It can be difficult to come up with new ways to entertain the grandkids every time they visit. But cooking with them has to be one of the most enjoyable ways to spend time with them. Cooking with the grandkids provides opportunities for learning and spending quality time together. It may even spark a new hobby they will pursue for the rest of their lives. Not to mention that you'll be creating wonderful memories with them.

True, it can be messy because flour sometimes ends up on the counter and the floor. Still, you can have fun making sweet or savoury snacks while also teaching children valuable life skills, good nutrition, kitchen safety, and practising skills like measuring and reading.

You can also use gadgets and tools that make cooking easier to get the kids involved and help along the way!

If you're planning a cooking/baking weekend with the grandkids, here are 15 of the best dinners and desserts to make with them. They're easy, kid-friendly, and taste just as good as they look!

Sweet treats​

Cupcakes​

Let's start with the sweets! Everyone, especially children, deserves a treat every now and then. So why not bake some delicious cupcakes? Though cupcakes aren't the healthiest option, they're not all sugary powders and edible paper. You can easily sneak in healthy flavours with fresh fruit toppings or use alternative flours to get the kids used to different grains and textures.

The grandkids can help mix the cake batter, the icing, and the decorating. Here’s a recipe for basic vanilla cupcakes that the kids will definitely enjoy.

Brownies​

Brownies are always a hit with both kids and adults. They're so easy to make and only take a few minutes to bake. Let the kids mix the ingredients, pour them into the pan, and watch as they transform into delicious brownies.

This 3-ingredient Nutella brownies recipe is one of our favourites. Nutella has to be one of the most delicious spreads, and we're sure the kids will enjoy anything with it, such as Nutella brownies! It only takes three ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare, making it ideal for our impatient members!

Homemade Toffee Apples​

There's something about the sweet, sticky caramel that makes toffee irresistible. And what's not to love about apples? They're healthy, they're delicious, and they're the perfect size for little hands.

You can do a few things to make toffee apples even more enjoyable for the kids. First, let them help you select the apples. They'll have fun picking out their favourites. Second, let them help you prepare the toffee. They can help you measure the ingredients and stir the toffee. Third, let them help you dip the apples. They'll love seeing the toffee turn the apples into something magical.

Making toffee apples with your grandkids is a fun and easy way to create lasting memories. Try this homemade toffee apple recipe, get sticky, and enjoy some quality time with the kids.

Jelly jigglers​

Jelly jigglers are a type of gelatin dessert that is very popular with kids. They are easy to make and can be a lot of fun for kids to eat.

Making jelly jigglers with your grandkids can be a fun and bonding experience. It is a great way to teach them about measuring and following directions. Plus, they will love being able to help make a tasty treat that they can enjoy eating.

To make the experience even more enjoyable for the kids, try involving them in preparing the jelly jigglers. Let them help measure the ingredients, pour the gelatin into the mold, and choose the cookie cutters. This will help them feel more involved in the process and make the experience even more fun.

Chocolate chip cookies / biscuits​

Who can say no to a freshly baked cookie or biscuit? Let the kids help you make the dough, roll it out, and cut it into fun shapes with cookie cutters. You can make so many different kinds of cookies. You can also buy pre-made cookie dough and let the kids add whatever toppings they want, such as chocolate chips, M&Ms, fruits, and nuts, or shredded coconut.

Ice cream​

And don't forget about the one dessert that will keep the kids cool in the summer heat: ice cream! So, not only will the kids enjoy making homemade ice cream, but so will you!

Making ice cream is a great way to teach the grandkids about cooking and measuring ingredients. Plus, they will love eating the ice cream that they helped make.

To make ice cream making even more fun for the kids, let them help measure the ingredients and mix them together. Finally, let them top their ice cream with their favourite toppings.

There are easy homemade ice cream recipes that you can make in just minutes, including this one that needs only three ingredients.

3-ingredient Oreo balls​

3-ingredient oreo balls are a quick and easy treat that kids love. They are perfect for any occasion, and they are so easy to make. All you need is a package of Oreos, some cream cheese, and some chocolate.

