Because “helping” often means more flour on the floor than in the bowl…
There are few things I love more than baking with my little bears. Some of my happiest moments in the kitchen involve floury handprints, giggles, and someone yelling, “Mum, I cracked the egg all by myself!”
And while it’s not always calm or clean, baking with kids has become a tradition in our house—and one I wouldn’t trade for anything.
That said… I’ve had to learn a few things along the way to make it actually enjoyable for everyone involved. So this week I’m sharing my tried-and-true tips to make baking with your kids less stressful and more magical.
Baking With Kids – What I’ve Learned (The Hard Way)
Give your kids age appropriate tasks.
Let’s be honest, not every kid is ready to roll dough or crack eggs without catastrophe. What they can do really depends on their age, so I tailor their tasks to what they’ll enjoy and feel confident doing.
Under 3s:
- Pre-measure the ingredients so they can just pour them in
- Give them a whisk or spoon to stir (even if it’s just pretend)
- Keep a damp cloth nearby because… yeah.
- This is messy fun, not Michelin-star prep
3–5 Year Olds:
- My youngest LOVES to chop, so last Christmas Santa brought him a set of kid-safe plastic knives and he’s been slicing strawberries like a pro ever since
- They can help count ingredients, mash bananas, mix, and press down cookies
- Let them spoon batter into muffin trays or help with cookie cutters
Primary School Age:
- This is the perfect time to start teaching how to read recipes
- I use baking to sneak in a bit of maths practice—“We need 1 and ½ cups of flour… can you find those two measuring cups for me?”
- They can help measure, crack eggs, fold ingredients, and even start to manage simple baking steps independently
Aprons Are Your Best Friend
A few years ago, I made my boys their own little aprons—and they LOVE them. Not only do they get into the “mini chef” mindset, but it saves their clothes from flour explosions and butter fingerprints.
If you don’t have time to sew your own, there are so many cute and inexpensive ones out there. Let them choose one with dinosaurs or sparkles—whatever gets them excited to bake with you.
Embrace the Chaos
Let me be clear: baking with kids is not a clean process. There will be egg shells in the bowl. Someone will sneeze into the flour. And somehow, the kitchen will look like a gingerbread bomb went off.
But here’s the thing: that’s part of the magic.
I’ve learned to take a deep breath, remind myself that we’re making memories—not running a bakery—and lean into the mess. The clean-up takes 10 minutes. The joy lasts so much longer.
And hey, if I encourage them to help in the kitchen now while they’re eager… maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a teen one day who can whip up dinner. A woman can dream, right?
Quick Tips for Sanity-Saving Baking with Kids:
- Pick the right recipe – stick to simple bakes like biscuits, muffins, or banana bread
- Prepare the setup – lay out what you need before the kids get involved
- Don’t stress about perfection – wonky biscuits taste just as good
- Assign jobs – give each child a “task” to avoid fighting
- Put on music – dance breaks = fewer meltdowns
- Take a photo – even if the result is a bit... rustic, it’s worth remembering
PS – If Baking Isn’t on Your To-Do List This Year…
Don’t forget—my Christmas Baking Collection is available now! (here)
Gift packs, teacher gifts, cupcake boxes, gingerbread, celebration sets—you name it.
Everything is handmade with love, and ready for your table or gifting.
This Week’s To-Do:
- Plan a kid-friendly baking afternoon
- Set up your little ones with aprons and easy tasks
- Try a new recipe together (or just make a batch of choc-chip biscuits!)
- Embrace the chaos and take lots of photos
- Save your energy for next week—we’ll be diving into easy make-ahead Christmas dishes
Baking with kids doesn’t have to be stressful—if you let go of perfection and hold onto the joy.
Flour in their hair. Batter on the counter. Smiles for days.
You’ve got this, Mumma.