Desserts Kids Can Make

Written by
Laureen Miles Brunelli
Updated 04/02/20
Hands making ice cream sundaes on a blue-and-white checkered tablecloth

Jamie Grill / Getty Images

Many kids will cling to the notion that food appears on the table by magic if mom and dad never teach kids cooking. And though there are some kids who want to learn, others aren't interested in putting dinner on the table. So start kids' cooking lessons by making things they like to eat — desserts.

These recipes are all so easy that kids with some kitchen know-how can make them alone and those that are just learning can get a start with an adult's help. None of these desserts include the words boil, broil, bake, etc.

However, that doesn’t mean kids don’t need kitchen safety lessons before embarking on cooking projects. These are desserts kids can make themselves once they’ve learn some kitchen basics. Each includes potential safety concerns, so parents can evaluate whether their children will need help or instructions.

  • 01 of 07

    Parfaits

    Mother and Daughter Cooking

     Choreograph / iStock / Getty Images Plus

    Kids love to layer. And when those layers are filled with good stuff to eat it's even more fun. These parfait recipes involve stacking goodies in a copy. So easy a kid could do it.

  • 02 of 07

    Chocolate Milkshake

    chocolate milkshake

     Leah Maroney

    This classic recipe couldn't be simpler. It's just milk (soy milk, almond milk, or any non-dairy milk will work great), vanilla ice cream, and chocolate syrup. That's it. The fun part comes in topping your milkshake. Assemble a DIY topping bar with whip cream, sprinkles, powdered candy canes, or even whole candy bars. Kids will love mixing and matching toppings. This is particularly fun for sleepovers.

    Safety concern: Blender

  • 03 of 07

    Smoothie Recipes for Kids

    Smoothies

     Foxys_forest_manufacture / iStock / Getty Images Plus

    My kids are smoothie experts. They love to throw things in the blender and see how it tastes. Usually, it's good, but sometimes they could have used a few of these recipes.

    Safety concern: Blender

  • 04 of 07

    Fairy Bread

    Fairy Bread

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

    Fairy bread transforms the simplest ingredients into a magical treat. Have the kids help you butter sliced bread, then let them go crazy with colorful sprinkles. It's incredibly simple and the only concern is keeping the mess to a minimum, but that's a good kitchen lesson, too.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Graham Cracker Sandwiches

    Graham cracker sandwiches

    The Spruce / Linda Larsen

    Kids will love these simple sandwiches made of graham crackers sandwiched with buttercream frosting They can be also made with vanilla frosting or peanut butter frosting. This could get messy, but that is all part of the fun.

    Safety concern: Mixer

  • 06 of 07

    Dirtcup Dessert Recipe

    Dirt dessert

    The Spruce / Stephanie Gallagher

    Kids have a talent for making dirt, right? But this is even better because it’s dirt that tastes great. This recipe is for individual cups. This makes it better for a group of kids to do because younger ones can concentrate on making just one, while bigger kids can do an assembly line. 

    Safety concern: Microwave, hot liquid

  • 07 of 07

    Classic Banana Pudding Recipe

    Banana Pudding

     GoodLifeStudio / E+ / Getty Images

    Instant vanilla pudding is the base then kids can layer fresh bananas with vanilla wafer cookies for a no-bake (and even, no-microwave) dessert that they will love.

    Safety concern: Mixer