If you’re looking for easy baking recipes for kids, you've come to the right place. From cakes to cookies, muffins to brownies, these easy bakes are great for children of all ages.
Teaching kids how to bake is a great way to get them thinking about where their food comes from and how it's made. Plus with all the mixing and cake decorating, it’s an excellent way to practice critical skills like coordination and counting. You might want to invest in a baking set for kids to get them even more enthusiastic.
"Getting your child involved in baking is so important to set them up for later in life and learn key life skills as they age. It is a great opportunity to have bonding time with your child – you can talk about what you are doing and ask them what was their favorite part," says Ruth Chubb of Three Bears Cookery Club.
"Every child develops at a different rate and helping them with these things and teaching them how to do things for themselves will really help their development and increase their confidence. As they get older and feel more confident in the kitchen you can encourage them to do these things with you in the background to help when needed."
Ruth says that there is a multitude of skills that children learn through baking, such as:
- How to follow a recipe, by reading it through together and following each step.
- Learning their numbers by helping weigh out ingredients.
- Learning what the mass of ingredients looks like visually, what does 200g flour look like compared to 200g butter?
- Helping them be safe; talking through the dangers in the kitchen, not so they are scared to cook but so they learn how to be careful when handling hot things or when using a knife for example.
- Improving communication skills by talking through the ingredients, and asking questions about what they like, don’t like, and what it reminds them of.
- Imagination; discussing how it is going to look, and how we will decorate the cake or cookies.
- Increasing confidence; making a recipe from ingredients to it coming out of the oven, is a huge confidence boost that they have made something from just a few ingredients, congratulate them, share it with friends and family, or take a picture and send it to the grandparents or auntie.
Easy baking recipes for kids
Classic fairy cakes from a classy baker
1. Mary Berry's iced fairy cakes
Makes: 12 | Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 15 mins
These charming old-school fairy cakes from the doyenne of baking, Mary Berry, are a wonderful choice to do with younger kids. It's a back-to-basics recipe, whereby the kids can learn how to make a cake sponge and a simple icing made from icing sugar and water. Top with whatever your sweets of choice are – we do love a Dolly Mixture here for its range of flavors and looks, but you're welcome to freestyle!
Get the recipe: Mary Berry's iced fairy cakes
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring out ingredients
- Stirring the cake mix
- Helping to make the icing
- Spooning the icing
- Decorating the tops with sweets
Skills learnt:
- Basic maths
- How to make a cake mix and icing
- The art of decoration
The most delightful of party cakes
2. Butterfly cakes
Makes: 10 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 15 mins
"This is a great recipe to make with your kids, not only are you making the cake mixture and buttercream but it's a good way to introduce knife skills to older children. For younger children, help them with scooping out the middle and cutting in half to create the butterfly wings," says Ruth Chubb.
Get the recipe: Butterfly buns
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring out ingredients
- Helping to make buttercream including sifting icing sugar
- Filling the cakes with buttercream and jam
- Assembling the 'butterfly wings' and decorating with icing sugar
Skills learnt:
- Counting
- Following a recipe
- Creativity
Moist and squidgy, like all the best brownies
3. Annabel Karmel's chocolate orange brownies
Makes: 12 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 30 mins
Kids cooking queen Annabel Karmel is here to help your kids get their bake on with this handy picture-led recipe, perfect for them to follow solo, so a good chance to step back and see if they can do so without your guidance. The classic brownie is given a makeover with the addition of fresh orange juice and zest.
We recommend cooking for slightly less time than you might think for a squidgy, fudgy brownie but, if you happen to like them firmer and more cake-like, leave them in the oven for an extra 5 mins.
Get the recipe: Annabel Karmel's chocolate orange brownies
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring the ingredients on the scales
- Squeezing the oranges for juice
- Stirring ingredients
- Melting the chocolate and butter in a pan over warm water (with your supervision if they're at the younger end of the age group)
- Lining a tin with baking paper
- Sifting the dry ingredients
Skills learned:
- Juicing fruit
- How to melt baking ingredients
- Maths skills
- Following instructions
- Independence
A perfect treat for lunch boxes
4. Chewy chocolate oat squares
Serves: 24 | Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 35 mins
Somewhere in between a cake and a flapjack, this is an easy traybake perfect for your kids to get stuck in to making – it's pretty much a 'chuck it all in and stir it together' recipe, so a good one for older kids to have a go at making independently.
Get the recipe: Chewy chocolate oat squares
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring out ingredients
- Adding everything to the bowl and stirring and folding to combine, including whisking the egg and sifting over the flour.
