7 Simple Recipes for Festive Fun That Are Kid-Friendly
1. Christmas Tree Pita Bread Pizzas
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Whole wheat pita bread | As needed |
| Pizza sauce | As needed |
| Shredded mozzarella cheese | As needed |
| Toppings (bell peppers, olives, etc.) | As needed |
| Instructions |
|---|
| 1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). |
| 2. Cut pita bread into triangle shapes. |
| 3. Spread pizza sauce, sprinkle cheese, and add toppings. |
| 4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese melts. |
2. Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Rice Krispies cereal | 3 cups |
| Mini marshmallows | 3 cups |
| Butter | 1/4 cup |
| Mini pretzels | For antlers |
| Red and brown candy | For noses and eyes |
| Instructions |
|---|
| 1. Melt butter and marshmallows, stir in cereal. |
| 2. Press into greased pan and cool. |
| 3. Cut into shapes, add pretzels for antlers and candy for faces. |
3. Snowman Pancakes
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Pancake mix or batter | As needed |
| Mini chocolate chips | For eyes and buttons |
| Sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries | For decoration |
| Instructions |
|---|
| 1. Make three pancakes of varying sizes. |
| 2. Arrange on plate in snowman shape. |
| 3. Decorate with chocolate chips, bananas, and berries. |
4. Christmas Wreath Veggie Plate
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Broccoli florets | 2-3 cups |
| Cherry tomatoes | 1 cup |
| Sliced cucumbers | 1 cup |
| Baby carrots | 1 cup |
| Ranch or hummus | For dipping |
| Instructions |
|---|
| 1. Arrange broccoli in a circle on a platter. |
| 2. Add tomatoes and cucumbers as “ornaments.” |
| 3. Place carrots at the bottom as a “bow.” |
| 4. Serve with dip. |
5. Christmas Cookie Decorating
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Sugar cookie dough | As needed |
| Icing (various colors) | For decoration |
| Sprinkles and candy toppings | As needed |
| Instructions |
|---|
| 1. Roll out dough, cut shapes, bake and cool. |
| 2. Set up a decorating station with icing and toppings. |
| 3. Let kids decorate cookies as desired. |
6. Santa Hat Brownies
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Brownie mix or homemade brownies | As needed |
| Strawberries (tops removed) | As needed |
| Whipped cream or frosting | As needed |
| Instructions |
|---|
| 1. Bake brownies, cut into small shapes. |
| 2. Place a strawberry on top of each brownie. |
| 3. Add a small dollop of cream to the tip of the strawberry. |
7. Hot Chocolate Spoons
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Plastic or wooden spoons | As needed |
| Melting chocolate | 1 cup |
| Mini marshmallows, crushed candy canes, sprinkles | For decoration |
| Instructions |
|---|
| 1. Melt chocolate and dip each spoon. |
| 2. Decorate with toppings while chocolate is still soft. |
| 3. Let chocolate harden on wax paper. |
These recipe cards provide quick, clear steps to make cooking with kids easy and enjoyable. Each recipe has minimal steps and fun decoration ideas to keep them engaged!
Bringing children into the kitchen during the holidays is a great idea! You can easily make delectable goodies and unforgettable holiday memories with these simple, kid-friendly Christmas recipes. The whole family can enjoy baking and cooking together during the holidays with these easy, entertaining recipes that are perfect for small hands.
1. Pita Bread Pizzas with Christmas Trees
Kids may customize these small pizzas to resemble Christmas trees. They are a healthy substitute for conventional snacks and are simple and colorful.
Components:
Pita bread made with whole wheat
- Pizza sauce
- Shredded cheese from mozzarella
- Toppers: broccoli, olives, cherry tomatoes, sliced bell peppers, etc.
Directions:
- Set the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).
- To make pita bread seem like Christmas trees, cut it into triangles.
- Cover each triangle with pizza sauce.
- Add colored toppings that resemble ornaments after scattering shredded cheese over top.
- Bake until the cheese is melted, 10 to 12 minutes.
The Reason It’s Fun
Each pizza tree is different since kids may make their own designs using various toppings. They’re also consuming more vegetables!
2. Rice Krispie Treats with Reindeer
With a few extra ingredients, you can transform traditional Rice Krispie treats into cute reindeer. This interactive decoration is a hit with kids!
Components:
Three bowls of cereal, Rice Krispies
Three cups of little marshmallows
1/4 cup of butter
Pretzels in miniature (for antlers)
Candy in shades of red and brown (for eyes and nostrils)
Directions:
- Add marshmallows to a large pot with melted butter over low heat, stirring until smooth.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the Rice Krispies until they are completely covered.
- To cool, press the mixture into a baking pan that has been oiled.
