Cooking With Kids

There are plenty of days when we’re fired up and eager to begin a baking project. Unfortunately, those moments don’t always line up with when our chocolate dessert cravings hit. More often than not, we start wanting a warm, fudgy homemade brownie right as we sit down to relax in front of the television, perfectly content to not move for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, we can’t just snap our fingers and have a brownie appear.

Bonus: It's super easy.

The ice cream isn’t really optional.

They could barely wait to get their hands on this recipe.

Tastes as good as it smells.

Creamy, cheesy, and crowd pleasing dauphinoise potatoes are practically impossible to dislike. This classic French dish is simple yet indulgent, and pairs perfectly with showstopping mains like roasted beef tenderloin, glazed ham, or prime rib. With a few kitchen tools and a bit of prep work, you can easily make dauphinoise potatoes from scratch.Dauphinoise (DOE-PHEEN-NOWAAZ) potatoes is how the French say casserole of potatoes, heavy cream, and cheese.

Hint: Put down the extra-sharp cheddar.

So warm, so cozy.

It’s retro in a good way.

These will be gone before you know it.

It’s our classic for a reason.

Almost everything you need is in your pantry.

All the cooking happens in the oven, so you barely need to stand in front of the stove.

Oh, and they're ready in under 30 minutes.

Oh, and it's done in 25 minutes flat.

Embrace the magic that is store-bought tortellini.

Who doesn’t like crispy cheese?

You only need six ingredients.

Grab a spoon.

It's my family's most-requested dinner.

So much better than chicken noodle.

Just one pot and no chopping required.

Three words: crescent roll crust.

This is a bowl of pure comfort.

Struffoli is not only a fun word to say. The classic Italian dessert, also known as Italian Honey Balls, is a festive that’s traditionally served during Christmas time, just like panettone, pizzelle, and pignoli. Tiny balls of dough are fried until golden-brown. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, they’re then tossed in a sticky-sweet honey syrup and decorated with rainbow sprinkles.

Bonus: It's super easy.

The ultimate winter dinner.

Meet the anytime meal of your dreams.

Oh, and it cooks in just 30 minutes.

It’s on the table in less than 30 minutes!

I have the recipe memorized.

It's perfect.

It's even great for beginners.

These are beyond worth the effort.

You can prep it the day before.

In my world, fondue is just another word for fun with food. I mean, poking food onto sticks and dipping it into something melty suddenly makes the meal way more interesting. Proof of this is how much my daughter’s eyes light up whenever I mention chocolate fondue. While a smooth pot of melted chocolate surrounded by a full spread of dippers may look fancy, it’s way, way easier than making a cake, pie, or cookies — and everyone gets to choose their own dessert adventure.

It's perfectly retro.

You had me at crispy bacon and gooey cheese.

Christmas Chex Mix is one of my favorite holiday treats that offers a welcome change from all the cookies and candy canes fighting for attention. This crispy, salty-sweet mixture even looks like Christmas — everything is coated in white chocolate, and red and green M&Ms peek through! My favorite Christmas Chex Mix blend is pretty simple — cereal, pretzels, and candy — but the sprinkle of flaky salt at the end is what takes it over the top.

They're a new tradition.

No one has to know how easy it is to make.

I grew up making this chocolate fudge with my father, who spent a fair amount of time in the kitchen (which was rare for a man of his generation). He was always welcoming, pulling up a chair to the stove and hovering close as I stirred the molten chocolate bubbling away. This chocolate fudge recipe is a family-favorite and easy to make for the holidays (or any time of the year).This recipe for fudge is a classic one from my childhood.

A faster way to make the classic.

Over my years of writing for The Kitchn, I’ve shared almost all of my favorite holiday cookies, from my mother’s famous peppermint cream-filled butter cookies (followed by the much less finicky peppermint cream squares the following year) to rugelach and gingerbread cookies. I’ve saved one of my most beloved cookies for last. These candy cane cookies are the best.

It's an easy and impressive way to feed a crowd.

You'll make it on repeat.

Grab your sheet pan.

You've never had creamed corn like this.

It's ridiculously good — and surprisingly easy to make.

There are so many possibilities.

Because it's truly the easiest.

Enjoy with lots of rice.

An excuse to eat sprinkles? Yes, please!

Everything you love about the classic cheesy pasta, without the fuss.

The sauce is everything.

It's such an easy way to please a crowd.

Bonus: It's ready in 30 minutes.

Get the party started.

A buttery classic.

Consider them the ultimate comfort cookie.

It tastes just like Hamburger Helper.

It tastes even better than the real thing.

It's all about the icing on the cake.

People love them.

It's in the dough.

It’s not what you think.

So rich, so buttery.

They look so fancy.

They taste like Reese's, only better.

‘Tis the season.