Easy Dessert Recipes for Kids to Help Make

Alexandra F. said:  This is the recipe that convinced us to buy a stand mixer. It's so easy to make, with just a few common ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, but man is it a lot of butter to mix by hand! My husband had raved about this pound cake for years before we were married, and it quickly became a staple in our family and one of the favorite easy dessert recipes for our kids to help make because it is so simple and delicious. Top with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a melt-in-your-mouth strawberry shortcake. From Allrecipes

Shila said:  It is so easy to make s'mores indoors, without a campfire. Just arrange graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate (or other creative s'mores ingredients) on a sheet pan. Melt together in an oven to enjoy an ooey gooey treat. From Like Mother Like Daughter

Shila said:  Prepare a batch of freshly baked cookies using either a boxed cookie mix or one of your go-to easy baking recipes for kids (chocolate chip, oatmeal, etc). Once cooled, gently press two cookies together with a scoop of ice cream in between. Kids especially love to dab the outside of the ice cream into sprinkles or miniature chocolate chips! From Betty Crocker

Alexandra F. said:  Oh. My. Goodness. This caramelly, chocolatey, gooey treat is a magical thing. Super easy to make, with just a few ingredients, and yet it all comes together to make the most delicious, decadent dessert. The recipe calls for melting caramel squares with heavy cream in a saucepan over low heat, but you could also skip this step and use caramel sauce to make the recipe extra easy and kid-friendly! Just be sure to have an adult take it out of the oven when it's done as the gooey deliciousness is very runny and hot when it comes out. From Lulu the Baker

Alexandra F. said:  These sticky buns are so good you wouldn’t believe how quickly they come together. The key is using a prepared pastry sheet from the freezer section of the grocery store. Then it’s just a bunch of mixing and sprinkling of brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, raisins and pecans. The end result - a sticky, heavenly bun worthy of breakfast or dessert. From Barefoot Contessa

Kristy Pepping said:  Homemade popsicles are such an easy dessert, and they have less processed sugar than the store-bought kind. We like to blend fresh or frozen fruit with a cup of coconut water in a food processor or blender until smooth. Then, using a popsicle mold, alternate spoonfuls of fruit with spoonfuls of vanilla yogurt. Place in the freezer and enjoy the next day!

Kelly R. said:  We brought this dip to a potluck recently and one of the adults said it is the second best thing he has ever eaten. Ever!! It is so ridiculously easy to make, this is going to be my new go-to. From Dinner at the Zoo

Alexandra F. said:  These cookies are so easy and fun to make! Kids will especially love pressing their thumb into the cookie to make an indentation for the jam before it goes into the oven. Aside from that it’s pretty much a butter cookie rolled in coconut flakes, but the end result is sooo tasty. If your kids don’t like coconut flakes you can leave them out, but they add nice flavor and texture if they are willing to give them a try! From Food Network

Alexandra F. said:  For a simple ice cream recipe that you (and the kids!) can make at home without any special equipment, mix 1 cup heavy cream, 1.5 tbsp granulated sugar, 1.5 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt in a 16 oz Mason jar. Close the jar well and then start shaking! The cream will start to thicken and after a few minutes should double in size. Once it does, put it in the freezer, and after a few hours...voila! Homemade ice cream!!

Once you get the hang of it, this is an easy dessert recipe for kids to customize with mix-ins like fresh fruit, chocolate, or candy pieces!

Kristy Pepping said:  This tasty campfire recipe is just as fun to make at home! Basically you use an ice cream cone instead of the classic graham crackers to build s'mores. Stuff your cone with whatever ingredients you would like such as candies besides the marshmallows and the chocolate. Then you wrap it in heavy-duty foil and let the heat bake your creation over a campfire. Or you can simply bake in the oven at 400 degrees for five minutes.

Kelly R. said:  Most of my go-to easy dessert recipes for kids are cookie bars, because they bake all at once in the same pan. There's less cleanup, the process is faster than rolling out and baking individual cookies, and they can be stored right in the dish. These are my family's favorites, with oats, peanut butter and chocolate chips! Leftovers are great warmed up in the microwave. From Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Kristy Pepping said:  A fun project to do with kids is making homemade suckers. Use a sucker mold and spray with cooking spray wiping away all but a thin layer. Insert sucker sticks. Next combine 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup and 1/4 cup of water. Heat and stir in a saucepan until sugar dissolves. Insert a candy thermometer until it boils and reaches 300 degrees. Remove from heat, wait for bubbles to stop and stir in 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of a flavored extract of your choice and a few drops of food coloring. Pour into the mold and wait until it hardens.

Shila said:  Personally, I think that pumpkin pie is one of the easiest dessert recipes for kids to make using just a can of pumpkin puree, another can of evaporated milk, and a few other simple ingredients. There's nothing heavy to beat, just mix it by hand and pour it into a crust to bake in the oven! Because it's their staple, the full recipe is listed on the back label of every Libby's pumpkin puree can. From Very Best Baking by Nestle

Sarah Calamita said:  I love this website for all of her desserts! But these muffins are to die for. Plus they are low in sugar. Win-win. From Cookie and Kate