10 Easy Recipes To Make With Your Kids This Winter: Pancakes, Pizza, Cider + More (2024)

Community Corner

Need family-friendly cooking inspiration? Try these simple dessert, snack and dinner ideas for kids to make.

Posted Sat, Jan 1, 2022 at 2:06 pm PT

Why not embrace this opportunity and make memories in the kitchen with your kids?

Here are 10 easy recipes for kids to try with their families. Your budding chefs may need some help with chopping or using appliances such as the stove, but these simple recipes can teach them some new kitchen skills that they'll use for years to come.

Hot Spiced Caramel Apple Cider

Apple cider is a holiday season staple for a reason, and your kids will love sipping on this four-ingredient stovetop cider while lounging around. Encourage them to swing by the kitchen to stir this cider as the drink's comforting smells waft through your home.

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Bread Pudding Microwave Mug Cake

Got a leftover loaf lying around? These fun, customizable bread pudding mug cakes come in single servings that the kids can mix up and plop in the microwave with minimal help from mom or dad. No knives needed — use your hands to tear the bread into bite-sized chunks.

Perfect for a spontaneous sleepover or family movie night. Make it a seasonal treat by topping with crushed candy canes.

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20-Minute Trader Joe's Garden Vegetable Tortellini Soup

Tortellini is an all-ages favorite, and this four-ingredient recipe with mushrooms will allow you to sneak in some veggies at dinnertime. Grab your plastic knives and invite the kids to help stir or chop the mushrooms, if age-appropriate. Cozy up with a bowl of this soup on a chilly winter night.

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Spiced Pumpkin Banana Bread (Or Muffins)

This spiced pumpkin bread is naturally vegan and perfect for brunch, a sweet treat or a snack. Call the kids in to help stir, fill the loaf pan or measure your ingredients.

Jazz it up with walnuts or chocolate chips, or even try making the muffin version of this recipe!

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Cozy Apple Cranberry Crisp

This fuss-free treat might be one of the easiest desserts you make this winter. This cheery and zesty apple cranberry crisp is an easy crowd-pleaser that's tasty as a breakfast or dessert, especially with vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream.

Your kids might try chopping apples with plastic knives, if age-appropriate, mixing the crisp topping or spreading it atop the apple layer.

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Farmers Market Harvest Pizza

Making pizza at home doesn't have to be complicated.

Grab a premade crust, prep the toppings and call in the kids to help layer on their favorite toppings. This recipe is loaded with Monterey Jack cheese, zucchini, bell peppers and mild green chiles, but this recipe post offers plenty of suggestions if you'd like to tweak to add meat or different veggies.

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The Fluffiest Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Forget IHOP — these ricotta pancakes are sure to please the kiddos! They're pillowy, tall and made with comforting flavors of maple and pumpkin spice. Call in the kids for help mixing, measuring ingredients or flipping these flapjacks, if age-appropriate.

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15-Minute Pesto Burrata Pasta

It's never too soon to introduce your kids to the creamy, heavenly goodness that is burrata.

This recipe is super beginner-friendly with just four ingredients, but also includes instructions for homemade pesto if you're looking to step it up a notch.

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PB&J Smoothie Bowl

If your kids love a classic PB&J, why not serve it up in smoothie form? This four-ingredient recipe can be made vegan and is on the table in five minutes.

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Cinnamon Baked Apples + Salted Caramel

Call in the kids to help pile on the toppings for these baked apples, no apple corer needed. Get creative with the toppings and feel free to use the recipe as a baseline, but this recipe calls for soft caramel candies, hazelnuts, maple syrup, cinnamon and brown sugar.

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