The kitchen provides so many playful and fun experiences for kids to enjoy cooking with kids is one of the many memories that you children will cherish and pass on to their children as they grow up. Whether you are an expert chef or like to use some ready made stuff and throw in a couple of extra's there is something for everyone in our Ultimate Guide to cooking with kids.
If you have a specific ingredient or are matching your recipes to a letter of the alphabet check out our A to Z of Recipes to cook with Kids
What You'll Find on This Page
Cookies for everyday
Cookies are a favourite of every child and are easy cooking with kids whether you make your own dough or use some shop bought cookie dough it doesn't really matter - check out these fun everyday cookies to cook with kids this year.
Cookie Recipes to bake with your kids
- Egg free cookie recipe can be made into edible art or with chocolate chips to make some spikes for some dinosaurs
- easy cookie decorating using store bought cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies from Toddler Approved
- Sprinkle Cookie Freezer bites from B-Inspired Mama
- Gluten free Chocolate Chip cookies from Mess for Less
- Earth Day Swirl Cookies from B-Inspired Mama
- Rainbow swirl sugar cookies from B-Inspired Mama
- Linzer Piggy Cookies from B-Inspired Mama
Celebration Cookies
- Snowman Cookie Pops from B-Inspired Mama
- Easter Candy Cookies from B-Inspired Mama
- Sugar Crystal Chocolate Chip Cookies from B-Inspired Mama
- Simple Cookie Recipe from Learn with Play at home
- Candy Cane Cookies and other gifts for the mail man from Toddler Approved
Cakes and other baked recipes
Sweet tooths extend further than just cookies cakes and other sweet treats are some of our favourites to get cooking with. Check out these fun recipes for cooking with kids fun in the kitchen
Cupcakes and Muffin Recipes for Kids
- Reindeer Christmas cupcakes
- Witches Cauldron Halloween
- Simple Chocolate Valentines cupcakes
- Snowmen cupcakes for toddlers to make in Winter
- Patriotic cupcakes to celebrate our national holidays
- Monster Marshmallow Cupcakes from B-Inspired Mama
- White Chocolate Banana Muffins from B-Inspired Mama
- Making Rainbow Cupcakes from One Perfect Day
- Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins from Train Up a Child
Krispie Cakes, Brownies and other cakes
- space rock cakes
- Krispie cakes
- white chocolate krispie cakes
- make edible nests
- Friendship Brownie Bites from Train Up a Child
- Peanut Butter Cup Brownies from B-Inspired Mama
- Russian Tea Cakes from Mom to 2 posh lil Divas
- Ooey Gooey Nests for Easter from Toddler Approved
- Nest Candy an Easter Recipe from B-inspired Mama
- Valentines Cheesecakes from Learn with Play at Home
- Crunchy Munchy Honey Cakes from Mess for Less
- Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Scones from Train Up a Child
- Chocolate Snowballs from Mess for Less
- How to bake a cake from Learn with Play at Home
- Gluten Free Baked Mini Donaughts from Mess for Less
- Moon Cake from Train Up a Child
- Decorating cupcakes with literacy activities from Learn with Play at Home
- Cinnamon and chocolate chip scones from Mom to 2 posh lil divas
Pastry, Pies and Tarts
- Easy simple Jam Tarts quick version
- make our own pastry
- simple traditional mine pie
- Apple Tasting and easy apple pies from B-inspired Mama
- Simple Apple Pie Crescents from Mess for Less
- Fruit filled Crescent Cups from Mess for Less
- Apple Pie Making from Train Up a Child
- Mini Crescent Cinnamon Apple Pies from Mom to 2 posh lil divas
- Peach Pie Crescents from Mess for Less
- Easy Baked Apple Recipe from B-Inspired Mama
Fruit and snacks and fun sweet treats
- Introducing Kids to Coconut from Parent Teach Play
- Easy Halloween Treats from B-Inspired Mama
- Chocolate Chip Protein Bars from Train Up a Child
- Thanks giving snack from B-Inspired Mama
- Fruit Pizza from B-Inspired Mama
- Snow Ice Cream from Housing a Forest
- Honey and Strawberry ice cream popsicles from One Perfect Day
- Pumpkin Quinoa from Train Up a Child
- Easter Bunny Pretzel Treats from B-Inspired Mama
- Sweedish Pancakes from Mom to 2 posh lil divas
- Snowmen Meringues from Mess for Less
- Banana Bear Pudding from B-Inspired Mama
- Yogurt covered berries on a stick from Mess for Less
Making Bread
- Easy Bread Dough to bake with Kids
- Alphabetzels from Toddler Approved
- Hedgehog Bread Rolls
- Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipe from Mess for Less
- What goes with bread but some homemade butter from mess for less
Savoury Cooking with Kids
It's not all about the sweet things - although they are so much more tempting to cook with kids as we know that they will generally eat them but to give kids a healthy balance you do need to get cooking with kids making the main meals and savoury snacks to enjoy together.
