28 Uncomplicated Desserts That Little Kids Can Actually Help Make At Home

Tiny bakers, assemble.

Baking with little kids is cute and memorable — but also sometimes kind of hard.

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The key to making sure you (and your future star bakers!) can enjoy the experience is finding the right recipe. You want something simple, straightforward, and with tiny tasks you can assign — like crushing cookies or juicing lemons.

This collection of recipes keeps things kid-friendly. No fancy French patisserie techniques here...but you'll get some seriously delicious results. (And probably some super-cute pics while you're at it!)

One last pro tip with all these recipes: If you're baking with toddlers, pre-measure the ingredients ahead of time to save yourself some serious cleanup!

1. The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

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It's a classic for a reason...beloved by all, easy to make, and ready to be paired with milk in just over an hour. 

Recipe: The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies | Shop This Recipe

2. The Best One-Bowl Brownies

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This recipe uses just one bowl — and that's absolutely clutch when baking with littles.

Recipe: The Best One-Bowl Brownies | Shop This Recipe

3. Birthday Cake Mug Cake

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This celebratory treat comes together in just three minutes! 

Recipe: Birthday Cake Mug Cake | Shop This Recipe

4. 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

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Three ingredients?! It's like this recipe was made with kids in mind.

Recipe: 3-ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies | Shop This Recipe

5. Cookies and Cream Mousse

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Your kids' favorite part about making these (besides eating them, of course!) will be smashing up all the cookies that go in it. TBH, it might be your favorite part, too.

Recipe: Cookies and Cream Mousse | Shop This Recipe

6. Strawberry Cream Cheese Bites

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Think of these as a teaching tool to talk about sharing, because you might want them all for yourself.

Recipe: Strawberry Cream Cheese Bites | Shop This Recipe

7. Lemon Meringue Bars

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This one might be better with older kiddos, but even the most petite pastry chefs can get in on simple tasks like juicing the lemons.

Recipe: Lemon Meringue Bars | Shop This Recipe

8. No-bake Mini Key Lime Pie in a Jar

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No bake and perfectly portioned, this toothsome treat feels like stress-free family vacation in a mason jar. 

Recipe: No-bake Mini Key Lime Pie in a Jar | Shop This Recipe

9. Apple Pie From Scratch

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This one's as easy as...yeah, you get it. 

Recipe: Apple Pie From Scratch | Shop This Recipe

10. Banana Cream Pie

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That random banana pudding mix you have in your pantry is about to come in handy...and deliver some serious comfort food. 

Recipe: Banana Cream Pie | Shop This Recipe

11. Slow-Cooker Cherry Cobbler

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Because it's never too early to teach your children the life-changing magic of a slow cooker. 

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Cherry Cobbler | Shop This Recipe

12. Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

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These delicious muffins sneak in a serving of carrots...so we're going to call that a win.

Recipe: Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins | Shop This Recipe

13. “Worms and Dirt” Poke Box Cake

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There's a reason this was THE dessert of our childhoods. Don't deprive your own kids (or yourself) any longer! 

Recipe: “Worms and Dirt” Poke Box Cake | Shop This Recipe

14. Vanilla 'Box' Cake Pops

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Crumbling a cake? This recipe is basically a sensory bin, too! 

Recipe: Vanilla 'Box' Cake Pops | Shop This Recipe

15. 3-ingredient Mango Sorbet

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Light and refreshing, this is the perfect treat to end a perfect summer day.

Recipe: 3-ingredient Mango Sorbet | Shop This Recipe

16. Aquarium Cookies

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This recipe is the perfect opportunity to empty out all those random jars of sprinkles in your pantry! 

Recipe: Aquarium Cookies | Shop This Recipe

17. Unicorn Cake

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This cake is so cute, it's almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Recipe: Unicorn Cake | Shop This Recipe

18. Strawberry Banana "Ice Cream"

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Healthy? Sure. Delicious? Absolutely.

Recipe: Strawberry Banana "Ice Cream" | Shop This Recipe

19. Ice Cream Bread

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This super-simple recipe only needs two ingredients: melted ice cream and self-rising flour. But, just like regular ice cream, it'll be even better if you add sprinkles.

Recipe: Ice Cream Bread | Shop This Recipe

20. The Softest Sugar Cookies Ever

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Sure, making the cookies is fun, but get ready for some real artistry when it comes to the decorations.

Recipe: The Softest Sugar Cookies Ever | Shop This Recipe

21. No-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter M&M Balls

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When you're done, quickly separate these into two containers: one for the fam and one for your secret stash. No judging.

Recipe: No-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter M&M Balls | Shop This Recipe

22. Lemon Crinkle Cake Mix Cookies

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A box of lemon cake mix saves you extra steps and cleanup, giving you more time to enjoy this sweet experience.

Recipe: Lemon Crinkle Cake Mix Cookies | Shop This Recipe

23. Banoffee Pie

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Make this extra fun for your kids, and skip the food processor. Throw the graham crackers in a bag, and let them do the smashing!

Recipe: Banoffee Pie | Shop This Recipe

24. Salty Caramel Rice Crispy Treats

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This simple twist on a classic will make it a real palate pleaser for you, too. 

Recipe: Salty Caramel Rice Crispy Treats | Shop This Recipe

25. The Ultimate Funfetti Cake

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One of life's greatest mysteries...why is it that funfetti cake is *so* much better than regular yellow cake?

Recipe: The Ultimate Funfetti Cake | Shop This Recipe

26. Classic Chocolate Cake

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Before they can win Bake Off, they must master the basics.

Recipe: Classic Chocolate Cake | Shop This Recipe

27. No-Bake Dulce De Leche Cheesecake

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The hardest part of this recipe? Waiting patiently for it to set in the refrigerator.

Recipe: No-Bake Dulce De Leche Cheesecake | Shop This Recipe

28. Giant Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich

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OK, now THIS is the stuff childhood dreams are made of.

Recipe: Giant Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich | Shop This Recipe

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