6 easy cookie recipes for kids

Your daughter just told you about her school’s bake sale — and it’s tomorrow. Before you show up with a package of Oreos or pawn the task off on a grandparent or the nanny, take a peek at these six easy cookies to make with kids. They’re sure to be crowd pleasers and don’t require much time in the kitchen, which means kids can help out every step of the way.

1. Butterscotch pudding cookies

These delightful cookies satisfy any sweet tooth. This butterscotch pudding cookie recipe from Fake Ginger is perfect for its simplicity. Kids can help measure out ingredients and roll the cookie dough balls into balls for baking. Even better, these freeze well, too.

2. Cake mix cookies

Instead of measuring out a bunch of separate ingredients and sifting together flours, take a shortcut with boxed cake mix. This cake mix cookies recipe from My Baking Addiction uses a French vanilla mix to bake up fluffy cookies, and a dollop of buttercream frosting plays off the recipe’s creative cake origins. If you’re short on time though, skip the frosting and serve as-is.

3. No-bake cookies

The fastest way to make a batch of cookies? Don’t bake them. These no-bake cookies from Gimme Some Oven only take 15 minutes from start to finish — about the time it takes for your oven to preheat if you were making a traditional cookie recipe. Chocolaty and chewy, just dollop the hot mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper to cool and harden, then eat them up!

4. Kid-easy peanut butter cookies

These are not only easy cookies for kids to make, but they call for just three ingredients. This flourless peanut butter cookie recipe from Lil’ Luna requires just a cup of peanut butter, 1/2 cup of white sugar and one egg to make two dozen cookies. In less than 20 minutes, you’re eating cookies, which is perfect when you’re short on time or out of traditional baking ingredients.

5. Candy bar cookie bars

Turn leftover sweets into a dessert you can share with this amazing candy bar cookie bars recipe from Together as a Family. Once you combine the ingredients for this easy cookie recipe, you simply press the mixture into the pan, put it in the oven and watch it bake — no scooping or rolling dough required. Let the kids unwrap the candy while you start the dough.

6. Snickerdoodles

Leah Brooks, director and founder of children’s cooking school Y.U.M. Chefs, says these flavorful snickerdoodles are perfect for all ages. The recipe uses ingredients that are probably already in your pantry, and the cookies bake up soft and chewy. By including “tips for smaller hands,” Brooks shows how children can help out. “Kids love rolling the cookie dough balls in the sparkly cinnamon-sugar mixture,” she explains. “Have an example piece so they can make sure they’re making the dough balls the right size!” Try this recipe, adapted from Brooks’ cookbook, “Baking With Kids.”

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 big pinch salt
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• For cinnamon-sugar coating:
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F, and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt, then set aside. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter with a wooden spoon until it’s smooth and shiny. Gradually add sugar, creaming until light and fluffy, and scrape down sides of bowl. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Add dry ingredients in two batches, gently mixing after each addition. (For Smaller Hands: Using a wooden spoon, smash butter against sides of bowl to soften. You can also microwave butter for about 15 seconds.)

For the coating, mix together the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Form 1/4-cup portions of dough into balls and roll them in cinnamon and sugar to coat. Place each ball about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes or until cookies are set in the center and beginning to crack, rotating the baking sheets after 5 minutes (cookies will not brown). Transfer sheets to wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes before moving cookies to rack.

You don’t need an entire free afternoon to make cookies with your kids. These easy recipes can have you and your little ones satisfying your sweet tooth in no time!