10 best cookbooks for kids

Cookbooks for kids are a category of books specifically designed to introduce children to the world of cooking. These books aim to make cooking fun, educational, and accessible to young readers. They often combine elements of science and math with delicious recipes to engage children in a creative culinary learning experience. Here's what you can expect from cookbooks for kids:

  1. Simple and Kid-Friendly Recipes: Cookbooks for kids typically feature recipes that are easy to follow and use simple ingredients.These recipes are tailored to suit the taste preferences of children, often focusing on familiar and kid-friendly dishes like cookies, cupcakes, and pizza.

  2. Educational Content: Many kids' cookbooks incorporate educational elements related to science and math. They might explain basic cooking principles, such as measuring ingredients, understanding temperatures, and chemical reactions (like baking soda and vinegar). This helps children learn while they cook.

  3. Step-by-Step Instructions: Kid's cookbooks usually include clear, step-by-step instructions with colorful illustrations. This visual guidance helps children understand the cooking process and encourages them to be more hands-on in the kitchen.

  4. Safety Tips: Safety is a crucial aspect of kids' cookbooks. They often provide safety guidelines and tips for children to follow when handling kitchen tools and appliances. This helps ensure a safe cooking experience.

  5. Nutrition Awareness: Some kids' cookbooks may incorporate information about healthy eating habits and the nutritional value of ingredients. This can be a valuable educational component, teaching children about the importance of balanced meals.

  6. Creativity and Experimentation: Kid's cookbooks often encourage creativity and experimentation in the kitchen. They might include variations on recipes and encourage children to come up with their own ideas and flavor combinations.

  7. Fun and Engaging Themes: To capture a child's imagination, these cookbooks may have fun themes or tie-ins with popular children's books, movies, or characters. This can make cooking more exciting for kids.

  8. Age Appropriateness: Cookbooks for kids may be categorized by age group to ensure that the content and recipes are suitable for a child's developmental stage and culinary skill level.

  9. Cooking Skills Development: Beyond just following recipes, some kids' cookbooks aim to teach fundamental cooking skills that children can carry with them into adulthood. These skills can include chopping, mixing, and baking techniques.

  10. Family Bonding: Cooking can be a great way for families to bond, and many kids' cookbooks emphasize this aspect by including recipes that children and parents can make together.

Overall, cookbooks for kids are designed to introduce young readers to the joys of cooking, foster a love for food, and provide educational value through science, math, and creativity. They are a wonderful resource for parents and educators looking to involve children in the culinary world in a safe and enjoyable way.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best cookbooks for kids on the market
  

Food Network Magazine The Big, Fun Kids Cookbook: 150+ Recipes for Young Chefs (Food Network Magazine's Kids Cookbooks)

Hearst Home Kids

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Easy Family Dinners

These recipes are simple to follow—and a blast to make! Find fun food trivia and smart test-kitchen tricks along the way.

Fun After-School Snacks

Choose from ants on a log, fruit and veggie fries, easy snack mixes and more.

Creative Desserts

Find shortcut treats you can make in minutes, plus amazing cakes for budding bakers.

Create Your Own Recipes

Design your own granola bars, chicken salad and more—just choose your mix-ins.

Pop Quizzes

Test your hot dog IQ, and find out how well you know your cereal shapes!

Fake-Out Cakes

Make a cake that looks just like a candy bar or a bowl of mac and cheese! Each recipe comes with step-by-step photos.

Special Coloring Book Section

Color a cupcake or an ice cream cone right in the book!

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs: 100+ Recipes that You'll Love to Cook and Eat

Sourcebooks Explore

Based on 11 reviews Check latest price

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Avocado Toast with Fried Eggs (ingredients, equipment, instructions)

Instructions:

1. In small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon oil, lemon juice, pinch salt, and pinch pepper.

2. Use butter knife to cut avocado in half. Separate halves, then remove and discard pit. Scoop avocado into bowl with lemon dressing; discard skin. Use fork to break avocado into large pieces, then mash into dressing until mostly smooth.

3. Place bread in toaster and toast until golden on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread avocado mixture evenly on toasts.

4. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil over low heat for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, crack eggs into second small bowl and add pinch salt and pinch pepper.

5. Increase heat to medium-high and heat oil for 1 minute (oil should be hot but not smoking). Working quickly, pour eggs into skillet, cover skillet, and cook for 1 minute.

6. Turn off heat and slide skillet to cool burner. Let sit, covered, for about 1 minute for slightly runny yolks or about 2 minutes for set yolks.

7. Use spatula to transfer 1 fried egg to each toast. Serve.

Breakfast

The first meal of the day really is the most important. Kids who eat breakfast do better in school. (It’s true.) And weekend breakfasts are fun for the entire family. Start your day right!