- Drizzling over the melted chocolate
- Decorating with chocolate
Skills learnt:
- Numbers
- Creativity
- Independence – it's one they can do with little supervision
Fruity muffins from the Queen of children's cookery
5. Annabel Karmel's apple and sultana muffins
Makes: 12 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 20 mins
Annabel Karmel combines the classic flavour pairings of apples and dried fruit with cinnamon and ginger to make this fruit muffin. You'll need to grate the apples and deal with the oven, but most other tasks can be handed over to your bundle of joy. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing they're getting one of their five a day when they eat them later.
Get the recipe: Annabel Karmel's apple and sultana muffins
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring ingredients on the scales
- Mixing with a wooden spoon
- Spooning cake mix into cases
- Sprinkling sugar
Skills learned:
- Adding and taking away numbers
- Flavour combination and pairings
- Understanding what spices are and how they work to add flavour
If there's one thing better than a chocolate digestive, it's got to be a homemade chocolate digestive…
6. Homemade chocolate digestives
Makes: 12 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 20 mins
Sure, a packet of choc digestives is a marvellous accompaniment to a cuppa, but imagine just how much more marvellous they are if you and your kids have made them by your own fair hands. They're also a lovely one for an edible gift, packed in a Kilner jar and tied with colourful string.
Get the recipe: Homemade chocolate digestives
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring out ingredients
- Forming a dough
- Rolling out the dough and cutting out the cookies
- Dipping the biscuits in melted chocolate
Skills learnt:
- How to make a basic cookie dough
- Using a rolling pin
- Using cookie cutters
Simple tray bakes are perfect for making with kids
7. Sticky marshmallow and chocolate tray bake
Serves: 16 | Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 25 mins
Ideal for younger children who may well have a short attention span, this is a quick recipe that they can practise their stirring skills on. The traybake will go down well with fans of rocky road or chocolate crispy cakes (and we've yet to meet someone who isn't a fan of either…).
Get the recipe: Sticky marshmallow and chocolate tray bake
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring the ingredients
- Breaking up the chocolate for melting (older kids can learn how to melt it too with adult supervision)
- Stirring all the ingredients together and pouring into the baking tray
Skills learnt:
- Counting and measuring
- Stirring and pouring
- Experimenting with flavours and ingredients – they could switch out the rice krispies for cornflakes or cocoa pops, for example
Didn't think you could improve on a Rolo? Turns out you can
8. Rolo cookie cups
Makes: 12-16 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 15 mins
A great one for younger kids to do with parents, or for older kids to go solo on for some independent baking. These cookies have a mere six ingredients, with the iconic chocolates taking centre stage – though the Rolos could be switched for Maltesers, should you prefer. Perfect with a cup of milk as an after tea treat.
Get the recipe: Rolo cookie cups
Tasks for the kids:
- Cracking and whisking the eggs
- Weighing the dry ingredients
- Forming the dough
- Rolling the dough into balls
- Adding in the Rolo chocs after baking
Skills learnt:
- Counting and measuring
- How to make dough
- How to roll dough in to shapes
Pretty, tasty, and simpler than they look to make
9. Annabel Karmel's banana butterfly cakes
Makes: 8 | Prep time: 20 mins| Cook time: 20 mins
A step up from the basic cupcake, these fairy cakes have mashed bananas in the batter, and kids can learn to master the 'fairy' element of cutting off the tops and making them into two wings, before dusting them with icing sugar. The frosting also contains that South American food of the Gods, dulce du leche. An excellent one to do when preparing for a birthday party or other celebration. They'll be able to show off a treat – and quite rightly so.
Get the recipe: Butterfly banana cakes
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring the ingredients
- Sifting the flour, beating the egg, mashing the banana, and combining and mixing all the elements of the cake mix
- Spooning the mix into the cases
- Mixing the ingredients for the icing
- Piping the icing and 'constructing' the finished cakes
Skills learnt:
- Using a piping bag
- Maths
- Baking with fruit
- Creativity
Excellent lunch box bars, or great for breakfast on the move
10. Porridge bars
Serves: 8 | Prep time: 30 mins | Cook time: 1 hr
An excellent one for the kids to understand the nutritional value – because these healthy bars are packed with dried fruit, oats, and a variety of seeds. Mixed nuts for an extra protein hit are also an option if there are no allergies. There'll be great satisfaction in them knowing they've made their own breakfast or lunch box snacks – and they can show off to their schoolmates. A winner all around.
Get the recipe: Porridge bars
Tasks for the kids:
- Weighing out ingredients
- Mixing the wet and dried ingredients together
- Chopping the apricots (using kid's scissors for children at the younger end of the spectrum)
Skills learned:
- Understanding nutrients – talk to them about which food groups the ingredients belong to and the benefits they have to our brains and bodies
- Maths skills
- Scissor skills
Adorable, aren't they?
