In This Article
- Chocolate Cornflake Nests
- Smarties® Oat Cookies
- Milkybar® Walnut Brownies
- Milkybar® Chocolate Brownies
- Milkybar® Strawberry Shortbread Bars
- Smarties® Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
- Easter Bunny Cake
Baking with kids is equal parts fun, laughter, and a sprinkle of controlled chaos! Sure, there might be flour in their hair and icing on the counter, but the real magic is in the family moments spent together. From little hands squishing dough to big smiles when the treats come out of the oven, it's all about making sweet memories. So, gather your ingredients, dust off your aprons and let’s dive into 15 great recipes to bake with kids!
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1. Chocolate Cornflakes Nests
For a quick, easy and relatively mess-free baking activity to delight younger and older kids, look no further than our Smarties® Chocolate Cornflakes Nests. These spring-inspired colourful bites feature rich milk chocolate and crunchy cornflakes, which are shaped into little bird’s nests! Each nest is home to three Smarties® Mini Eggs and every bite is a combination of chocolatey flavours and crispy texture. You melt the chocolate and let the kids mix everything together before shaping!
2. Smarties® Oat Cookies
If you're looking for a delicious and easy thing to bake with kids, then meet our Smarties® Oat Cookies. These oat-infused treats are chunky, soft and chewy, with added chocolatey crunch from Smarties®. The recipe is a simple wet and dry mix that’s folded together before dividing and baking. You portion out the dough and put those little hands to work rolling cookie balls! The final flourish is adding the Smarties® as they come out of the oven. The cookies will still be hot, so proceed with caution if the kids are going to help.
3. Milkybar® Walnut Brownies
For a brilliant brownie bake with a white chocolate twist, try our Milkybar® and Walnut Brownies. They’re sweet, creamy and chewy with a gorgeous golden colour. The walnuts kick things up a few notches with a satisfying crunch and nutty flavour. It’s an easy recipe with lots of moments for the kids to get involved, from mixing and stirring to bashing up the walnuts. Just keep an eye on the Milkybar® pieces when those little fingers are about!
4. Milkybar® Chocolate Brownies
Chocolate brownies are often one of the first treats that kids learn to bake. They are forgiving for beginner bakers and they’re simple to mix up. Our Milkybar® Chocolate Brownies combine the best of decadent dark chocolate with the smooth and creamy taste of Milkybar®. Have the kids break up Milkybar® while you melt the dark chocolate, but keep an eye on those sticky little fingers!
For more delicious chocolate brownie flavours, dive into our Brownie Recipes article.
5. Milkybar® Strawberry Shortbread Bars
You love shortbread, kids love shortbread, everybody loves our Milkybar® Strawberry Shortbread Bars! With just a few pantry staples, these golden bars of deliciousness come together quick, and the kids can help pressing the dough into the tin. Bake until golden, then drizzle with melted Milkybar®. Have the kids crush the freeze-dried strawberries and sprinkle them over the warm white chocolate to finish.
6. Smarties® Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
Kids love cupcakes, and our Smarties® Mini Vanilla Cupcakes are sure to be a hit. They are easy to make and make any occasion more colourful and fun! Simply whisk, mix and fold your ingredients and in just fifteen short minutes, you’ll be pulling the cutest mini cupcakes you’ve ever seen out of the oven. They’re topped with a simple chocolate ganache icing and finished with a colourful flourish of Smarties®.
They’re quick, tasty and a really easy thing to bake with kids.
7. Easter Bunny Cake
Easter baking is fun for the whole family, and our Easter Bunny Cake has it all! A soft, spongy chocolate base topped with chocolate buttercream and finished with hand-drawn bunny decorations. It’s a great activity to practice fine motor skills for both you and the kids. Our top tip would be to have the kids do a few practice runs with pen and paper before letting them loose with the piping bag!
For more great Easter baking ideas, read our Easter Baking for Kids article.
