gluten free if using certified GF oats; dairy free)
Quick & Easy Banana Muffins
Everyone has a go-to banana muffin recipe, and this is mine. They’re soft, buttery, and spiced with cinnamon—while fantastic on their own, they’re also great with chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or a generous dip in ganache and sprinkles for a special treat.
(30 minutes)
Healthy Apple Muffins
These healthy apple muffins are wonderfully wholesome and soft, and you’ll appreciate that they’re made without any refined sugar. This recipe is my go-to choice when I’m looking for an easy and quick healthy muffin.
(45 minutes)
Breakfast Cookies
Cookies for breakfast! These healthy morning cookies are so simple to throw together, highly customizable, and freeze wonderfully.
(30 minutes; gluten free if using certified GF oats; dairy free)
No-Yeast Cinnamon Roll Biscuits
This shortcut recipe is perfect for young bakers since there’s no waiting for the dough to rise. Buttery, homestyle sweet biscuit rolls will be on the table before you know it.
(40 minutes)
Giant Cinnamon Roll Cake
If you’re ready to tackle yeast with your kid baker, start here. This giant cinnamon roll cake is just as fun to make as it is to eat.
(3 hours, 30 minutes)
Funfetti Birthday Cake Pancakes
Packed with rainbow sprinkles and topped with vanilla icing, kids (and adults!) can’t help but smile when making and enjoying these indulgent buttermilk pancakes.
(40 minutes)
Homemade Cheese Crackers
Making crispy, salty, and totally cheesy crackers at home is surprisingly simple. Little ones can help throughout the process and then enjoy their homemade treat in time for snack.
(1 hour, 30 minutes; egg free)
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
Out of all the recipes on my site, I make these bars most often. They’re highly adaptable, made in just one bowl, and make for an excellent snack or breakfast to enjoy throughout the week.
(2 hours; gluten free if using certified gluten free oats; egg free)
Soft Pretzel Bites
This easy dough requires only 6 ingredients and there’s hardly any rise time, so this is a wonderful recipe for yeast beginners and excited young bakers. Have fun shaping the bites—they don’t need to be perfect!
(1 hour; egg free)
Homemade Dirt Pudding
With its layers of creamy homemade chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo cookies, and gummy worms, this whimsical dessert is the quintessential childhood treat.
(4 hours, 50 minutes; includes refrigeration)
White Chocolate Lucky Charms Treats
An easy 4-ingredient recipe that brings out the kid in all of us. These gooey cereal bars couldn’t be more simple to prepare, yet they taste magically delicious.
(3 hours)
Cookies & Cream Puppy Chow
Made from simple ingredients like Chex cereal, Oreos, and chocolate, this puppy chow is downright irresistible. There’s no baking involved, so it’s a great after-school treat to make together while chatting about the day.
(15 minutes)
Candy Corn Pretzel Hugs
An obvious choice for Halloween, these salty-sweet candy corn pretzel treats are so easy it’s scary. 😉 In the off season, swap the candy corn for M&Ms.
(25 minutes)
Chocolate Lava Cakes
With their deliciously rich molten chocolate center, this surprisingly quick and easy dessert always impresses. They can be made in individual ramekins or a muffin pan.
(25 minutes)
Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels
This is our family recipe for soft pretzels. The rise time is short (only 10 minutes) and young bakers love the challenge of shaping this iconic snack.
(40 minutes; egg free)
Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe for Beginners
Make pizza night a family affair and prepare my 6-ingredient homemade dough. Most of the work is hands-off and the chewy, crisp crust is the perfect base for an endless variety of toppings—let young bakers top their own pizza!
(2 hours, 30 minutes; egg free)
Homemade Ham & Cheese Pockets
These freezer-friendly homemade ham & cheese pockets are made with my popular pizza dough, and they can be filled with your favorite meats, cheeses, and vegetables. They’re great for snacks or as a quick, hearty meal option.
(2 hours, 15 minutes)
Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits (6 Ingredients)
My biscuit recipe requires only 6 simple ingredients but produces hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of flaky layers. Kids love cutting out the biscuits and watching their hard work rise in the oven.
(35 minutes; egg free)
No Yeast Bread Recipe (Soda Bread)
If your young baker wants to try their hand at bread, this no-yeast soda bread recipe should be on your list. You only need 6 ingredients, and the process is much quicker than yeasted bread.
(55 minutes; egg free)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
Who wouldn’t have fun making a chocolate chip cookie pizza? It’s easier than rolling individual cookies, and there’s no dough chilling required.
