Tips for Baking Holiday Cookies With Kids

Little kids are big on trying to find ways to help their adults, especially during the hectic holidays. We say, take them up on it! What better way to get them into the spirit of the season than to invite them into the kitchen with the cookies? Sure, baking with kids may come with its share of challenges, but don’t sweat it! We’ve put together some age-based tips and tasks to help make baking holiday cookies with kids super successful and fun for everyone. And of course, we’ve included some kid-friendly and Betty-approved recipes to boot.

Ages 2-4

Baking with your littlest children is a wonderful way to spark their early creative juices as well as create lasting memories and new holiday traditions. Embrace the mess and enjoy the journey of introducing them to the joys of baking with these smart tips and easy-peasy age-related tasks for baking holiday cookies.

Tips for You

• Have a sturdy stool or booster seat available to help little ones reach the countertop.
• Mix the cookie dough in advance.
• Bake cookies ahead of time.

Tasks for Them

• Pour premeasured ingredients into a mixing bowl.
• Roll cookie dough into balls then flatten with their fingers.
• Roll balls of cookie dough in sugar.
• Transfer cookie balls to a cookie sheet.
• Decorate cookies whether by frosting or simply dropping decorative sugar and sprinkles on top.

Try It Out with These Recipes

Ages 5-7

Kiddos in this age range are ready to take on a little more baking responsibility and start learning some essential skills, which makes the experience rewarding for you and educational for them. Help build confidence while creating wonderful memories with these tasks and tips for baking holiday cookies with kids.

Tips for You

• Have a sturdy stool or booster seat available to help kids reach the countertop.
• Premeasure the ingredients so your child only needs to pour or drop them into the mixing bowl.
• For cutouts: Roll the dough to the correct thickness. Prepare cookie cutters for use by dusting them with a little flour.
• For decorating: Set up an area with frosting, decorative sugars, sprinkles and icing spatulas.

Tasks for Them

• Use a hand-held electric mixer (with mom or dad’s help) to combine some of the ingredients.
• Stir in chocolate chips, raisins, or other fun add-ins.
• Cut out cookie shapes from the rolled dough—but probably best if mom or dad helps transfer the cookie cutouts to the cookie sheet for baking.
• Unwrap and press chocolate kisses into the tops of the cookies.
• Frost and decorate cookies.

Try It Out With These Recipes

Ages 8-10

Your big kid has gained some independent and serious kitchen skills—now they are old enough to handle many of the baking responsibilities and take more tasks off your hands. Help them take more ownership of the baking process, continue to encourage their love of baking (which you’ve instilled in them) and grow their collection of well-loved holiday memories. Then take a break for a job well done! Here are the tasks and tips for baking holiday cookies with kids in this age range.

Tips for You

• Make sure you have the right ingredients on hand for this recipe.
• Get out the measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• For decorating: Set up an area with frosting, decorative sugars, sprinkles and icing spatulas.

Tasks for Them

• Measure and pour ingredients into the mixing bowl.
• Mix the ingredients with a hand-held mixer (with some adult supervision).
• Shape or cut out cookies.
• Put the cookie sheet into the oven—under your supervision.
• Frost and decorate cookies.
• Dip cookies in melted chocolate.
• Drizzle melted chocolate over the tops of the cookies.
• Put together sandwich cookies.
• Pipe frosting features on gingerbread men.

Try It Out with These Recipes

Have some kid-friendly baking tips of your own? We’d love to hear them! Share on social and tag @BettyCrocker.