When my toddlers start to get cranky [1] — or, let's be honest, when I'm in need of a little pick-me-up — I bake with them. Cookies [2], muffins [3], brownies [4] — it's all fair game! But when toddlers are your baking partners, things can get a little . . . messy. Also, they have very short attention spans, so it's not a good idea to commit to 20 minutes of stirring chocolate on the stove. I've compiled a list of the most delicious, toddler-approved [5], easy-to-bake recipes that you can pull out next time you have a parent-toddler baking day. Tie your apron, pull up a step stool, and get ready to discover your new favorite treat in the slides ahead.
Carrot-Cake Blender Baby Muffins
Getting your toddler to eat fruits and vegetables is easy with MJ & Hungryman's carrot-cake muffins [7], which include carrots, rolled oats, yogurt, applesauce, dates, coconut, walnuts, and more. Yummy and healthy!
Confetti Cookies
Colorful confetti cookies [8] from Girl vs. Dough are sure to be a win with any toddler. These sugar cookies are easy to whip up — you can go from getting ingredients out to eating in 30 minutes.
Pineapple Coconut Muffins For Babies
Escape to a tropical paradise with your toddler with these pineapple coconut muffins [9] from MJ & Hungryman. With healthy ingredients and a sweet taste, they'll satisfy you as well!
Chocolate Banana Cake
Made with my toddler's two favorite things — chocolate and bananas, in that order — Shugary Sweets' chocolate banana cake [10] is the perfect treat to bake with your little one.
Easiest (Ever!) Peanut-Butter Cookies
Don't have a lot of time? These peanut-butter cookies [11] from Southern Living require only four ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry: peanut butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Just mix, bake, and enjoy!
Joanna Gaines’s Chocolate-Chip Cookies
Chocolate-chip cookies [12] are a classic for a reason, and Joanna Gaines's recipe is next level. You'll have a blast making these with your toddler — just make sure they don't try to sneak too many chocolate chips!
Blueberry Streusel Muffins
For a sweet dessert that's easy to make with toddlers, try these blueberry streusel muffins [13] from Spiced. The combination of fresh blueberries and brown-sugar cinnamon streusel is delicious.
Mini Cheesecakes With Graham-Cracker Crust
Mini desserts are my favorite things to bake with toddlers. These mini cheesecakes [14] from Cookies and Cups are just so darn cute, with the perfect amount of graham-cracker crust and cream-cheese filling. Pop fresh fruit on top for a fun twist.
Healthy Chocolate Muffins
These healthy chocolate muffins [15] from Well Plated by Erin will energize your toddler — they're whole wheat, low fat, and sweetened with honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate chips.
Better Box Brownies
Take regular brownies up a notch with this delicious recipe for better box brownies [16] by Show Me the Yummy. With ingredients like buttermilk, vanilla, instant-coffee granules, and chocolate chips, your brownies will be even more amazing.
M&M's Brownies
My toddlers would eat M&M's for every meal if they could, which is why I'm obsessed with Shugary Sweets' recipe for M&M brownies [17]. These ooey-gooey delights are packed with colorful M&M's, making them a winning household treat.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Bright-yellow lemon crinkle cookies [18] from A Cozy Kitchen are the perfect afternoon snack to bake with your toddlers. Just be sure to leave the lemons zesting to the grown-ups!
Red-Velvet Cookies
All you need for this amazing red-velvet cookies recipe [19] from The Gunny Sack is red-velvet cake mix, eggs, canola oil, powdered sugar, and white-chocolate chips. It's easy, fun, and oh-so-delightful.
Gooey Chocolate Oatmeal Bars
Your toddler is guaranteed to drool (like, more than usual) when you bake these gooey chocolate oatmeal bars [20] from Half Baked Harvest. Filled with oats, brown sugar, vanilla, chocolate chips, maple syrup, and more, they make for a delicious weekend breakfast.
Banana Splits in a Brownie Bowl
Easy and delicious, with a colorful flair, these banana-split brownies [21] from Brown Sugar Food Blog only require a boxed brownie mix, ice cream, and your toddler's choice of sweet toppings.