(1 hour)
Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
These no bake cookies are another family favorite. I make these 8 ingredient cookies more than any other cookie recipe on my site because they’re simple yet totally decadent.
(1 hour; gluten free if using certified GF oats; egg free)
Mini M&M Cookies
Adorably tiny and perfectly pop-able mini M&M cookies are always a hit with kids. They love shaping these cookies that fit perfectly in the palm of their hands!
(40 minutes)
6 Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies
With this no-chill cookie recipe, you can make 6 giant chocolate chip cookies or 24 regular sized cookies. They’re extra soft and thick with chewy centers and crisp buttery edges—everyone loves these.
(40 minutes)
One Giant Monster M&M Cookie
Kids always love the thrill of making one GIANT size-of-your-head cookie. This easy monster cookie is loaded with all of your favorite add-ins, like peanut butter, chocolate chips, and M&Ms.
(45 minutes)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a special milestone, or just-because, a chocolate chip cookie cake is a wonderfully easy and delicious way to leave a big impression. Decorate with frosting, sprinkles, or enjoy plain.
(2 hours)
Small Chocolate Cake (6 Inch)
If you have an aspiring cake decorator in your home, this small chocolate cake is the perfect canvas for practice. This recipe yields one 6-inch chocolate cake that pairs well with a variety of frostings and toppings.
(3 hours)
The Best Sugar Cookies
Let the creativity flow—kids of all ages love picking out a variety of shapes to make and decorate sugar cookies with my royal icing recipe or easy cookie icing recipe. Use squeeze bottles to make decorating and cleanup a breeze.
(4 hours)
Homemade Oreos
Another childhood favorite but with a homemade spin. With only 10 minutes of chill time and no rolling pin required, making a batch of these iconic cookies from scratch is easier than you think!
(2 hours; includes cooling)
Mini Animal Cracker Cookies
By adding a dash of cinnamon to my sugar cookies recipe, you can make adorable mini animal cracker cookies. Dunking in icing and sprinkling are perfect tasks for young bakers.
(4 hours, 30 minutes; includes chilling & cooling)
Soft Peanut Butter Carrot Dog Treats
Kids will love making sure their furry friends are in on the baking action. These soft-baked peanut butter carrot dog treats are easy and fun to make.
(40 minutes)
Baked Apples Recipe
Like an individually portioned apple crisp, this dessert is great for a small family and is one of my favorite healthier dessert recipes to make with kids.
(2 hours; gluten free; egg free)
Cinnamon Roll Cookies
These simple and sweet cinnamon roll cookies start with my go-to sugar cookie dough and are just as irresistible as they are cute!
(2 hours, 40 minutes)
Stained Glass Window Cookies
This is a wonderfully fun and festive cookie that you can turn into any shape—so don’t limit them to the holidays. Lots of steps that kids can help with, so grab your rolling pin, hard candies, and get started.
(3 hours)
Simply Sandwich Bread
This straightforward recipe yields one loaf of white sandwich bread. Young bakers can enjoy their bread for sandwiches and toast throughout the week.
(3 hours, 20 minutes; egg free)
Creamy Small Batch Cheesecake
If you don’t want the hassle of a large cheesecake, this creamy small batch cheesecake conveniently makes 5 slices in a 9×5-inch loaf pan and no water bath is required.
(6 hours; includes cooling & chilling time)
Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Nothing compares to fresh bread, and this simple 8-ingredient recipe for homemade cinnamon swirl bread is a family favorite.
(4 hours, 45 minutes)
Homemade Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts
There’s nothing like the homemade version of Pop-Tarts! Although it’s a more involved baking project, there are plenty of steps for older kids to help with, and they’ll be so proud of their final creations.
(3 hours, 30 minutes)
Homemade Monkey Bread (aka Cinnamon Roll Bites)
Monkey bread—aka pull apart cinnamon rolls—is a fun treat to serve and everyone goes nuts over it. Kids love digging right in—utensils optional!
(3 hours, 20 minutes)
Apple Hand Pies
Rather than taking on a full pie, grab your round cookie cutter and your baking buddy and make little hand pies.
(3 hours, 15 minutes)
Gingerbread House Recipe
Set aside a day every holiday season to make gingerbread houses with your little bakers. Use my helpful recipe, video tutorial, and shape templates, then let the kids make their own uniquely decorated houses.
(1 day; see post for make-ahead options)
Homemade Cake Pops
If there’s one treat kids always go crazy for, its cake pops. Ditch the cafe versions and try making your own at home with my vanilla and chocolate versions dipped in your choice of coating.
