With four kids, I’m a big believer in recipes kids can make. Cooking teaches kids an important life skill but so much more: science, service and even patience. With excerpts from my cookbooks books for kids “Super Simple Baking for Kids“, “Pizza School” and “Kid Chef Junior Bakes“, my kids have made all of these recipes over and over and hope yours enjoy them too. 

21 Recipes Kids Can Make

Hot Fudge Lava Cakes

Gooey in the center, chocolaty all the way through. Believe it or not, kids can make this recipe–and it’ll become a family favorite forever. 

Homemade Soft Pretzels

You’ll never guess the secret ingredient that gives pretzels their signature flavor.

Super Strawberry Pan Fritters

Perfect for snacks, lunch or even breakfast.  Supervise them at the stove but don’t worry. This is a recipe kids can make–and they’ll want to do it over and over again. 

Chunky Monkey Green Smoothie

My favorite smoothie of all time.

Easy Focaccia Bread 

Lots of steps make this process fun — and the pillowy soft results make the wait worth it! 

World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

You cannot mess these up. Soft and sweet, they’re perfect every time. 

Blueberry Scones

Simplified (bake in a muffin pan!) and full of extra fiber (whole oats!) these scones are delicious and nutritious.

Easy Peasy Parmesan Crackers

So long, fish! There’s a new, fresher version in town. 

Blueberry Cobbler with Frozen Blueberries 

Use any fruit you have on hand, even canned! 

One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

Just add ingredients and stir. That’s how easy this cake is to make. Perfect for kids. (Bonus: Make 24 cupcakes instead. Freeze half of them and you’re set for sweet treat another time.) 

4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Nope, flour isn’t one of them! One way to create recipes kids can make is by simplifying the ingredient list but don’t worry, the flavor is still amazing.

Chocolate Granola Bars

Fresh granola bars without all the added sugar.

Whole-Wheat Cheddar & Bacon Biscuits

We gave Joanna Gaines’s recipe a makeover: now it’s easier and more nutritious, but just as delicious.

Lemon-Blueberry Puff Pastry Tart

Looks fancy but this dessert is super simple! 

Double Chocolate-Avocado Cookies

What’s avocado doing in cookies? Just making them soft and awesome. 

Whole-Wheat Jam Tarts

Fill with ANY kind of jam or Nutella.

Homemade Bread

This simplified version is easy enough for kids to make. 

No-Cook Pizza Sauce

From my newest book, “Pizza School“, the sauce that comes together in 2 minutes!

Rainbow Meringue Cookies

When it comes to recipes kids can make, sometimes the science is almost as fun as the taste. LOOK at what you can do with egg whites and only 3 additional ingredients!

No-Bake Fruit & Nut Balls

All you need is a food processor and a handful of ingredients for a high-protein snack.

3-Ingredient Blueberry Pan Fritters

The perfect starter recipe for kids to use the stove. 

Chocolate Chip Oat Cups

So nutritious, so yummy, so easy! Perfect for kids to make. 

More recipes kids can make

There’s more where these came from! All of my cookbooks for kids include simplified versions of my own four kids’ favorites, tested over and over again so you know they’ll come out every time.