Top 20 easy bakes for kids

1. Chocolate sweet traybake

Combine two childhood favourites to make this beautiful chocolate sweetie traybake. This American-style cake will satisfy the sweetest of tooths. It’s easy to make ahead and divides nicely into squares. Kids can decorate with their favourite toppings, as long as they’re bold and colourful! Take inspiration from these adorable bunny biscuits.

Find more inspiration for chocolate traybake recipes.

2. Simple iced biscuits

Use a simple biscuit dough to make some fun letter and number shapes. These tasty biscuits only take 20 mins to bake before they’re ready for decorating. So arm your kids with some coloured icing pens and let their creativity go wild!

Find more kids’ biscuit recipes.

3. Storecupboard chocolate hazelnut cake

Raid your storecupboard to make this lovely chocolate cake. Using ground hazelnuts delivers an incredible texture and flavour, or try almonds, if you prefer.

Check out our storecupboard baking ideas for more baking recipes that don’t break the bank.

4. Super-easy birthday cake

Celebrate a special occasion with this simple yet stunning birthday cake. Split the cake mixture in two to make chocolate and vanilla sponges which children can help mix together. To complete this colourful showstopper, sandwich the two layers together and top with a pretty pink frosting. They’ll love experimenting with pink food colouring to make a shade of their choice.

We've got plenty more easy birthday cakes for kids.

5. Red velvet cookies

Transform popular red velvet cake into cookie form, complete with cream cheese icing. These chewy biscuits are given their vibrant red hue with food colouring gel and packed with white chocolate chunks. Why not make double the dough to store in the fridge until your cookie cravings strike?

Check out more kids’ cookie recipes.

6. Garden carrot cake

This Peter Rabbit-inspired carrot cake is a great bake to inspire kids in the kitchen. You can pipe the grass for the garden scene or go for a messier approach and dollop on with a spoon. Let the kids take the reins with edible carrot and flower decorations to add their personal flair.

Discover more easy cakes to make with kids with our kids’ cakes recipes.

7. Chocolate chip muffins

Reinvent the flavours of your favourite cookies in the form of a fluffy chocolate chip muffin. They only take 15 mins to prep and are perfect for popping into lunchboxes as a break time snack.

Check out more kids’ muffin recipes.

8. Raspberry & pistachio tea cake

Traybakes are a simple, no-fuss way to create big portions of gorgeous cake. These pretty-in-pink pistachio sponge squares are topped with a zingy raspberry icing. Leave the little ones to decorate with sugar flowers, pearl sugar and sprinkles.

Check out more traybake recipes.

9. Deck-of-card dodgers

These fabulous deck of card biscuits inspired by Alice in Wonderland might look incredibly impressive. Still, they’re super simple, making them perfect for kids’ parties or celebrating World Book Day.

Discover more recipes perfect for throwing a party with our kids’ party recipes.

10. Peanut butter cookies

Fill your cookie jar with these simple, moreish biscuits. Using only three ingredients and no flour, this ingenious recipe is super-quick and perfect for young bakers.

Watch our video for step-by-step instructions on how to make these easy peanut butter cookies.

11. Chocolate Rice Krispie cakes

Whip up some tasty treats with a classic childhood cereal. These cute Rice Krispie cakes are so simple to make and don’t need an oven. Just leave them to set in the fridge for an hour and then get decorating with sweets, nuts or dried fruit.

Find out more ways to use Rice Krispies in our video on how to make fridge cake.

12. Butterfly cakes

These dainty cupcakes will cause a flutter of excitement in any household. Give your cakes wings by slicing off the tops and splitting into two small segments. Position the wings on top of vanilla buttercream and let kids finish them off with strawberry jam and sprinkles.

Discover more cute kids’ cupcake recipes.

13. Banoffee flapjack crumble

Indulge in a banoffee flapjack crumble for a comforting dessert. It can be made in three easy steps and goes perfectly with custard or ice cream. Single cream would be equally delicious, too.

Discover more recipes using the great flavourings of banana and toffee with our selection of banoffee recipes.

14. Treacle sponge pudding

Treat the whole family to an indulgent, gooey syrup pudding. Dig into the simple sponge to find a zesty, treacle sauce below. It’s best served hot with ice cream. Little sticky fingers won’t be able to keep away!

Discover more cakes perfect for an afternoon tea with our sponge cake recipes.

15. Double-dipped shortbread biscuits

These deliciously buttery shortbread biscuits will go down a storm with family and friends. Dip them in melted milk and white chocolate for an indulgent treat.

Master the art of making buttery, crumbly biscuits with our shortbread recipes.

16. Flourless brownies

These simple brownies are easy to make and require only five ingredients – perfect for novice bakers. By replacing flour with ground almonds, they also become gluten-free. Eat as they are, or enjoy warm with ice cream for an effortless dessert.

For more special diet recipes containing no gluten, check out our gluten-free baking recipes.

17. Lemon curd & blueberry loaf cake

Kids can help make this simple springtime treat. Using extra lemon curd makes for a zesty bake, but it also adds moisture to this simple loaf cake.

For more zingy citrus bakes, check out our lemon cake recipes.

18. Curly twirlies

These curly twirlies are wonderfully gooey and sticky, filled with chocolate chips and melted toffee. Kids will enjoy assembling the ready-made pastry with the filling as it takes some craftsmanship.

Feeling adventurous? Why not make delicious croissants from scratch using our croissant recipes.

19. Blueberry cake

This gorgeously moist blueberry cake can be prepared in just three steps. Kids can take the lead, tossing the frozen berries in flour and combining the wet and dry mixtures. They may need some help working the oven, but allow them to time the baking, so they get the satisfaction of successfully skewering the cake to test if it’s done.

Try more recipes using this fruit with our blueberry recipes.

20. Gluten-free lemon drizzle cake

Teach your children the wonders of baking with this gluten-free lemon drizzle cake. Wow them with the special ingredient which keeps the cake beautifully moist – mashed potato!

Discover more gluten-free cake recipes.

Find more fun foodie activities for kids...

Kids’ baking recipes
Fun baking projects for kids
Top 5 cupcakes to make with kids
Cooking projects for kids
10 half-term recipes for kids
Good Food Kids’ YouTube recipes
Pudsey bear cake
Sweet sushi

What other goodies have you baked with your kids? Leave a comment below...

Many of us are paying more attention to our diets and how the food we eat can support our health. To help sort out the fact from the fiction, BBC Future is updating some of their most popular nutrition stories from their archive.