10 Baking Projects Kids Can Help With During the Holidays

The holiday season is the perfect time to get kids involved in the kitchen with fun and festive baking projects. From decorating gingerbread houses to creating holiday-themed cookies, these activities not only bring out their creativity but also provide lasting memories. Whether you are making sweet treats to share with family or simply enjoying some quality time together, there are plenty of easy and enjoyable ways for kids to help with holiday baking.

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Decorating Gingerbread People and Houses

Baking gingerbread houses and gingerbread people is a holiday tradition that brings families together for creative fun. The process starts with rolling out gingerbread dough, and kids can help cut out shapes using cookie cutters or templates. Once baked and cooled, the real fun begins with decorating. Using colorful icing as “glue,” kids can attach an array of candy decorations like gumdrops, jelly beans, and sprinkles to make their gingerbread creations uniquely their own. This project is exciting because children get to customize their gingerbread houses and people however they like; there is no right or wrong way to decorate!

The activity not only helps kids develop fine motor skills as they pipe icing and place tiny candy details, but it also fosters their creativity. Decorating gingerbread houses also encourages teamwork and communication when working in a group. Parents and children can collaborate on designing the house’s windows, doorways, and even the rooftop, making this a great family bonding experience. The best part? Once completed, these sweet creations serve as both a festive holiday decoration and a tasty treat to enjoy after the holiday season.

Making Reindeer and Snowman Cookies

Reindeer and snowman cookies are a perfect holiday baking project for kids because they are simple to make and incredibly fun to decorate. Start with a batch of soft, chewy sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies as your base. For reindeer, kids can use pretzels to create antlers, mini chocolate chips for eyes, and red M&M’s or cinnamon candies for noses. Snowman cookies can be decorated with candy buttons, chocolate chips for eyes, and a small piece of orange candy for the carrot nose. These cookies allow kids to engage in the decorating process and add their own twist to traditional holiday characters.

What makes this project especially fun is that each child can create their own version of a snowman or reindeer with different facial expressions and accessories. Decorating cookies with pretzels, candies, and icing can also help children practice their fine motor skills, as they carefully place and adjust the pieces. The cookies also offer a fun opportunity for kids to learn about holiday traditions while they enjoy their tasty creations with family and friends.

Creating Colorful Rice Krispies Treats

Rice Krispies treats are a simple, no-bake holiday treat that is perfect for getting kids involved in the kitchen. The process starts with melting butter and marshmallows together, and kids can help stir the mixture until it becomes smooth and gooey. Then, they add the Rice Krispies and mix until evenly coated. Once the mixture is ready, kids can press it into a baking dish to form the treats. This is where they get to have fun by decorating them with holiday-themed toppings like red and green sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or even candy canes broken into small pieces.

What makes this project enjoyable for kids is that it’s both quick and hands-on, offering plenty of opportunities for them to get involved at every stage. They can help measure, stir, and pour the ingredients, making them feel like a part of the process. After the Rice Krispies treats have set, they can be cut into fun shapes using cookie cutters, such as stars, trees, or even little gingerbread men. These treats are also a great way for kids to practice their decorating skills and learn the joy of sharing homemade snacks with others.

Baking Simple Cupcakes with Festive Toppings

Baking cupcakes from scratch is a delightful and easy way to involve kids in the holiday baking process. Start with a basic cupcake batter, and let kids help by pouring and stirring the ingredients together. Once the cupcakes are baked and cooled, the decorating begins. Kids can use colorful icing to frost each cupcake, and then they can add a variety of festive toppings like sprinkles, mini candy canes, or even edible glitter for a touch of holiday sparkle. Allowing kids to personalize their cupcakes with different colors and toppings gives them the chance to showcase their creativity.

Cupcake decorating is also a great opportunity for kids to practice their piping skills if you’re using piping bags to apply frosting. Kids will enjoy experimenting with different designs, whether it’s a swirl of frosting on top, a snowman face made from candies, or a festive Christmas tree made from green icing and tiny star-shaped sprinkles. The best part? Once the cupcakes are decorated, they make for a delicious treat to enjoy at holiday gatherings or share as gifts with friends and family.

