Christmas is the season packed with joy and one of the ways to make it extra special is by cooking and baking festive family recipes with your children. Not only do they love spending time in the kitchen with mom or dad, it’s fun and a chance for them to learn and create, too.
Whether it’s the laughter over flour spills, the excitement of decorating, or the unknown tasting their creations, the kitchen can be a magical place for them during the festive season..
Here are a few recipe ideas to kickstart those festive moments with your little ones
Snowman Marshmallow Pops: A Frosty Treat
These snowman marshmallow pops are as fun to make as they are to munch on. Ideal for little hands. Children can get creative and enjoy a sweet snack.
Ingredients:
- Large marshmallows
- Pretzel sticks
- White chocolate chips (melted)
- Mini chocolate chips
- Orange sugar paste or fondant (for noses)
- Lollipop sticks
Steps:
- Slide three marshmallows onto each lollipop stick like a snowman.
- Dip them into melted white chocolate, coat them even.
- While still wet chocolate, attach mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons.
- Roll tiny bits of orange fondant for noses & stick them on.
- Use pretzel sticks as arms by poking them into sides of the middle marshmallow.
- Let snowman pops set on wax paper; and then enjoy their frosty charm!
Reindeer Cupcakes: A Dash of Rudolph Magic
Celebrate Santa’s favourite reindeer with these simple cupcakes – guaranteed to be a hit with all of the family.
Ingredients:
- Chocolate cupcake mix (or homemade cupcakes)
- Chocolate icing
- Mini pretzels
- Red and brown sweets (like M&Ms)
- White chocolate chips (for eyes)
- Black edible marker
Steps:
- Bake chocolate cupcakes first and let them cool down completely.
- Ice each one well with chocolate frosting.
- Put two mini pretzels at top for antlers – this is where you can get creative.
- Add red sweet for Rudolph’s nose or brown ones for the others.
- Use white chocolate chips for the eyes; and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can draw pupils using an edible marker.
- See if you can make all eight reindeer and sing the song while building them.
Festive Fruit Kebabs: Healthy and Fun
For lighter and healthier treats try these festive fruit kebabs! Perfect snacks that children can help make and they’re colourful too!
Ingredients:
- Green grapes
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Mini marshmallows
- Wooden skewers
Steps:
- Slice bananas round; cut the tops off the strawberries.
- Stack each skewer like this: green grape, banana slice, strawberry (point up) and then a mini marshmallow up top.
- Arrange them festively on a plate for a cheerful & nutritious snack.
Candy Cane Bark: Sweet And Minty Delight
Candy cane bark—a super quick treat that mixes rich chocolate with crunchy candy canes! Great for giving to other loved one.
Ingredients:
- White chocolate
- Dark chocolate
- Crushed candy canes
Steps:
- Melt the dark chocolate and spread evenly on a parchment-lined tray. Make sure you let it set before moving on to step two.
- Melt the white chocolate and then pour it over dark layer.
- Sprinkle in the crushed candy cane before white chocolate starts to go hard.
- Put it into the fridge to chill and go hard then cut it into pieces to share.
Gingerbread House Decorating Party: A Creative Adventure
Turn decorating gingerbread into festive family fun! You can either bake it yourself or use ready-made kits – either way this is must-do activity before Christmas Day.
Steps:
1. Set-up table full of icing bowls – sweets – sprinkles and other fun decor pieces like Curly Wurly for the ladders or gates and boiled hardened sweets to make the glass for the windows.
2. Assemble the house first as this is tricky part.
3. Let the children decorate – use candy-canes, gumdrops, glittering dust and fill the inside of the house with various sweet treats – Maltesers and Rolos were always a firm favourite for us.
4. Display the houses around the house and get ready for the fun part when you decide to open and break up the gingerbread and enjoy those sweet treats.
Festive Pancake Art: Breakfast Twist Fun!
Begin the day with fun Christmas-style pancake art—colourful pancakes will bring definitely bring smiles.
Ingredients:
-Pancake batter (homemade/store-bought)
-Food colouring (red/green/white)
-Squeeze bottles
-Fruit for decoration
Steps:
1. Divide batter into bowls add your festive colourings.
2. Pour the batter into squeeze bottles to have full control of your pancake art.
3. Use a non-stick frying pan and create various Christmas shapes like trees, stars, angels, Santa – this is the fun part, but just prepared for it not always to go according to plan.
4. Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or whipped cream and healthy fruit for a delightful morning treat.
Making Memories in the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially during Christmas. The recipes we have provided are a delicious way to spend quality time with your children, have fun and create lasting memories.
Whether you’re building gingerbread houses, making snowman pops, or flipping festive pancakes, enjoy the magic of Christmas as a family.
Happy cooking and happy holidays from everyone at Rowans Day Nursery.
