Summertime is a great opportunity to make some fun treats with kids. Cooking with kids can be a little frustrating if you are expecting it to be without a mess. Having a bit more time on your hands this summer to allow for the spilled flour and to make it a cooking experience rather than one more thing on your to-do list will help keep it fun for your kiddo AND you!
Here are some tips I have for cooking with kids…
Get out all of your ingredients
pre-portion some of them, especially if your kiddo is under 4- so they are mostly dumping ingredients in and stirring (leave the learning about 1/2 cups and full cups etc.. for when they are older
prep some ingredients ahead of time- for example, if your kiddo is chopping something like a carrot- you may want to peel it first if you don’t want them using a vegetable peeler
have lots of clean-up rags on-hand for wiping up spills on-the-spot
Here are some fun recipes to make with your kiddos this summer:
Strawberry Popsicles!
Blend up 1 cup of strawberries with a little milk, yogurt or water and some honey- you can determine the sweetness
Pour into popsicle molds leaving some room at the top if you’d like to add a second layer!
Pop in the freezer for about 15 minutes until beginning to set
For the second layer, blend 1/2 cup of coconut cream with 1-2 tablespoons of honey
Remove the popsicles from the freezer and add the coconut layer. Place popsicle sticks into the popsicles if you are making them in Dixie cups. Replace in the freezer and freeze until solid!
Popsicles can also be great for teething kiddos- particularly the ones without the
stick in the middle.
Here are some popsicle molds that I like to use…
Another thing I love to make with kids are Energy Balls. You have probably seen some version of these before- they are packed with protein and give a big dose of healthy foods if you throw in some chia seeds and flax meal. The recipe is very forgiving so you can get creative and if you notice it is too sticky, add more oats. Too dry, add more nut butter or sweetener. My measurements are approximations because I typically throw things in.
Chocolate Chip Energy Balls
1 cup nut butter of your choice
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup flax meal
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup dairy free mini chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup honey (or you could do 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup honey)
Mix everything together then pop in the fridge to harden a bit. After about 30 minutes roll into balls and store in fridge or freezer. You can also add in unsweetened shredded coconut or roll the balls in the coconut at the end!
These are the oats and chocolate chips I prefer using…
Mason Jar Ice Cream
This is a super-easy recipe and fun to make this summer with kids. You can be creative and add in chopped oreo cookies, berries, or even a little jam if you don’t have fresh berries on hand.
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Place all ingredients in a 16 ounce mason jar. Shake until mixture thickens then place in the freezer for 3 hours for the perfect soft serve ice cream!
Cooking with kids is a great way to work on fine motor skills, experience new and different textures, learn about numbers and quantity, follow steps, build reading skills, and even build hand and shoulder strength stirring! Here are some of my favorite kitchen tools for kids…
Have fun with these recipes! What are some of your favorite things to cook with kids? Have any recipes to share?
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