Cooking with Toddlers: 10 Easy and Safe Recipes for Little Helpers

Cooking with toddlers can feel like an incredibly daunting task. Knives? Hot stove tops? Sharp objects flying everywhere? I feel you. Things can quickly get wild. You can rest assured that these 10 toddler-friendly recipes will keep all of your toddler’s limbs in tact. All of these fun recipes are super simple and involve a lot of mixing, smashing, and assembling.

Make sure you’re both a little peckish before you begin because you’ll definitely want to have some nibbles as you prep! Have fun!

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What recipes are ahead?

• 1. Banana Oatmeal Cookies
• 2. Ants On A Log
• 3. Mini Pancake Dippers
• 4. Veggie Nuggets
• 5. Banana Sushi Rolls
• 6. Apple Donuts
• 7. Homemade Trail Mix
• 8. Edible Play Dough
• 9. Frozen Yogurt Bark
• 10. Chocolate Avocado Pudding

1. Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup raisins or chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed bananas and rolled oats until well combined.
3. Stir in raisins or chocolate chips, if using.
4. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart.
5. Flatten each portion with the back of a spoon to form cookies.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Allow the banana oatmeal cookies to cool before enjoying.

2. Ants On A Log

I couldn’t not include this classic. It’s nothing revolutionary, but sometimes the most simple of ideas escape us. This delight is a throwback to my own childhood. You can sub dried cranberries or blueberries here for a more modern flair.

Ingredients:

• Celery stalks, washed and trimmed
• Peanut butter or almond butter
• Raisins

Instructions:

1. Spread peanut butter or almond butter onto the hollowed side of each celery stalk.
2. Press raisins into the peanut butter or almond butter, resembling “ants on a log.”
3. Serve as a nutritious and fun snack option for toddlers to enjoy.

3. Mini Pancake Dippers

Ingredients:

• Pancake mix (prepared according to package instructions)
• Maple syrup or honey
• Fresh fruit for dipping (such as strawberries or banana slices)

Instructions:

1. Prepare pancake batter according to package instructions.
2. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease with cooking spray.
3. Pour small dollops of pancake batter onto the skillet to form mini pancakes.
4. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Serve the mini pancakes with maple syrup, honey, or yogurt for dipping and fresh fruit on the side.

4. Veggie Nuggets

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
• 1 cup finely chopped mixed vegetables (such as carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower)
• 1/2 cup grated cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa or brown rice, chopped vegetables, grated cheese, breadcrumbs, and beaten egg.
3. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until well combined. Toddlers love this part!
4. Shape the mixture into small nuggets and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
6. Allow the veggie nuggets to cool slightly before serving with a favorite dipping sauce.

5. Banana Sushi Rolls

• Bananas
• Peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower butter
• Tortillas or flatbread

Instructions:

1. Spread peanut butter or almond butter onto a tortilla or flatbread.
2. Place a whole banana at one end of the tortilla or flatbread.
3. Roll the tortilla or flatbread around the banana to form a sushi roll.
4. Use a knife to slice the sushi roll into bite-sized pieces. If you have a Montessori toddler knife, your little one can get in on this step, too.
5. Serve the banana sushi rolls as a fun and healthy snack option for toddlers.

6. Apple Donuts

Ingredients:

• Apples, cored and sliced into rounds. THIS apple corer will 100% change your life.
• Peanut butter or almond butter or our favorite, granola butter
• Toppings (such as shredded coconut, mini chocolate chips, and chopped nuts)

Instructions:

1. Spread nut or granola butter onto one side of each apple slice.
2. Put toppings on a plate or in individual bowls.
3. Invite your toddler to sprinkle toppings onto the nut butter-covered side of the apple slices.
4. Serve the apple donuts as a nutritious and satisfying snack option for toddlers to enjoy.

7. Homemade Trail Mix

Ingredients:

• Assorted nuts (such as almonds, peanuts, and cashews)
• Dried fruit (such as raisins, cranberries, and apricots)
• Pretzel sticks
• Mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, allow your toddler to add and mix together assorted nuts, dried fruit, pretzel sticks, and mini chocolate chips in desired proportions.
2. Let them help scoop and mix the ingredients together.
3. Transfer the homemade trail mix to individual snack bags or containers for on-the-go snacking.

8. Edible Play Dough

Ok, so this isn’t a 5-star healthy option, but gosh is it fun! It’s totally ok to do this every once in awhile.

Ingredients:

• Creamy peanut butter or almond butter
• Powdered milk or powdered sugar
• Honey or maple syrup (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine creamy peanut butter or almond butter with powdered milk or powdered sugar until a dough-like consistency is formed.
2. Add honey or maple syrup, if desired, to sweeten the dough.
3. Divide the dough into smaller portions and add food coloring to each portion to create different colors.
4. Let your toddler mold and shape the edible play dough into fun shapes and designs.
5. Encourage imaginative play and creativity with the edible play dough.

9. Frozen Yogurt Bark

This treat is perfect for sore gums when your little one is teething. It’s also great for beating the summer heat!

Ingredients:

• Greek yogurt
• Honey or maple syrup
• Assorted toppings (such as granola, fresh fruit, and shredded coconut)

Instructions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt with honey or maple syrup until sweetened to taste.
3. Spread the sweetened yogurt mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer.
4. Sprinkle assorted toppings over the yogurt mixture, pressing them gently into the surface.
5. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 2-3 hours, or until the yogurt bark is frozen solid.
6. Break the frozen yogurt bark into pieces and serve as a refreshing and nutritious snack option for toddlers.

10. Chocolate Avocado Pudding

I know avocados are not going to be a win for every toddler, but when you add chocolate, somehow their no magically becomes a big yes!

Ingredients:

• Ripe avocados
• Cocoa powder
• Honey or maple syrup
• Vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a food processor or blender, combine ripe avocados, cocoa powder, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Transfer the chocolate avocado pudding to individual serving bowls or cups.
4. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
5. Serve the chocolate avocado pudding as a delicious and nutritious dessert option for toddlers to enjoy.

The End!

I hope these recipes have changed your thinking when it comes to cooking with toddlers. The process doesn’t have to be terrifyingly overwhelming. When you have the right recipes, cooking with toddlers is, in fact, fun!

Which recipes did your toddler love? Did you make any changes to any of them? I’d love to know!

Let me know about your creative twists in the comments. It’s so fun to see what other mamas come up with.

Happy snacking, mama! Till next time.

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