Easy Desserts Kids Can Make with 6 or Fewer Ingredients

Stuffed Strawberries

Stuffed strawberries are a quick no-bake dessert that works well for parties, Valentine’s Day, tea parties, or a simple fruit dessert.

Ingredients

• 12 whole strawberries, washed and hulled
• 1/2 cup whipped cream or marshmallow fluff
• 1 cup chocolate chips, melted

Directions

1. Wash the strawberries and gently pat them dry.
2. Remove the hulls from the strawberries.
3. At the tip of each strawberry, make a small slit in each direction to open the end slightly.
4. Stuff the opening with whipped cream or marshmallow fluff.
5. Drizzle melted chocolate over the strawberries.
6. Serve soon after filling.

Safety note: An adult should help with cutting the strawberries and melting chocolate.

More to try: Try these chocolate dipped strawberries or these granola stuffed strawberries.

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seed pudding is an easy make-ahead dessert or snack. Kids can add everything to a jar, shake it, and let the refrigerator do the rest.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1 cup milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/2 cup berries, plus more for topping

Directions

1. Add the chia seeds, milk, Greek yogurt, vanilla, and maple syrup to a pint jar or bowl.
2. Stir thoroughly so the chia seeds are evenly distributed.
3. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes, then stir it again to break up any clumps.
4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
5. Stir before serving. If the pudding is too thick, add a small splash of milk.
6. Top with berries before serving.

Kid cooking skills: Measuring, pouring, stirring, observing how chia seeds absorb liquid, and preparing a make-ahead dessert.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Dessert Sandwiches

This recipe turns the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich into a sweet cookie dessert. Kids can help mix, scoop, flatten, spread, and sandwich the cookies together.

Ingredients

• 1 package vanilla pudding mix
• 1 envelope whipped topping mix
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup strawberry jam
• Plain cookies, vanilla cookies, or shortbread cookies

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, add the pudding mix, whipped topping mix, cream cheese, and peanut butter.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Roll the mixture into small balls about the size of your cookies.
4. Flatten each ball slightly.
5. Place one flattened peanut butter filling piece on top of a cookie.
6. Spread strawberry jam over the peanut butter filling.
7. Add another cookie on top to make a dessert sandwich.

Tip: Chill the filling before rolling if it is too soft to handle.

Oreo Cookie S'mores

Oreo cookie s'mores are a fun twist on traditional campfire s'mores. Use them for camping, backyard cooking, or indoor s'more-style desserts with adult help. Yield 6 s'mores.

Ingredients

• 12 sandwich cookies
• 6 large marshmallows
• 6 mini chocolate bars

Directions

1. Open each Oreo or sandwich cookie.
2. Toast a marshmallow with adult supervision.
3. Place the toasted marshmallow on one half of the cookie.
4. Add a piece of mini chocolate bar.
5. Top with the other half of the cookie.
6. Press gently and enjoy carefully while warm.

Safety note: Toasted marshmallows can be very hot. Adults should supervise campfire, oven, microwave, or heat source use.

More s'more and campfire recipes here.

Push Pop Dessert Ideas

Push pop molds are fun for creating layered kids desserts, party treats, and colorful fruit snacks. Kids can practice layering, patterning, and decorating.

Idea 1: Fruit Salad Push Pops

Ingredients

• Chopped strawberries
• Blueberries
• Grapes
• Pineapple chunks
• Whipped cream or yogurt, optional

Directions

1. Wash and prepare the fruit.
2. Add fruit pieces into the push pop mold in colorful layers.
3. Add small spoonfuls of yogurt or whipped cream between layers if desired.
4. Chill until ready to serve.

Idea 2: Cupcake Push Pops

Ingredients

• Mini cupcakes or pieces of cupcake
• Frosting
• Fresh fruit or sprinkles

Directions

1. Add a small piece of cupcake to the bottom of the push pop mold.
2. Add a layer of frosting.
3. Add fruit or sprinkles.
4. Repeat the layers until the mold is filled.
5. Serve right away or chill until party time.

More ideas: Find more combinations on our cupcake push pops page.

Peanut Butter Cookies

These simple peanut butter cookies use only a few ingredients and are a good beginner baking recipe for kids who are ready to practice mixing and shaping dough.

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat the peanut butter and sugar together.
4. Add the egg and baking soda.
5. Mix until a dough forms.
6. Roll teaspoons of dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
7. Press a criss-cross pattern into the top of each cookie with a fork.
8. Bake about 10 minutes, or until set.
9. Allow cookies to cool before serving.

Safety note: An adult should help with the oven and hot baking sheet.

Easy Peach Crisp

This peach crisp uses canned peaches and instant oatmeal for a quick fruit dessert kids can help sprinkle and stir.

