A Round-Up of Kid-Friendly Bakes

Traditional donuts can be overwhelming since they need to be fried in hot oil, which isn’t exactly the most kid-friendly thing. But if you have donut-shaped tins you can totally still make donuts with the kids. Anna Olson’s baked donut recipe is as easy to make as muffins, and features bright and fresh flavours the whole family will love. Have kids who aren’t into lemons? Try substituting orange zest instead.

Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie? Finding the perfect recipe to achieve those morsels can be hard, but Anna Olson knows where it’s at. Her chocolate chip cookies feature a secret ingredient: cornstarch. That addition makes for warm and chewy cookies every single time. Experiment with different flavoured chips, nuts, and even dried fruit to suit your family’s tastes and personalities.

Related: These Cranberry Pistachio Cookies Will Be a Family Favourite

Not every kid can actually eat an entire banana split. But we have a feeling many kids will enjoy digging into a slice of this banana-split-inspired cake. It’s basically banana bread meets ice cream cake with a variety of toppings sprinkled in at the end, which makes it an easy but fun activity for kids of all ages. Okay, and adults too.

In the colder winter months, it’s not always practical to have an ice cream sandwich, but that shouldn’t stop your family from making fun, cream-filled cookie sandwiches instead. The coconut-vanilla filling makes the soft and chewy chocolate cookie exterior even better. They’re fun for kids to assemble and if we’re being honest, they’re also a lot more satisfying to eat than, say, a box of Oreos.

Pink lemonade in cake form? You’ve got it, with these bright and pretty cupcakes from Anna Olson. Whether you’re whipping them up for a birthday, a potluck, or because it’s a day that ends in “y” is up to you. We would pucker up for that pink and yellow frosting combo on top any day, and kids will equally love decorating them with matching sprinkles or candies.

Point us in the direction of a kid who doesn’t like funfetti cake. It is, after all, a celebration within a celebration, thanks to those pretty pops of yummy colour. Well, now we have something even better: the funfetti cookie. These morsels combine white chocolate and sprinkles for that fun funfetti look and taste, but they’re in an easy-to-handle cookie form that also makes them perfect for potlucks, get-togethers, and gifts.

Related: Flaky Strawberry Rhubarb Cheesecake Pastry Pockets

Having brunch or looking to whip up some easy muffins kids can snack on before school? The next time you feel like baking with the kids, consider these perfect muffins. They feature a yogurt-vanilla base and are topped with sugary streusel kids and adults will love. They also smell heavenly thanks to the generous helping of cinnamon. In fact, if you’re a fan of the spice, we have a feeling these may become a new family fave.

Sometimes you don’t know if you feel like making individual treats or a whole pie or cake. Well, we say that’s when it’s bars’ time to shine. These buttery shortbread squares feature all of those yummy butter tart flavours but with the ease of making a pie. Whip them up and customize them with your favourite fillings like chocolate chips or nuts for a perfect treat.

If you love baking with the kids but are looking for healthier options with less sugar and more fibre, we’ve got just the thing. These apple pie squares are made with natural sweeteners and healthy fats, plus the star ingredient is fibre-filled apples. These bars get extra points for how easy they are to pull together, making them our new favourite treat for lunch, after school, or even breakfast.

Ooey, gooey brownies seem like the richest of baked treats, but we love their capacity for hiding nutritious ingredients, such as sweet potato. Add some of the fibre-filled spuds to this gluten-free recipe for an extra filling and satisfying snack!