Hi friends! With the holidays just around the corner — Halloween treats, Thanksgiving pies, Christmas cookies, Hanukkah donuts, and New Year snacks — I thought this would be the perfect time to share my favorite hacks for baking with little kids without losing your mind.
If you’re like me, you want your kids in the kitchen with you — because this season of life is short and these messy moments really do matter. But baking with toddlers (or multiple toddlers!) can feel like an overstimulating mess, if you don’t plan ahead.
So in this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I set up our kitchen to make baking together smoother, calmer, and actually enjoyable — even with four little ones underfoot.
Here are a few of my keep-your-sanity baking tips:
✨ Set up before you invite them in. I lay out all the bowls, spoons, whisks, measuring cups — everything — before I even tell them we’re baking. I also pre-measure ingredients into little bowls so they get to do the fun parts: pouring, mixing, scooping. Yes, it means more dishes. Worth it!
✨ Stick to familiar recipes. When I bake with my kids, I choose recipes I know by heart — our favorite cookies, banana muffins, simple birthday cakes. No reading instructions mid-chaos!
✨ Give each child a clear “station.” Just like the cooking classes I teach, I assign simple tasks and tools for each child so they know what they’re doing — and what they’re not.
✨ Expect the mess — and don’t stress about the end result. Yes, there will be flour on the table. Yes, they’ll spill some. Yes, you could do it faster alone. But that’s not the point! The point is to let them learn, feel capable, and be part of your world.
✨ Clean as you go. I gather up used bowls and spoons while they’re mixing to keep counters clear and my sanity intact.
✨ Keep it short and sweet. Once the goodies go in the oven, I send them out to play. That gives me time to tidy up and reset.
✨ Focus on connection over perfection. Baking with kids will always be a little messy and a little loud — but if you keep your expectations realistic and remember why you’re doing it, it can actually be fun for everyone.
Since I started doing it this way, we’ve been baking so much more — even with a newborn strapped to my chest. My four-year-old and I bake muffins after preschool, my older kids love cracking eggs and mixing, and my two-year-old feels like such a big helper stirring batter (even if half of it ends up on the floor).
So if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to bake with little kids, I hope this helps you take a deep breath, plan ahead, and enjoy the messy, sweet moments this holiday season.
Thanks for being here — and happy baking!