Ingredients

• 2 cans sliced peaches, drained
• 2 packages cinnamon and spice instant oatmeal, dry
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Butter the bottom and sides of a 2 quart baking dish.
3. Add the drained peaches to the baking dish.
4. In a bowl, combine the instant oatmeal and flour.
5. Add the melted butter and stir until the mixture is crumbly.
6. Sprinkle the oatmeal mixture over the peaches.
7. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
8. Serve warm. Add vanilla ice cream if desired.

Kid cooking skills: Draining fruit, stirring, sprinkling topping, learning how fruit crisps are assembled.

Pineapple Cherry Dessert

This simple fruit and cake mix dessert is an easy dump-style dessert. Kids can help layer the fruit and sprinkle the cake mix while an adult handles the oven.

Ingredients

• 1 can crushed pineapple
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 1 yellow cake mix, dry
• Butter, sliced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Pour the crushed pineapple into the bottom of a cake pan.
3. Add the cherry pie filling over the pineapple.
4. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the fruit. Do not prepare the cake mix first.
5. Place slices of butter evenly over the top.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.

Safety note: An adult should help with the oven and hot pan.

Homemade Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

These chocolate sandwich cookies begin with a cake mix, making them easier for kids to prepare. Change the frosting color or sprinkles to match holidays or party themes.

Ingredients

• 1 devil's food cake mix or other chocolate cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup shortening
• White frosting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Add the cake mix, eggs, and shortening to a mixing bowl.
3. Mix until a dough forms.
4. Form the dough into balls.
5. Place the dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for about 8 minutes.
7. Allow the cookies to cool completely.
8. Spread frosting on the flat side of one cookie.
9. Top with another cookie to make a sandwich.

Variation: Roll the frosted edges in sprinkles, crushed candies, or mini chocolate chips.

Holiday Sandwich Cookie Ideas

You can create the same sandwich-cookie idea with homemade or refrigerated cookie dough.

For Valentine's Day, cut the baked cookies into heart shapes, spread frosting between two cookies, and gently press them together.

For other holidays, use a cookie cutter that matches the season. Save the extra cookie crumbs in a freezer bag and use them later in brownie batter or as an ice cream topping.

Easy Homemade Ice Cream

This simple homemade ice cream is a good beginner dessert because kids can measure, pour, stir, and help add the mixture to the ice cream freezer.

Ingredients

• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 4 cups half-and-half or light cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions

1. Add the sweetened condensed milk, half-and-half, and vanilla to a large bowl.
2. Stir until well blended.
3. Pour the mixture into a 4 to 5 quart ice cream freezer.
4. Freeze according to the manufacturer's directions.

Kid cooking skills: Measuring, pouring, stirring, reading appliance directions.

More to try: Visit our easy ice cream recipes page for more frozen dessert ideas.
See this recipe in a chocolate ice cream version.

Mini Cheesecakes

These chilled mini cheesecakes are an easy dessert kids can help assemble in muffin liners. They do not require oven baking, but an adult should handle the boiling water. Top them with berries, pie filling, sprinkles, or crushed cookies.

Ingredients

• 1 small package lemon gelatin, 4-serving size
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups Cool Whip
• Nilla wafer cookies or another small cookie of choice

Directions

1. Prepare a muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Place one Nilla wafer or small cookie in the bottom of each muffin cup.
3. In a bowl, dissolve the gelatin in boiling water. An adult should help with this step.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
5. Gradually beat the gelatin mixture into the cream cheese.
6. Gently fold in the whipped topping.
7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared paper liners.
8. Chill for about 4 hours, or until firm.
9. Serve with berries, pie filling, or another topping of choice.

Tip: You can also make these in mini springform pans for a more finished cheesecake look.

Brownie a la Mode

Brownie a la mode is an easy way to turn a simple pan of brownies into a special dessert. Kids can help scoop, top, and decorate each serving.

Ingredients

• 1 pan prepared brownies, baked and cooled
• Ice cream or whipped cream
• Crushed cookies, optional
• Chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or another dessert sauce, optional
• Cherries, optional

Directions

1. Prepare brownies according to package or recipe directions. An adult should help with baking.
2. Allow the brownies to cool completely.
3. Cut the brownies into squares.
4. Place one brownie square in each serving dish.
5. Add a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.
6. Top with crushed cookies, a cherry, or dessert sauce if desired.

More to try: See more brownie recipes.

Cupcake Sundae

A cupcake sundae is an easy party dessert that combines cupcakes and ice cream. Kids can help build each sundae and choose toppings.

Ingredients

• 4 Chocolate cupcakes
• 4 Scoops of Ice cream
• 4 Cherries
• Chocolate or caramel syrup

Directions

1. If the cupcake top is very rounded, carefully remove a small amount from the top so the ice cream can sit on it.
2. Place one cupcake in a serving dish.
3. Add a scoop of ice cream on top.
4. Place a cherry on the ice cream.
5. Drizzle with chocolate or caramel syrup if desired.

More to try: Try making an ice cream cake.