- savoury pastry wheels
- making simple pizzas
- making a sandwich
- Special Fathers Day Dinner from B-Inspired Mama
- Making Sushi with kids from Learn with Play at Home
- Crock Pot Baked Potatoes from B-Inspired Mama
- Making Tacos with Kids help from In Lieu of Preschool
- Quesadillas for Kids from B-Inspired Mama
- Muffin Tin Omletes from Toddler Approved
- Zucchini slice recipe from Learn with Play at home
- Heart Meat Loaf Muffins from B-Inspired Mama
- Make your own dinner with In Lieu of Preschool
- Easy Cheesy Pizza Rolls from B-Inspired Mama
- Three ways to roast pumpkin seeds from Mess for Less
- Parmesan Garlic Baked Potatoes from B-Inspired Mama
Play in the kitchen
Cooking with kids can take a little preparation and I even need to feel brave to attempt it - but that doesn't stop you getting playing role play, or using ingredients in the play - check out these wonderful ideas
- role play cooking like our valentines bakery
- pretend cooking with real ingredients
- Make your own playdough with no cook jello playdough recipe from Mom to 2 posh lil divas4
- Birthday Cake play from Bath Activities for Kids
- Frosty on the Fridge from In Lieu of Preschool
- Pretend play cooking using real ingredients from Growing a Jeweled Rose
- 5 Tips for setting up a play kitchen for kids from In Lieu of Preschool
- Regrowing Celery from Housing a Forest
- Princess Pie Sensory Play from Growing A Jeweled Rose
- DIY Cooking Sensory Bin from In Lieu of Preschool
- Ice Cream Parlour for Kids from Bath Activities for Kids
Even more inspiration
Looking for even more inspiration then check out
- Our recent round up of cooking activities from Tuesday Tots
- Advice for cooking with toddlers
- Some Fabulous recipes for cooking with Toddlers
- Another set of cooking featured from Tuesday Tots this time from Learn with Play at home
- 40 ways to play with pantry items from Growing a Jeweled Rose
- 25 Tips for Cooking with Kids from B-Inspired Mama
The P.L.A.Y group
We're kicking off The P.L.A.Y group today with 13 posts across the blogs giving you the best play and learning ideas for you to do with your kids check out the other posts by the group below.
Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Kids
Get out and PLAY
175+ Ideas for Repurposing Items for Play from The PLAY Group
The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Play Activities from The PLAY Group
Recycled Craft Activities from The PLAY Group
80+ Gross Motor Skills Activities from The PLAY Group
200+ Fine Motor Skills Activities from The PLAY Group
50+ Early Literacy Activities from the PLAY Group
75 Math Activities from The PLAY Group
Art Activities from The PLAY Group
100+ Science Activities from The PLAY Group
200+ Ideas for Messy Play from The PLAY Group
Recipes for Art and Play
150+ Early learning Activities
Cerys Parker
Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, high school teacher and mum. Realising that life doesn't have to be put on hold and you don't just have to survive whilst the kids are young she shares ideas to inspire you to LIVE with the kids, with activities to do together, recipes to cook and enjoy and family travel to make memories to last a lifetime.
Maarten says
Its so nice to involve kids with cooking at an early age. I have good memories myself cooking with mom. Thanks for posting!
Rebecca says
Ahhhh that explains it - I was wondering what the play group was!
Some fantastic recipes here. What a great resource.
Jode says
Such a great list...thanks to the group for compiling such a helpful resource!
Debs says
yay, love cooking with kids and this is a great resource!