“These pancakes are very fluffy, in a good way.” – Charlotte, 13

Snacks & Beverages

Snack food is fun. Looking for an after-school nosh or maybe something for a sleepover party? It’s all here.

“This is a quick and easy way to make popcorn.” – Hudson, 10

Cooking for Family & Friends

Making dinner is a great way to up your cooking game. And nothing says “I love you” like a home-cooked meal.

“Kind of sweet because of the sauce, but broccoli balances it.” – Mary, 9

Desserts

Celebrate something special with something sweet. Bake amazing cakes and cookies or chill out with homemade ice-cream.

“Good balance of tart strawberries and sweet cream.” – Owen, 11

Junior Baker: Fun Recipes for Delicious Cakes, Cookies, Cupcakes & More (Williams Sonoma)

Weldon Owen

Based on 264 reviews Check latest price

Super Good Baking for Kids

Harpercollins

Based on 774 reviews Check latest price

The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs: 100+ Sweet and Savory Recipes that You'll Love to Bake, Share and Eat!

Based on 4 reviews Check latest price

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Apple Crisp

Instructions:

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In medium bowl, use rubber spatula to stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle melted butter over oat mixture and toss with fork or your fingers until mixture comes together.

3. In large bowl, use rubber spatula to stir together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add apples to bowl with cornstarch mixture and toss to coat.

4. Use rubber spatula to scrape apple mixture into 8-inch square baking dish. Crumble oat topping into pea-size clumps and sprinkle oat topping evenly over apple mixture.

5. Place baking dish in oven. Bake until filling is bubbling around edges and topping is golden brown, about 40 minutes.

6. Use oven mitts to remove baking dish from oven (ask an adult for help). Place baking dish on cooling rack and let apple crisp cool on rack for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Making a Crisp Topping

1. Toss oat mixture with fork or your fingers until mixture comes together.

2. Crumble oat topping into pea-size clumps and sprinkle evenly over apple mixture.

Muffins, Quick Breads & Other Breakfast Treats

“This was very fun. We had learned about fractions in school, and now we are using math. And chocolate chips. Yummy!” – Morgan, 9

Pizza, Flatbread & Other Savory Baked Goods

“Loved the quick and easy sauce. Delicious. Perfect crust.” – Helen, 12

Cookies & Bars

“This would be a great snack to have when I get home from school!” – Victoria, 13

Cakes & Cupcakes

“The recipe was so good! I had a soccer game, so I made an extra batch for my soccer team. They loved it!” – Perrie, 9

Food Network Magazine: The Big, Fun Kids Baking Book: 110+ Recipes for Young Bakers (Food Network Magazine's Kids Cookbooks)

Based on 107 reviews Check latest price

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Easy Baking Projects

Created by Food Network's test kitchen, these recipes are perfect for new bakers and they're a blast to make after school or on the weekends.

Creative Recipes

Choose from Blueberry-Corn Quick Bread, Chunky Monkey Bars, S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cinnamon Dulce de Leche Cupcakes, PB&J Sheet Cake and many more!

Test Your Baking IQ

Find fun food trivia and smart test kitchen tips with each recipe.

Create Your Own Recipes

Design your own banana bread, whoopie pies, and rainbow layer cake. Just choose your favorite ingredients and make something special.

Fun Food Crafts

Discover how to build a cookie puzzle, color your frosting and sprinkles, and decorate doughnuts.

Fake-Out Cakes

Make a cake that looks just like spaghetti and meatballs or even a pineapple! Each recipe comes with step-by-step photos.

Kid in the Kitchen: 100 Recipes and Tips for Young Home Cooks: A Cookbook

Clarkson Potter

Based on 237 reviews Check latest price

Milk Bar: Kids Only: A Cookbook

Clarkson Potter

Based on 703 reviews Check latest price

Super Simple Cooking for Kids: Learn to Cook with 50 Fun and Easy Recipes for Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner, and More!

Rockridge Press

Based on 369 reviews Check latest price

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Picky eaters rejoice!

Familiar foods will appeal to even the pickiest of palates, without compromising on nutrition.

Fewer ingredients, more flavor

Enjoy 50 super simple recipes that use 5 to 10 ingredients—tops.

Fun facts on the menu

Fun food facts throughout will pique kids’ interests as well as their appetites.

Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat! (Awesome STEAM Activities for Kids)

Rockridge Press

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Encourage STEAM learning

Teach kids different elements of science, technology, engineering, art, and math with activities that get them excited about learning new things.

Let kids get their hands dirty

Safe and edible experiments mean kids will have a blast digging in and having a snack as they see science in action.

Are simple to do

These experiments are easy enough for kids ages 5 to 10, and come with clear instructions to help ensure success.

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