Little Chefs

Somehow, the holidays seem to bring out the cook and baker in all of us. Even those who rarely find their way into the kitchen may be inspired to create something beautiful and delicious for family and friends. I learned to cook at an early age from my mother, who loved making cakes, cookies and special puddings at Christmastime, and some of my fondest memories of time together were made while baking.

Bringing kids into the kitchen is a wonderful way to have fun while teaching them everything from measuring and mixing to safely using the stove and oven. There’s plenty of room for creativity, too. Even very young children can help assemble a special holiday treat they can proudly call their own. Older kids and teens may surprise you with their skills—from whipping up a pie to creating a homemade gift for the family. Some teens may even feel inspired during the holidays to pull out the recipe books and choose a baking project of their own.

So, whether your little chef is just learning to mix and sprinkle or is ready to take over the kitchen, here are a few holiday recipes to try at every age.

Santa Banana Snacks

Ages 3–5

In this activity, kids turn banana halves into little Santas. This kid-led project is inexpensive and requires no oven or cooking. Little hands can learn to assemble and decorate with a little help from a grownup.

Ingredients

Bananas
Strawberries
Marshmallows
Mini marshmallows
Mini chocolate chips
Small red candies like M & M’s
Wooden skewers

Instructions:

Slice a banana into a thick round and place on a skewer.
Cut a marshmallow in half and place on top of the banana.
Cut off the top of a strawberry and add to make a strawberry “hat.”
Place a mini marshmallow on top of the strawberry.
Next, use two chocolate chips for eyes and a red candy for the mouth.
Press them gently into the banana until they stay in place.

Your Santa is finished and ready to eat! Repeat the process to make many Santas for friends and family.

Reindeer Pizzas

Ages 6–8

This activity is perfect for something that involves assembling and some creativity. Kids can help preheat the oven and place the mini pizzas on a cookie sheet, then monitor them in the oven.

Ingredients

English muffins
Pizza sauce
Shredded mozzarella
Olives
Bell pepper strips
Cherry tomatoes, halved

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Split each English muffin in half. Cover each with pizza sauce and a handful of mozzarella. Then the decorating fun begins!
Make reindeer faces using olives for eyes, a cherry tomato for a nose and finally, bell-pepper “antlers.” Create different reindeer personalities or make them all the same.
Bake pizzas for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and slightly bubbly. Remove from oven and let them cool for five minutes before eating. Enjoy!

Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels

Ages 13+

This recipe lets older kids make something from start to finish. With very little oversight, they can melt the chocolate and assemble everything together, then decorate as they wish for an edible holiday gift.

Ingredients

Thick pretzel rods
Chocolate chips
Holiday sprinkles
Wax paper

Instructions:

Melt the chocolate chips in a saucepan over low heat. Make sure to keep stirring to keep the chocolate from burning. Once all the chips are melted and hot, remove from heat. While still hot, dip the pretzels in, covering the top three quarters with chocolate.
Roll each rod in holiday sprinkles, working quickly, while the chocolate is still warm, covering generously.
Set each rod on a sheet of wax paper to cool and allow the chocolate to set. Leave for at least an hour, then remove from the wax paper.

These make lovely, colorful, edible holiday gifts too! Try packaging them in cellophane bags with a ribbon. Who doesn’t love a chocolate dipped pretzel?

This article appears in Bend Nest Winter 2026.