Best Cookie Recipes for Kids
Cookies are one of the most fun desserts kids can help make. From classic chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies to oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies, and no bake cookie recipes, these easy cookie ideas help children practice measuring, mixing, scooping, rolling, decorating, and baking skills.
This cookie recipe collection includes beginner-friendly cookies, holiday cookies, classroom baking ideas, no bake cookies, and creative cookie decorating projects for families, homeschool cooking, baking clubs, camps, and classroom activities.
On This Page
- Choose a Cookie Type
- Cookie Baking by Skill Level
- Easy Cookie Recipes
- Classic Cookie Recipes
- Oatmeal Cookie Recipes
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- No Bake Cookies
- Holiday & Seasonal Cookies
- Creative & Fancy Cookie Recipes
- Cake Mix Cookies
- Cookie Decorating & Activities
- Tips for Baking Cookies with Kids
- Cookie Videos
- More Dessert Recipes
- Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a Cookie Type
Whether you want easy beginner cookies, holiday cookies, soft cookies, or no bake treats, these cookie recipe collections help kids explore different baking styles and flavors.
Cookie Baking by Skill Level
Easy Cookie Recipes
Easy cookie recipes are perfect for beginner bakers, busy families, classrooms, camps, homeschool cooking lessons, and quick baking activities. These simple cookie ideas use fewer ingredients, easy mixing methods, or shortcut ingredients to make baking less stressful for kids.
Classic Cookie Recipes
These classic cookie recipes are some of the most popular cookies for beginner bakers and family baking days. Kids can practice measuring, scooping dough, rolling cookie balls, decorating, and learning basic baking skills.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chewy oatmeal raisin cookies are a classic beginner cookie recipe that works well for lunchboxes, snack time, and baking practice.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3 cups oats
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup raisins, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips (optional)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, blend shortening, sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla.
- Add oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Stir until combined.
- Fold in raisins, nuts, or chocolate chips if using.
- Roll into balls or scoop onto cookie sheets.
- Bake 10–12 minutes or until golden brown.
Kid jobs: measuring oats, stirring dough, scooping cookies, adding mix-ins.
Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies
Snickerdoodles are soft cinnamon sugar cookies that are fun for kids to roll and coat before baking.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 3/4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Blend butter, sugar, eggs, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar.
- Mix until dough forms.
- In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar.
- Roll dough into balls and coat in cinnamon sugar.
- Place on cookie sheet and flatten slightly.
- Bake about 8 minutes.
Rolling the dough balls in cinnamon sugar is a favorite baking task for kids.
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are one of the most popular desserts kids can help bake. This easy recipe creates soft cookies with classic chocolate flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream butter and sugars together.
- Add eggs and vanilla.
- Mix in baking powder, baking soda, and flour.
- Fold in chocolate chips and nuts.
- Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet.
- Bake 8–10 minutes.
Easy Sugar Cookie Recipes
Sugar cookies are perfect for cookie decorating parties, holidays, classroom baking, and beginner baking projects. Kids can help roll dough, cut shapes, decorate frosting, and add sprinkles.
Few Ingredient Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup soft margarine
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream margarine and powdered sugar together.
- Add flour and vanilla and stir until crumbly dough forms.
- Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Flatten lightly with fork.
- Bake 7–12 minutes until lightly golden.
Simple sugar cookies are great for beginner bakers because they use very few ingredients.
Peanut Butter Cookie Recipes
Peanut butter cookies are easy for kids to mix and shape, making them a popular choice for beginner bakers, cookie exchanges, holidays, and classroom baking activities.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut butter blossoms are classic soft cookies topped with chocolate candies. Kids enjoy rolling the dough and pressing candies into the warm cookies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Chocolate kiss candies, unwrapped
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Beat butter, peanut butter, sugars, and eggs until creamy.
- Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in separate bowl.
- Add dry ingredients gradually to peanut butter mixture.
- Roll dough into balls and place on cookie sheet.
- Bake 8–10 minutes.
- Immediately press chocolate candy into center of each warm cookie.
These cookies are especially popular for Christmas cookie trays and cookie exchanges.
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
This oatmeal peanut butter cookie recipe makes soft cookies packed with chocolate chips and optional mix-ins.
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 4 1/2 cups regular oatmeal
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- Optional: M&Ms, butterscotch chips, or coconut
Directions
- Mix butter, sugars, vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter.
- Add baking soda and oatmeal.
- Stir until moist dough forms.
- Fold in chocolate chips and optional mix-ins.
- Drop onto parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10–12 minutes.
No Bake Cookie Recipes
No bake cookies are perfect for classrooms, homeschool cooking, camps, summer cooking activities, and beginner kitchen skills because they do not require an oven. Kids can practice measuring, stirring, scooping, and shaping while making quick desserts.
Chocolate No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 stick margarine
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 cups quick oats
- Optional: peanut butter, coconut, nuts, or dried fruit
Directions
- Combine margarine, sugar, vanilla, cocoa, and milk in saucepan.
- Bring mixture to a boil.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in oats and optional ingredients.
- Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper.
- Allow cookies to cool and set.
Kid jobs: measuring oats, stirring, scooping cookies onto wax paper.
No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
- 4 1/2 cups quick oats
Directions
- Combine sugar, butter, and milk in saucepan.