This 3-ingredient Oreo ball recipe is simple and decorative, making it ideal for bonding with the kids. We love this recipe because it's so simple to make, but the results look as if you ordered them from a local bakery!

Get the kids to drizzle the tops with chocolate and sprinkle some sprinkles! They can also use coloured sprinkles! It's also great for holidays when the grandkids come to visit, such as Christmas or birthdays, and it's a lot of fun to decorate!

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Banana bread​

If you’re skipping the sugar, a sugar-free banana cake is perfect for you to bake with the grandkids. But don’t worry, the treat will still be sweet enough because of the flavour and natural sugars from the ripe bananas.

Sugar-free banana cake is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional banana cake recipes that call for sugar. It is also a good choice for those watching their sugar intake.

Making a sugar-free banana cake with your grandkids is a fun and rewarding experience. They will enjoy helping measure the ingredients, mix the batter, and bake the cake. And they will be proud to serve a healthy and delicious cake that they helped to make.

Scones​

Scones are usually made with flour, butter, milk, and sugar, and they can be either savoury or sweet. Kids love scones because they are soft and fluffy, and they can be eaten with either butter or jam.

Your grandkids will love getting their hands messy while making these delicious scones. They’ll love kneading the dough and shaping them into little balls before baking. Serve them with some clotted cream and jam for a real treat!

Pancakes​

Who doesn’t love pancakes? They’re so versatile, and you can make them savoury or sweet. Get the kids to help you measure out the ingredients, whisk the batter and pour it into the frying pan. They’ll be so proud when they see their creation come to life, and flipping them will be great fun!

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Savoury recipes​

Cooking with the kids doesn't always have to be about making sweet treats. There are also simple savoury recipes perfect for lunch or dinner that are great for involving and entertaining the kids.

Decorative pizzas​

The first item on the menu is pizza! Who doesn't enjoy pizza? The grandkids can enjoy decorating pizzas! Set out a variety of toppings for the children, such as ham, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, and sprinkled cheese. Try making pizza faces using olives for the eyes, ham for the lips, and capsicum around the edge of the dough for hair.

You can also try making stuffed crusts. Simply roll out the dough flat, sprinkle some cheese and your preferred filling around the edge, and fold in the sides.

This activity will be a fun way to hone the grandkids' creativity while also feeding them easily because kids are more likely to eat what they've helped prepare.

Sausage rolls​

Sausage rolls are a popular snack for both children and adults. They're tasty, portable, and flavourful, and they've become a family favourite. There are store-bought sausage rolls, but if you're unsure about what goes into them or simply want to spend time with the grandkids, making them is a fun activity to do before lunch. They're not particularly simple to make, but trust us when we say they're worth your time.

Salad in a jar​

Now, how do you get the kids to eat more vegetables? Make it exciting and enjoyable! Make a salad in a jar with your grandchildren! Allow the kids to take charge and design their own salads to encourage them to eat them.

You can also use any vegetables and other toppings such as ham. Allow them to choose at least five vegetables. Show the children how to cut soft foods with a butter knife or scissors. Place the dressing in the jar first, followed by the remaining ingredients. Then, have the kids shake it up and pour it into a bowl once finished.

Cheese twists​

Raise your hands, cheese lovers! You'll absolutely love this recipe, which is ideal for making with the grandchildren: cheese twists! These cheese twists are flaky, crunchy, and tasty, making them a perfect snack to munch on while waiting for dinner. They also pair well with a salad. The best part is that they are simple to make and only require two ingredients: puff pastry and 1 cup of parmesan cheese.

Cheese twists are made by twisting a strip of cheese into a spiral shape. The result is a cheesy, crunchy treat ideal for satisfying small appetites.

Burritos​

Making burritos are a great way to teach the grandkids about different cultures and how to cook eas and nutritious meals. Plus, they'll love getting their hands messy while making the burritos.

There are a few things you can do to make burritos more enjoyable for your grandchildren. First, let them choose the fillings for their burrito. Second, let them help prepare the fillings, such as chopping the vegetables or grating the cheese. And third, let them help assemble the burritos. This is a great activity for them to learn about measuring and following directions.


What are you going to cook or bake next time your grandchildren visit? Let us know in the comments section below.