Fun Recipes to Make with Kids
Cooking together is a wonderful (screen-free) way to connect with your kids, and it can also open them up to some enlightening conversations: The food we eat and how we prepare it connects us to cultural traditions, nutrition, math, science, and one another. Plus, there’s the look of pride on the face of a child who gets to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Below are some of our go-to recipes that are simple to prepare, taste great, and can get your little ones excited to spend time in the kitchen.
Snack Time
Recipes that come together fast enough to satiate a snack attack yet are simple enough for even the littlest kids to help with.
Hummus
A versatile base recipe that could be doctored up a number of ways, and you probably already have all the ingredients in your kitchen.
Vegan Cheesy Popcorn
Nutritional yeast makes for excellent vegan cheesy popcorn that even dairy lovers will enjoy.
Limeade
Limeade is lemonade’s cooler sibling. In our version, we make a ginger-infused simple syrup for a little extra something.
Sweet Treats
What kid doesn’t want to help make dessert? These aren’t fussy pastries that rely on baking chemistry (although we bet there’s a good science lesson somewhere in there). Instead we picked foolproof recipes that you can return to again and again.
Jailbird Cake
You need just five ingredients. And assembly is essentially playtime—it’s like edible building blocks.
Banana Bon-Bons
Put your favorite toppings on our kid-friendly classic. We like coconut flakes and chia seeds.
Nectarine and Blackberry Crisp
Any combination of seasonal or even frozen fruit will work here, or just sprinkle store-bought granola on top.
Project Cooking
If you’re looking for more of a project to fill an afternoon: These recipes might seem intimidating if you’ve never made them before, but we promise you’ll get the hang of it once you get started.
Chicken, Cabbage, and Zucchini Dumplings
It’s easy, but it does take a lot of time to crimp all those dumplings. You’ll be glad for the extra hands on the assembly line.
Pasta Dough
Pasta, a staple of kid cuisine, can be fun to make from scratch. It requires some serious kneading, but a little elbow grease never hurt anyone.
Dark Stout Pretzel Bites
Swap warm water for the stout and your kids will be all over these highly dunkable nuggets.
Build Your Own
One way to get your kids excited about dinner is to serve a DIY-style meal where they can put together their own plate. A wrap of some kind—nori, lettuce cups, or tortillas—makes for a nice base and everyone can mix and match with all kinds of veggies, proteins, sauces, and fixings.
Salmon Sushi Burrito
A low-lift way to experience sushi at home, with tons of tasty filling options.
Pressed Lettuce Wraps
The lettuce cup, veggies, and tofu are really just a vehicle for that killer sweet and savory peanut sauce (sunflower butter makes an excellent nut-free swap).
Tex-Mex Breakfast Taco Bar
The ultimate choose-your-own-adventure meal: Everyone gets their taco just how they like it.