Looking for kids baking ideas that go beyond a plain batch of cookies? Think red-nosed reindeer, mini pizzas and cake squares covered in colorful sprinkles.
These pictures include finished treats plus little jobs your child can try along the way.
You can keep things simple or go all out with decorating. Use a trusted recipe for the baking itself, with an adult handling ovens and hot trays.
Save tasting for after baking, then bring out the decorations!
Baking and decorating ideas to try together
red-nosed reindeer cookies
How cute are these little reindeer? The round cookies have dark piped antlers, tiny dot eyes and bright red noses.
You don’t need a special animal-shaped cutter to get this look.
Try decorating cooled round cookies with chocolate antlers and red candy noses. I’d keep those slightly different expressions!
cupcake piping practice
Start with a swirl! An adult is helping guide the piping bag here, with cupcakes in pink cases and little pots of decorations nearby.
For your own decorating session, try guiding the bag together before letting your child have a turn. A few practice swirls on a plate could be a good starting point.
golden domed muffins
Don’t want to get out all the frosting and sprinkles? No problem!
These golden muffins have tall, uneven tops with dark chips peeking through. They look lovely just as they are.
Read also: 20 Cupcake Decorating Ideas With Flowers, Sprinkles and Cute Toppers
Choose a chocolate chip muffin recipe and let your child help with the measuring before an adult takes over at the oven.
moons hearts and stars
There’s a little bit of everything on these trays, from crescent moons to hearts and tiny bears. I love how some of the dough shapes have darker patches running through them.
Set out a few different cutters if you want the same mix. Leave the spacing on the baking trays to match your recipe rather than squeezing every shape in.
mini pepperoni pizzas
Who says baking day has to be all about sweets? These little pizzas have red sauce, browned cheese and big pepperoni rounds on top.
For a savory option, let your child arrange toppings on individual pizza bases before baking. You could offer sliced peppers too if you want another color.
little sausage wraps
These golden sausage wraps are such a cute change from cookies. I especially love the pale lines between the browned dough spirals and the little sausage ends peeking out.
Pick a tested sausage-wrap recipe if you want to try the look. An adult should cut the finished sausages into age-appropriate pieces before serving.
gingerbread with silly outfits
I am obsessed with these gingerbread outfits. The dotted shorts, striped trousers and colorful candy buttons give each cookie its own little personality.
Instead of trying to make every face match, let your child choose a different expression or outfit for each one. Those big white smiles are adorable.
rolling dough together
Sometimes the activity is the idea. Little hands and an adult’s hands share a long rolling pin here, with a broad sheet of pale dough underneath.
Try rolling together before moving on to cutters. Follow your recipe’s dough thickness rather than aiming for the biggest sheet possible.
chocolate cereal clusters
If you’re looking for a break from detailed decorating, take inspiration from these chocolate-colored cereal clusters. The bumpy little heaps sit in white paper cases without any extra toppings.
You could choose a no-bake chocolate cereal recipe as a side activity. Let an adult handle any melting before children help spoon the cooled mixture into cases.
a mixed muffin tray
Can’t settle on one topping? This tray has blueberry-studded tops, chocolate chips and several other finishes all sitting side by side.
The row of chocolate chip ones would be my pick.
Use a recipe that includes tested mix-in variations if you want to make a mixed batch. Children could choose between the prepared options.
red jam centers
These jam-centered cookies are so pretty without a single sprinkle. I love the thick golden edges around those glossy red middles.
A thumbprint cookie recipe would be a lovely way to try this style. Let your child help shape the indentations at the stage your recipe recommends.
confetti brownie squares
Bring out the bright sprinkles for this one! The dark brownie squares have a glossy topping scattered with colorful confetti shapes and small pale pieces.
For your version, you could keep the decoration to rainbow sprinkles over chocolate frosting. A small bowl of sprinkles gives your child something to pinch and scatter.
shaping dough with friends
This is a lovely idea for a shared baking activity. The children have their own pieces of dough along the table, with some pressed flat and others rolled into longer shapes.
For a similar setup, give everyone a separate portion from a suitable bread recipe. There’s no need for all the shapes to look identical.
a pie topped with stars
That big pastry star is my favorite part of this pie. Smaller cutouts sit beside it over an orange filling, with more dough being shaped nearby.
If your pie recipe allows pastry decorations, let your child choose a few cutters for the top. You can leave gaps between the shapes so the filling still shows.
sprinkled cake on sticks
Cake dressed up like an ice pop? So cute!
These rectangular slices sit on sticks with brown or pale coatings, pastel candy circles and tiny heart decorations.
You could borrow just the decorating idea for ordinary cake squares too. I’d keep the mix of large circles and little sprinkles.
little filled pastries
If you like something less colorful, these golden pastries are a pretty option. The tops have a light scattering of crystals, with a red filling visible inside the opened one.
Look for a tested jam-filled pastry recipe to try a similar style. Let the filling cool fully before serving, even if the outside feels ready.
tiny teddy bear cutouts
How sweet is that little dough bear? Stars and scalloped rounds sit nearby, but the small bear shape is the detail I’d save.
This is a good reminder that you can stick to just a few favorite cutters. Try helping your child lift each shape gently onto the prepared tray.
googly-eyed sprinkle rings
These faces are hilarious, haha! Each ring has a brown coating, two big candy eyes and a generous scattering of colorful sprinkles around the lower half.
For a similar decorating project, try cooled baked doughnuts or ring-shaped cookies. Leave a little clear space around the eyes so you can still see those funny expressions.
measuring and mixing
Not every baking job needs a piping bag. Here, a measuring cup, bowls of ingredients and an open cookbook share the counter with a bowl of golden mixture.
Give your child one measuring task at a time while you follow the recipe together. Keep raw flour and batter for baking rather than tasting.
pink strawberry cake jars
Last but definitely not least, we have these pretty layered cake jars. I love the strawberry slices against the glass and the tall pink swirls on top.
For your own version, layer cooled cake with a suitable pink frosting or cream filling in clear serving cups. Let your child arrange the prepared strawberry slices where they’ll show through the sides.
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