Baking with our kids can be a bonding experience. It is so fun to get busy and make something delicious, all while having our sweet children by our side. The time we spend together – pouring flour, mixing batter, rolling cookie dough – it all adds up. It pours love into their tank, and it marries connection and productivity.

But sometimes baking with toddlers can feel daunting. We like the idea but feel overwhelmed by how to actually do it. We want to connect with our child and make something delicious, but we’re unsure how to begin.

Baking with your 2 or 3-year-old is possible, and it can be fun.

Today I want to share with you 7 Tips For Baking With Your Toddler. These are ideas for creating a positive experience for you and your child – one where you feel calm and your child feels connected.

So let’s begin.

1. Start with a clean kitchen.

Begin with a blank slate. Do a few dishes. Put some leftovers away. Wipe the counters. The kitchen doesn’t need to be perfect, but if you take a few minutes to simply calm your space, you’ll find baking so much more enjoyable. Cleaning up never takes quite as long as we think, and you’ll be glad you did! There’s nothing like a messy room to breed overwhelm quickly, so give your future self a hand by tidying up a little.

2. Don’t be in a hurry.

If a messy kitchen breeds overwhelm, a time crunch is a recipe for frustration. If you want to bake with your child, don’t be in a hurry. Give yourself lots of time.

As Moms, we know what it is to get interrupted. Unexpected spills, curious questions, and little hands learning the ropes all require a bit more time than you think. Plan for this. Don’t pack your morning or afternoon so full that you have to always rush. While sometimes we have no choice but to hurry, when you can, allow for margin. Your child will be more at ease, and you will too. Both of you will have a better experience if you can slow down.

3. Know your child.

Every child is different. Some kids are naturally cautious and careful. They move slower and think before they act. Other kids are more carefree. They move and then they think. They are curious and quick.

You know your child best. You know what jobs they could handle and what they couldn’t. Their temperament and age play key roles in what they can do during the baking process.

4. Give them age-appropriate jobs.

Most kids want to help. They want to feel like they are participating in what’s going on.

Knowing your child’s abilities, give them age-appropriate tasks. This might be letting them pour flour, water, oil, etc. from the measuring cup into the bowl. It might be stirring with a spoon. It may be letting them cut some banana with a butter knife. You might get them rolling cookie dough between their hands, kneading bread dough on the table or scoop batter into a prepared muffin tin.

Keep them busy, and watch them step up to the tasks you give them.

5. Choose forgiving recipes.

Some recipes have a greater margin of error than others. For example, muffins and cookies are more forgiving than a pastry. If a little extra flour or water gets into a muffin, it’s pretty easy to fix. Not so with more elaborate treats.

Give you and your child the wiggle room to make mistakes. Don’t invite more stress by trying to bake something unrealistic. Muffins can be really tasty. Cookies can be scrumptious. And baking them instead of complicated recipes will certainly be more enjoyable.

6. Show grace.

Mistakes are bound to happen. Silliness may ensue, and sometimes we as moms can get frustrated. If, despite all your efforts for success, things turn sideways, show grace. Remember that your relationship with your child is more important than getting a recipe perfect.

7. Keep things light.

Don’t take things too seriously. We as moms really can set the mood. Let’s seek to set a good one. Enjoy spending time with your child. Enjoy baking something delicious. And don’t stress if things don’t go as planned or your child doesn’t want to help or the baked good doesn’t turn out quite right. It’s going to be okay.

QUICK NOTE: If this still feels overwhelming and you feel like baking with your child would be too much for you in this season, it’s okay! You can opt out of this activity. It’s more important to be a kind mom than a baking guru. It’s more important to show patience than make cookies together. You can take a pass!

So there you have it – 7 Tips For Baking With Your Toddler. What would you add? Let me know in the comments what recipes you like making with your kids. What have you been baking recently?

FAQ About Baking With Toddlers

1. What are some good recipes to make with your toddler?

I love making muffins with my son. They’re forgiving, delicious, and can be quite a healthy snack! Here are some recipes to get you started.

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins (healthy and delicious) – Thankful Little Mama

Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins – Sally’s Baking

We also recently made chocolate chip cookies. I love Joanna Gaines’ recipe.

Joanna Gaines’ Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (Top-Rated) | The Kitchn

2. How do I become more patient with my toddler?

I would say three things.

1. Pray. Ask God to help you. He wants this for you.

2. Seek to set yourself up for success. Eliminate stressors that you can. Keeping things tidy, getting enough rest, and nourishing your body are all great ways to stay mentally healthy. When we are mentally healthy, we are better able to make good decisions.

3. When you do feel tempted to lose patience, get alone. Let off some steam. Take a deep breath. Cry a little. Know that it’s going to be okay.