- Bring to rapid boil for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in vanilla and peanut butter.
- Add oats and stir until combined.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.
- Cool until set.
Holiday & Seasonal Cookie Recipes
Holiday cookies are one of the best ways for kids to practice baking and decorating skills while creating fun seasonal treats for parties, cookie exchanges, family gatherings, classrooms, and celebrations.
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Soft gingerbread cookies are easy for kids to roll in sugar and bake for Christmas cookie trays and winter baking activities.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Baking Time: 8-11 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Yield: Approximately 4 dozen cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
- ½ cup molasses
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
Directions
- Cream the butter, shortening, brown sugar, and ½ cup granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl with a hand-held mixer.
- Mix in the molasses. Add the eggs and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Chill dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Form dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the remaining ½ cup granulated sugar until coated.
- Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-11 minutes or until cookies are browned and cooked through.
- Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack before serving.
Creative & Fancy Cookie Recipes
Creative cookies turn baking into a hands-on art project kids can decorate, shape, assemble, and personalize. These cookie ideas work well for parties, holiday baking, classroom projects, family activities, and advanced baking fun.
Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
Cake mix cookies are one of the easiest cookie recipes for beginner bakers because they use simple ingredients and quick mixing methods. These cookies are great for cooking classes, birthday parties, scout meetings, camps, and family baking nights.
Cookie Decorating & Baking Activities
Cookies are one of the easiest desserts to turn into hands-on kitchen activities. Kids can decorate, frost, shape, roll, dip, and package cookies while learning creativity and baking skills.
Tips for Baking Cookies with Kids
- Measure flour carefully so cookies do not become too dry.
- Use parchment paper to make cleanup easier.
- Leave space between cookies so they can spread while baking.
- Let butter soften before mixing cookie dough.
- Allow cookies to cool before decorating or frosting.
- Use cookie scoops for evenly sized cookies.
- Chill sticky dough before rolling or cutting shapes.
- Freeze extra cookie dough for quick future baking projects.
- Set up decorating stations with frosting, candies, sprinkles, and toppings.
- Teach kids kitchen safety around hot pans and ovens.
Cookie Recipe Videos
These cookie recipe videos help kids follow along visually while learning baking skills like mixing dough, scooping cookies, decorating, and preparing no bake desserts.
Apple Pie Oatmeal Cookies
A soft oatmeal cookie recipe with apple pie flavor that works well for fall baking activities and beginner cookie lessons.
No Bake Chocolate Cookies
Easy no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies kids can help stir, scoop, and cool on wax paper.
Easy Cookie Recipe Ideas
A collection of simple cookie recipes and decorating ideas for kids and families.
More Dessert Recipes Kids Might Enjoy
Continue exploring more easy dessert recipes, brownies, candy recipes, no bake desserts, and decorating ideas kids can help make.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the easiest cookies for beginner bakers?
Simple sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies, cake mix cookies, and no bake cookies are some of the easiest cookie recipes for beginners because they use simple ingredients and basic mixing techniques.
What cookies are best for kids to decorate?
Sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, cut out holiday cookies, and cookie pizzas are great decorating projects for kids because they can add frosting, candies, sprinkles, and colorful toppings.
Can kids help make no bake cookies?
Yes. Kids can help measure oats, stir ingredients, scoop cookies onto wax paper, shape cookie balls, and add toppings while adults supervise any stovetop cooking steps.
What are good cookies for classroom baking activities?
No bake cookies, cake mix cookies, sugar cookies, and simple chocolate chip cookies work well for classrooms, homeschool cooking lessons, camps, and group baking activities.
Can cookie dough be frozen?
Most cookie dough can be frozen before baking. Scoop dough into balls before freezing so cookies can be baked quickly later for parties, holidays, or family desserts.
How do you keep cookies soft?
Store cookies in airtight containers and avoid overbaking. Brown sugar, soft butter, and proper cooling also help cookies stay softer longer.
What are fun holiday cookies for kids?
Christmas cookies, gingerbread cookies, Halloween cookies, Valentine cookies, and Easter cookies are popular seasonal baking projects kids enjoy decorating.
What skills do kids learn from baking cookies?
Kids practice measuring, mixing, reading recipes, following directions, decorating, patience, kitchen safety, teamwork, and creativity while baking cookies.
What are easy cookies for cooking parties or groups?
Sugar cookies, cookie pizzas, no bake cookies, cake mix cookies, and decorating cookies work especially well for birthday parties, scout groups, classrooms, and baking clubs.
What kitchen tools help kids bake cookies?
Cookie scoops, mixing bowls, measuring cups, silicone spatulas, parchment paper, rolling pins, and cooling racks help make cookie baking easier and safer for kids.
What are creative cookie recipes kids can make?
Creative cookie recipes include tie dye cookies, flower cookies, fossil cookies, cookie puzzles, cookie pizza, melting snowmen cookies, and decorated holiday cookies.
Explore More Dessert Recipes
Get Free Kids Recipe Cards + Cooking Printables
Join Kids Cooking Activities for fun recipes, cooking ideas, and printable resources for kids, families, and classrooms.
Follow Kids Cooking Activities too:
© Debbie Madson, Madson Web Publishing, LLC — All rights reserved.
The material on this site is for educational purposes only.