Making Sweet Moments
Baking with kids is all about family bonding, laughs, and maybe a little bit of flour on the walls. Here are a few guidelines to help you get the best out of your experience.
Little hands need their own space. Set up a low table or use a sturdy stool so they can reach the action. Pre-measuring ingredients is a good idea unless you’re encouraging older kids to do a little bit of maths in the process. Plastic bowls are best because, once the excitement kicks in, things can become a whirlwind of flour!
1. Set Up a Kid-Friendly Baking Station
Little hands need their own space. Set up a low table or use a sturdy stool so they can reach the action. Pre-measuring ingredients is a good idea unless you’re encouraging older kids to do a little bit of maths in the process. Plastic bowls are best because, once the excitement kicks in, things can become a whirlwind of flour!
2. Teach Proper Handwashing
Before the first egg is cracked, make sure those grubby paws are squeaky clean. Turn handwashing into a fun task by singing a silly song while they scrub. Remember the 20-second rule? If in doubt, sing a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’!
3. Assign Age-Appropriate Tasks
Let little hands knead, stir, pour and sprinkle, while older kids can measure ingredients or even crack eggs. Giving them small tasks makes them feel like a real chef who's part of the action!
4. Teach Kitchen Safety
Keep sharp knives and hot ovens away from tiny fingers! Talk about oven safety and use kid-friendly knives. If it’s safe, it’s fun and everyone's left with happy memories that don’t involve a trip to A&E.
5. Encourage Creativity
Baking is science, but decorating is creative magic! Let kids go wild with icing colours, Smarties®, sprinkles, and whatever edible decorations they fancy.
6. Embrace the Mess
Sticky fingers, dusty countertops, and a few rogue sprinkles on the floor are all signs of a great baking session! Keep a roll of kitchen towel handy along with a bottle of kitchen cleaner for quick clean-ups, but ultimately, just embrace the mess. It’s all part of the fun, and little bakers love cleaning when it involves licking a spoon or bowl.
7. Taste as You Go
Half the fun of baking is sneaking a little taste along the way. Let kids sample a bit of dough (if it's safe to eat) or dip a spoon in the icing. It’s a great way to build excitement for the final product – just ensure they leave enough to fill the pan come bake time!
8. Make it a Fun Learning Experience
Baking is a fun and clever way to teach kids about counting, measuring, and even patience. Get them to weigh out ingredients, set timers, and guess how long the dough will take to rise once it goes in the oven.
Baking Safety Tips for Kids
Baking should be fun, but safety always comes first!
1. Always Supervise
No matter how confident your mini baker is, an adult should always be nearby. Keep an eye on the action, especially when ovens, hobs, or sharp tools are involved. Think of yourself as the head chef, guiding your little apprentices through their baking adventure!
2. Handle Heat with Care
Ovens and stovetops are not for tiny hands. Make a rule that only adults open the oven and take out baking trays. If kids want to help, have them wear oven mitts and do exactly as you tell them to.
3. Teach Knife Safety
For younger kids, avoid sharp knives altogether and use child-safe knives instead. Older children can learn to chop soft ingredients with a butter knife. Before they get started, demonstrate the correct way to hold and use one – fingers tucked away, slow and steady!
Keep Hands and Surfaces Clean
Sticky fingers have a way of getting on everything, so before and after baking, ensure your little bakers wash their hands thoroughly. Keep the workspace tidy by wiping up accidents quickly, so there are no surprise slips or sticky disasters.
Watch Out for Loose Clothing and Hair
Long sleeves, dangling jewellery, a unicorn scarf or loose hair can easily get caught or become hazards. Roll up sleeves, tie back hair, and if your little one has an apron, even better!
Ready, Set, Bake
A messy kitchen is a small price to pay for the great memories made along the way. So, embrace the spills, enjoy the laughs, and relish the sweet moments! Because long after the treats are gone, the memories of baking together will stay with your kids forever. For more recipes, inspiration and tips, sign up to our newsletter. Happy baking!
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