11. Animal cookies
Makes: 10-12 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 15 mins
These ginger biscuits are the cutest of cookies, and can be cut into any animal shape you like, depending on what cookie cutters you have at your disposal – though we really are partial to these sheep (who look like they're up to no good!). It makes the icing nice and easy too, though you can add a few drops of food colouring – pink for pigs, brown or black for cows, you get the idea…
Get the recipe: Animal cookies
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring the ingredients
- Beating together the wet ingredients and stirring in the dry ingredients
- Forming a dough
- Rolling out the dough
- Cutting out the dough
- Helping to make the icing
- Icing the biscuits
Skills learnt:
- Numbers and measurements
- How to make dough
- Using a rolling pin and cookie cutters
- How to make icing
- Piping icing
- Creativity
Chocoholics, stand to attention!
12. Easy chocolate cupcakes
Makes: 12 | Prep time: 30 mins | Cook time: 20 mins
What's not to love about a chocolate cupcake? They're a great one to make for a birthday party and all the better if the kids have had a hand in baking them. They'll love having a bash at piping the buttercream, and who cares if it looks a little, er, rustic. It will all add to the charm.
Get the recipe: Chocolate cupcakes
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring out ingredients
- Whisking the milk, egg and vanilla together
- Piping the buttercream on to the cakes after cooking
Skills learnt:
- Numbers and measuring
- Piping skills
- Creativity
- Understanding ingredients – what goes into making a sponge
Get the kids involved in making their own birthday cake
13. Hearty Smarties chocolate cake
Serves: 12 | Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 20 mins
A great one for a simple birthday cake that the kids can be involved in making. They'll understand what goes into making a chocolate sponge and a ganache (though you can always just switch this for Nutella to make things easier) and will love decorating the top with Smarties (or any other - ideally colourful - choc of choice). We've decorated a heart shape, but they can freestyle however they live with their design.
Get the recipe: Hearty Smarties chocolate cake
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring out ingredients
- Stirring the cake mix
- Pouring the cake mix into a baking tin
- Helping to make the chocolate ganache
- Spreading the ganache over the top of the cake and in the centre
- Decorating the cake with Smarties
Skills learnt:
- Numbers and measurements
- Understanding how to make a sponge cake
- Decoration
- Creativity
If there's a better use for Maltesers than just scoffing them, it's definitely making these awesome cookies
14. Maltesers cookies
Makes: 14 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 15 mins
An excellent recipe choice for making with kids, not only because they're easy, but because they'll be thrilled to prepare a bake stashed with their favourite chocs. And they get to bash them to bits too, which is always fun… Older kids can do this one pretty independently with minimum supervision.
Get the recipe: Maltesers cookies
Tasks for the kids:
- Bashing the Maltesers into crumbs with a rolling pin (in a freezer bag)
- Cracking and whisking the egg
- Measuring the other ingredients
- Mixing the cooking dough with a wooden spoon
- Rolling out the dough and making into balls
Skills learnt:
- How to make cookie dough
- Using a rolling pin
- Numbers and measuring
Because Weetabix isn't only for pouring milk on…
15. Weetabix cake
Serves: 6 | Prep time: 30 mins | Cook time: 1 hour 30 mins
Yes, really, you can make a cake from your favourite breakfast cereal. This sweet, fruity loaf is a bit of a departure from the usual chocolatey bakes that kids favour, and will expand their baking skills. It's also healthier than your average bake (ssshhh, don't tell them) with heaps of naturally sweet dried fruit and bananas, which reduce the amount of sugar needed.
Get the recipe: Weetabix cake
Tasks for the kids:
- Crushing the Weetabix
- Mixing the Weetabix with milk
- Greasing the baking tin with butter
- Mashing the banana
- Mixing in the dried fruit
Skills learnt:
- Counting and measuring
- Cooking with dried and fresh fruit
- Cooking with cereal
- Experimenting with flavours – swapping the cereal or the fruit
Pretty as a picture, and a great way of using up that leftover yogurt
16. Yogurt cupcakes
Makes: 12 | Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 20 mins
These delightful cupcakes are a bit unusual with the addition of yogurt (or soured cream also works well) in the cake mix. It might not look quite as professional as the photo if the kids decorate, but it will still taste pretty good, and make them feel ever so proud, too.
Get the recipe: Yogurt cupcakes
Tasks for the kids:
- Measuring the dry and wet ingredients
- Mixing all the ingredients together
- Filling the baked cakes with raspberry jam (with some assistance!)
- Decorating the cakes with butter icing
Skills learnt:
- Counting and measuring
- Different ways to create a cake sponge
- Combining ingredients
- Decoration
- Creativity