Kids in the Kitchen

So you want your kids to help with the baking this year. Fantastic idea! Kids of any age can create holiday masterpieces when given the right ingredients. They can make dinner while you catch up on your to do list, make edible gifts for family and friends and help put together all of the delicious feasts of the season.

It's true that not every recipe will lend itself to being made by little hands, but many of them will! Here are some very accommodating recipes, along with examples of the parts your little darlings can play in the creation of each culinary masterpiece.

Ages 2 to 4

Kids this age are energetic, hands on... and forgetful! They are great and passionate helpers that can often do more than we give them credit for. These cuties need projects that are far from the heat and easy enough for tiny hands. It is also important to choose recipes that are completed quickly or done in small enough segments that there is enough instant gratification to hold their interest. The following recipes are perfect for giving these littlest kids a sense of accomplishment.

TanyaG's Drop Biscuits- Little hands can help measure and put these biscuits on the baking sheets.

Christmas Truffles- Chocolate is always a great gift! Once the chocolate has cooled, your children will love shaping and decorating these goodies.

Mini Sweet Potato Pies- The culinary genius behind this recipe said that if you quarter the potatoes before cooking them, then the skins will slide right off. Your children can help skin the cooled potatoes, mash the potatoes and roll the pie dough into balls.

Ages 5 to 7

Kids in this age group have better dexterity and a slightly longer attention span. They are able to stir things on the stove and give a lot more input into what is being made. They still need a lot of supervision, but are more likely to use common sense and be aware of their surroundings. These recipes are perfect for giving kids some freedom to create while giving you the security of knowing they are safe.

Easy Christmas Cut-Out Cookies- Once the dough is made, help your child roll it out and turn them loose. Kids this age are great with cookie cutters. You can keep a steady stream of cookies going in and out of the oven with your little chef helping.

Breakfast Pizza- Breakfast in bed anyone? Once your kids get ahold of this easy recipe, this dream can become a reality!

Cranberry Bark- You can do the stove work and let your little Picasso do the spreading and sprinkling.

Ages 8 to 10

By this age, kids can do a lot of things in the kitchen without any help. Taking heavy dishes out of the oven still presents a problem, but not much else does. Often times, parents can have the joy of just being the “assistant” when cooking with these guys. They are well on their way to being culinary masters. Take a back seat with these recipes and watch your kids work their magic.

Milk Chocolate Haystacks with Toasted Coconut - This is a great dual project. One of you can stir the coconut while the other does the chocolate. This also keeps you close so you can supervise without appearing to. Haystacks make fabulous gifts. Put them in a pretty tin and your child will give them with pride.

Italian Soup- Your little ones can treat you to dinner! This one is super easy. Once your child understands stove safety they can do this by themselves.

Cheese Logs and Cheese Balls- These are easy to make and have an impressive result. Consider them as gifts or for great snacking around the house. Try Goat Cheese Log, Pineapple Pecan Cheese Ball and Bacon Broccoli Cheese Ball.

Ages 11 and Up

Somewhere in this range is where our kids kick us out of the kitchen. They know what they are doing, and take pride in the finished product. These recipes are easy enough for them to do all by themselves, with a finished product that doesn't feel simple at all.

Scones- A tin of scones makes a unique gift for anyone on your shopping list. These scone recipes are easy to put together and will give your kids plenty of practice with measurements. Try Pumpkin Scones, Cranberry Orange Scones and Lemon Scones.

Boiled Cookies- These cookies are quick and easy. They offer near instant gratification for the whole family.

Mike's Amazing Macaroni and Cheese- Perfect for a comforting dinner any night of the week or as a side dish in the holiday feasts.