5 Cookbooks for Kids to Inspire Fun in the Kitchen this Holiday Season

Williams-Sonoma Kids in the Kitchen: Fun Food, by Stephanie Rosenbaum
This cookbook for kids 8 and up is great for your older child interested in learning the basics and expanding on them. It includes chapters on Kids’ Classics, Oodles of Noodles, and Don’t Forget the Veggies, which in turn features recipes like Macaroni and Cheese, Pad Thai, and Roasted Carrots. With great pictures and step-by-step directions, any budding chef will love this handy and educational cookbook.

Dessert Designer: Creations You Can Make and Eat!, by Dana Meachen Rau
This clever book is chock full of irresistible activities to do with kids who are home for winter break—plus, they’ll learn new skills in the process (and parents might even pick up a trick or two). These fanciful and creative desserts are ideal for the kid with the sweet tooth (so, the kid). The recipes call for already made cookies, cakes and cupcakes, focusing on the fun, decorative part rather than the baking—because we all know the decorating is the best part! With festive winter recipes like Winter Icicles (rock candy icicles), Hot Cocoa Cups (cupcakes built in the shape of hot cocoa cups!), and Peaceful Snowman (cupcake snowmen, complete with peppermint candy earmuffs), among other seasonal varieties, you and your child will enjoy using your imaginations to decorate stunning desserts any time of year.

The Minnie & Friends Cookbook, by Disney Book Group
If you have a young child who loves Minnie Mouse and friends, this is the cookbook for your family. The book features popular Disney characters throughout, serving up such recipes as Minnie’s Polka-dot Tomato Soup and Huey, Dewey, & Louie Triple-Fruit Crisp. With recipes rated for difficulty on a pink bow scale (one bow is easy and five bows is a bit harder), you and your child will love this Disney-themed cookbook.

Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook, by Paula Deen
From cute illustrations to detailed recipes, Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook presents such yummy dishes as S’Mores, Fruit Turnovers, and for Christmas, Chocolate-Covered Pretzels with Sprinkles. It also features recipes for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and more. Any child who wants to to have learn few delicious go-to recipes will enjoy this one.

Grandpa’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Cookbook, by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett
If your little ones love the classic book, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, its sequel, Pickles to Pittsburgh, or either of the movies, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, then they’ll adore this spinoff cookbook. The amusing illustrations sure to entertain, and they’re coupled with hilariously-named recipes, like Cheese-and-Tomato Superhero, which will make this cookbook a sure-fire hit.
What are your favorite recipes, holiday or otherwise, to make with your children?