(7 hours; includes cooling time)
Nut Free Recipes
Most of the recipes above are nut free recipes with the exception of recipes for peanut butter baked goods. As always, double check recipe ingredients before starting.
Gluten Free Recipes
Here are all of my published gluten free recipes, or if you’re just after desserts, see my roundup of favorite gluten free dessert recipes.
Egg Free Baking Recipes
Here are all of my published egg free baking recipes.
Shortbread cookies are a favorite and also fun for little ones to decorate and make their own!
8 Ingredients or Fewer
If you’re looking to bake a recipe with few ingredients, I have an entire page dedicated to recipes with 8 or fewer ingredients, even some as low as 5 ingredients or fewer. I include dinners, desserts, breakfast, and snacks.
Quick Dessert Recipes
If you’re in a time crunch, you’ll appreciate these 30+ quick dessert recipes. Have fun!
I work in an “Out of School Care” program and our kids love to bake! Thank you for this wonderful baking with kids collection of recipes!
You are very welcome! Let me know if the kids try any of these recipes. I would love to hear about it!
I absolutely love your recipes! I started with the lemon meringue pie recipe and have been hooked since! The lemon curd was phenomenal to say the least. I recommend you to everyone!
Kira, thank you so much!! I love that lemon meringue pie. I make it at least once every spring. It’s a must try!
Thank you for this post! I baked m&m cookies with my 2 year old daughter & 3 year old son on Friday and I made apple pie strudel squares with just my son today. Both from your cookbook. I agree when both kids are helping premeasuring is very helpful. If just one it’s okay to just slow down and do all the steps together. I have my son wash dishes while I do any cutting necessary (like with the apples). Thank you for sharing your talent with us and not forgetting about the kids!
So glad you and your kids have been enjoying our recipes, Jenna! Happy baking to you all.
My comment is not about this post…although al the suggested recipes look like they would be perfect for kid friendly baking.
I made your pumpkin coffee cake crumb muffins this monring to share with my brother and his wife. Today is his birthday and he is not a big dessert person but loves anything pumpkin so I figured muffins would work. I used the pointy top muffin tin liners to make them a bit more “fancy”.A big plus was that the high side prevent the crumb topping from falling off what can happen with regular liner. That said, I snagged one for my breakfast. This was my first 2021 pumpkin bake and sooooooo worth it. This recipe is so yummy. It has just the right sweetness, is perfectly moist and the crumb topping was perfect. Thanks so much for continuing to develop and post such delicious and guaranteed successful recipes. Please know you are very appreciated.
Thank you so much for your kind note, Nancy. We’re thrilled to hear that the pumpkin muffins were such a hit!
Sally, is there any chance of these recipes going into a cookbook for cooking with kids? My granddaughter loves cooking with me and then teaching her parents so they can “help her” make the recipes at home.
Hi Sherri! I don’t have plans to publish a baking with kids cookbook, but that’s such a wonderful idea for a possible future project. 🙂
I hope it’s something you consider, Sally! My daughter loves baking, but a book would be easier for her to navigate.
Yes!! I wish there was a little kid cookbook too!!
Hi Sally! My family is in real panic right now because we are going to have a guest over who is gluten free and dairy free…. Do you have any desserts that would follow that by chance?
Thank you for all your amazing recipes!
Klai
Hi Klai, we love these almond butter coconut macaroons!
Ooooooh my goodness this came at the perfect time! My 3yo is just becoming interested in helping out in the kitchen (sometimes) (othertimes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Cocomelon is more tempting), and I cannot wait to share these with her!
Sometimes she and my husband will bake together, and I’m only allowed to supervise and answer questions — do you have any tips for which of these recipes would be good for two inexperienced bakers?
Hi Liz! Definitely muffins. Or a quick bread that doesn’t require any special tools such as pumpkin bread or this Greek yogurt zucchini bread.
And if you’re interested in browsing, here are all of my beginner baking recipes.
My 3 year old’s favorite recipe to help bake is your monkey bread. I wouldn’t say this is only for older kids!
In my opinion, though, all recipes are suitable for baking with kids 🙂 My 3 year old has been helping me bake since he could sit on the counter and “help”. It is a bit harder adding my 1-year old to the “help” now, though.
Donuts are another kid friendly recipe. My grandkids love them.
This is a wonderful post. My 3 girls love baking with me and this will sure give us ideas! Thanks much
Wow, what an awesome post!! My daughter asks to bake every single morning, and this is going to make such an incredible resource. Thanks!!