- Slice into rounds or rectangles. To make reindeer faces, attach a red candy nose and candy eyes to each piece, and add two pretzels to the top for antlers.
The Reason It’s Fun
Making these delights is just as much fun as eating them! The reindeer faces make cute Christmas snacks, and kids adore making them.
3. Pancakes with Snowmen
A fun and festive breakfast option on Christmas morning is snowman pancakes. Kids can personalize each snowman by adding their favorite toppings!
Components:
A handmade pancake batter or pancake mix
Tiny chocolate chips (for buttons and eyes)
- Sliced blueberries, strawberries, and bananas (for garnish)
Directions:
- Make pancake batter as directed on the package.
- Line a heated griddle with three pancakes of varying sizes (small, medium, and giant).
- Line up the pancakes in a snowman pattern on a plate.
- Add sliced strawberries or blueberries for scarves or hats, a banana slice for the nose, and tiny chocolate chips for the eyes and buttons.
The Reason It’s Fun
Kids can use their imaginations to decorate their snowman at this interactive brunch. It’s also a delicious and enjoyable way to begin Christmas morning.
4. The Veggie Plate with Christmas Wreath
This colorful Christmas wreath veggie tray is a great way to get youngsters to eat their vegetables. It’s vibrant, healthful, and quite simple to put together.
Components:
Broccoli florets
- Cherry tomatoes
Cucumber slices
Carrots for babies
Hummus or ranch for dipping
Directions:
- To create the wreath base, arrange broccoli in a circle on a big platter.
- To make the broccoli look ornamental, scatter slices of cucumber and cherry tomatoes around it.
- To make it look like a “bow,” place small carrots at the bottom.
- Present the dish with a bowl of hummus or ranch for dipping.
The Reason It’s Fun
Children like arranging the vegetables in a wreath shape and the vibrant colors. It’s a fun and healthful approach to promote holiday veggie munching.
5. Decorating Christmas Cookies
A timeless holiday tradition is decorating Christmas cookies. Create a station where children may decorate cookies and let their imaginations run wild!
Components:
- Store-bought or homemade sugar cookie dough
Festive-shaped cookie cutters
Icing in different hues
Candy, edible glitter, and sprinkles for decorating
Directions:
- On a floured board, roll out the cookie dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters.
- Bake the cookies as directed on the package or in the recipe, then allow them to cool fully.
- Arrange icing, sprinkles, and additional decorations at a decorating station.
- Allow children to create their own designs on each cookie.
The Reason It’s Fun
In addition to bringing the family together, this activity lets kids express their creativity. Additionally, the adorned cookies are tasty, customized treats!
6. Brownies from Santa Hat
These cute little dessert, called Santa Hat Brownies, blend brownies with strawberries. Kids enjoy assisting with this entertaining dessert, and it’s simple to put together.
Components:
Brownie mix (or brownies made from scratch)
Remove the tops from the strawberries.
White icing or whipped cream
Directions:
- Cut brownies into small squares or circles after baking them as directed.
- Top each brownie with a strawberry, cut side down.
- To make each strawberry look like Santa’s hat, place a little dollop of white frosting or whipped cream on the tip.
The Reason It’s Fun
Despite their simplicity, these Christmas sweets have a significant “wow” effect! The strawberries and “hat” toppers are fun for kids to arrange.
7. Spoons for Hot Chocolate
Use these chocolate-dipped spoons to add a special touch to your hot chocolate. Kids may customize each spoon with their preferred toppings, and they’re entertaining to prepare.
Components:
Wooden or plastic spoons
Melting milk, dark, or white chocolate
Sprinkles, crushed candy canes, little marshmallows, and other garnishes
Directions:
- In a bowl that is safe to use in the microwave, melt chocolate, stirring every 15 seconds until it is smooth.
- Coat each spoon’s bowl by dipping it into the chocolate.
- Before the chocolate hardens, garnish with sprinkles, small marshmallows, or crushed sugar cane.
- Let the chocolate solidify by placing spoons on wax paper.
- For a festive, personalized hot chocolate, stir the chocolate spoons into hot milk.
The Reason It’s Fun
Children can design their own distinctive hot chocolate stirrers by selecting their own toppings. It makes a cute gift and is a terrific treat for a chilly Christmas night!
Advice for Preparing Food with Children
To facilitate the process, prep in advance: Measure and arrange components.
Assign children age-appropriate responsibilities, such as stirring, decorating, or topping arrangement.
Encourage kids to be creative by allowing them to add their own touches, particularly when it comes to decorating recipes.
- Make Clean-Up Fun: To make cleaning enjoyable, play a game or play upbeat music.
The holiday season is made more joyful and inventive with these simple, kid-friendly Christmas dishes. In addition to producing delectable goodies, these recipes help you and your children make enduring memories.