Making No-Bake Chocolate Bark

No-bake chocolate bark is an easy, fun, and customizable holiday treat that kids will love making. Begin by melting chocolate (milk, dark, or white) and pouring it onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once spread out, kids can help decorate the bark by sprinkling festive toppings like crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, chopped nuts, or colorful holiday sprinkles. The chocolate hardens quickly in the fridge, turning it into a crunchy, sweet treat that kids will be proud of.

This no-bake treat is perfect for children who are eager to help in the kitchen but may not have the patience for lengthy baking projects. It also allows them to be creative with their toppings and make each piece of chocolate bark unique. It’s an easy way to create holiday treats to package up as gifts, or simply to enjoy as a family while watching holiday movies or spending time together. Chocolate bark is also very customizable, so kids can experiment with different combinations of chocolates and toppings, making it a versatile holiday activity.

Decorating Holiday Sugar Cookie Bars

Sugar cookie bars are an easy alternative to traditional cut-out cookies, and kids will love decorating them. To make the bars, kids can press sugar cookie dough into a baking dish and bake it as a giant cookie. Once it has cooled, they can spread frosting on top and use various holiday-themed sprinkles, candies, or colored sugars to decorate. This baking project is simple and allows kids to personalize their treat with their favorite festive toppings.

The best part of this project is that it’s less time-consuming than making individual cookies, and kids still get to enjoy the fun of decorating. Whether they choose to make snowflakes, Christmas trees, or other holiday shapes with the frosting and sprinkles, each child can create a unique design. These cookie bars are great for sharing with family and friends, or for serving at holiday gatherings.

Snowball Cookies

Snowball cookies, also known as Russian tea cakes, are a simple yet delicious holiday treat that kids can help bake. The dough for snowball cookies is easy to prepare, and children can help roll the dough into small balls before baking. Once the cookies are baked and slightly cooled, they are rolled in powdered sugar to give them their signature snowy appearance. The soft texture and sweet, nutty flavor make these cookies a festive favorite for kids and adults alike.

This project is great for younger children, as rolling the dough into balls is a hands-on activity that is easy for little hands to do. Additionally, the rolling in powdered sugar creates a fun, snow-like effect that kids will love. Snowball cookies are perfect for making in large batches, so kids can share them with friends and family or package them as holiday gifts.

Making Peppermint Bark Brownies

Peppermint bark brownies are a decadent holiday treat that combines two of the season’s best flavors, chocolate and peppermint. Kids can help make the brownies from scratch or use a boxed mix, and then decorate the top with crushed peppermint candies and a drizzle of white chocolate. Once baked, the brownies are not only delicious but also festive, with the bright red and white peppermint pieces adding a pop of holiday cheer.

This baking project is a fun way for kids to practice following directions and get creative with the toppings. They can experiment with different types of chocolate or add extra ingredients like mini marshmallows for additional flavor and texture. Peppermint bark brownies are perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or a sweet treat after a day of holiday shopping.

Mini Gingerbread Cakes

Mini gingerbread cakes are the perfect size for kids to decorate and enjoy. They can help by mixing the ingredients, pouring the batter into small cake pans, and then frosting the cakes with gingerbread-flavored icing. Kids can use candies, sprinkles, and even small edible decorations to turn their mini cakes into holiday masterpieces.

This project is an excellent way to introduce kids to the joys of cake decorating. They can add their own personal touch by making each mini cake unique with different icing patterns and candy decorations. Mini gingerbread cakes are also perfect for gifting, as they are small and easy to package for friends and family during the holiday season.

Making Reindeer Pretzels

Reindeer pretzels are a fun and simple treat that kids can assemble quickly. The base is made by dipping pretzels in melted chocolate, and kids can help by adding candy eyes, mini red M&M’s for noses, and broken pieces of pretzels for antlers. These sweet and salty treats are perfect for kids because they are easy to make and involve minimal baking. It’s also a great way for kids to practice their hand-eye coordination as they carefully decorate each reindeer.

This project is especially fun because kids can make each reindeer unique with different antlers or candy combinations. The process is quick, so it holds the attention of younger children, and the finished pretzel reindeer can be enjoyed immediately or packaged in festive bags for gift-giving. Plus, the combination of chocolate and pretzels makes for a tasty, crunchy treat.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.