10 Fun and Easy Cookie Recipes for You and Your Little One

Baking cookies with your little one is one of the best ways to create lasting memories while enjoying a fun and interactive activity together. The kitchen becomes a playground for creativity, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your child’s face light up as they help mix, scoop, and decorate cookies. Whether you’re new to baking or a seasoned pro, these 10 fun and easy cookie recipes will make your time in the kitchen even more special. They’re simple to follow, require minimal ingredients, and are perfect for little hands to get involved in.

Let’s dive into these delicious recipes that will have both you and your little one baking up a storm!

1. Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can’t go wrong with this timeless favorite! These classic chocolate chip cookies are soft, gooey, and perfect for little hands to help scoop the dough. Plus, you can’t beat the smell of freshly baked cookies filling your home.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.
In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Scoop spoonfuls of dough onto the baking sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

Tip for your little one: Let them help mix the dough and drop spoonfuls of it onto the baking sheet. They’ll love getting their hands into the cookie-making process!

2. Fun Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles

Sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and fun to decorate! These are perfect for kids to personalize with colorful sprinkles or fun shapes using cookie cutters.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Colorful sprinkles for decorating

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thick. Let your child use cookie cutters to create fun shapes!
Sprinkle colorful sugar or sprinkles on top of each cookie before baking.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.

Tip for your little one: Let them pick out their favorite sprinkles and decorate their cookies with joy! This is a great way to engage their creativity.

3. Peanut Butter Cookies

For peanut butter lovers, these peanut butter cookies are a must-try! They’re easy to make and deliciously chewy, making them the perfect treat for both you and your child.

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix the peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet.
Press each ball down with a fork to create the classic peanut butter cookie crisscross pattern.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.

Tip for your little one: Let them roll the dough into balls and press the fork down. It’s a simple step that they’ll enjoy!

4. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These oatmeal raisin cookies are hearty, wholesome, and delicious! With oats and raisins, they’re a great treat that packs a bit of nutrition, making them a fun baking experience for both you and your little one.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup raisins

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.
Mix in the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Stir in the raisins.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Tip for your little one: Let them help stir in the oats and raisins, and they’ll love seeing the cookies come together.

5. No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

When you’re short on time but still want a delicious cookie, these no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are the perfect solution. They come together quickly and require no oven, so your child can help from start to finish!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups quick oats
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

In a saucepan, combine butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa powder. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, oats, and vanilla.
Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto wax paper or parchment paper.
Let the cookies cool and set for about 30 minutes.

Tip for your little one: Let them stir the ingredients into the pan, and they’ll love spooning the cookie mixture onto the paper. No baking required!

6. Mini M&M Cookies

These colorful and chewy M&M cookies are a hit with kids of all ages! Bright and fun, these cookies add a bit of extra joy to your baking experience.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups M&M’s

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream together the butter, sugars, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Beat in the eggs.
Gradually add in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir until combined.
Fold in the M&M’s.
Scoop spoonfuls of dough onto the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

Tip for your little one: Let them help mix in the colorful M&M’s. They’ll enjoy adding their favorite colors to the dough!

7. Chocolate-Dipped Biscotti

For a more sophisticated cookie, try making chocolate-dipped biscotti. This crunchy, twice-baked cookie is a fun challenge for both mom and child, and it pairs perfectly with a cup of milk.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
In another bowl, whisk the sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Gradually combine the wet and dry ingredients, then fold in chocolate chips.
Shape the dough into a log and bake for 20 minutes.
Let the biscotti cool, then slice and bake again for 10 minutes until crunchy.

Tip for your little one: Let them help shape the dough into a log and enjoy dipping the cooled biscotti into melted chocolate!

8. Snickerdoodles

Cinnamon-sugar goodness—snickerdoodles are a classic that kids love to roll in the sugar mixture before baking. They’re easy to make and offer a delicious, warm flavor.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream together the butter and sugar.
Add eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Gradually mix this into the wet ingredients.
Roll dough into balls, then roll them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tip for your little one: Let them roll the dough into balls and coat them with cinnamon sugar before baking!

9. Coconut Macaroons

These chewy, coconut-filled cookies are a great treat if you’re looking for something different! Coconut macaroons are sweet, simple, and easy for little hands to shape.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
2 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix coconut, egg whites, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl until well combined.
Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Tip for your little one: Let them shape the coconut mixture into little mounds and help place them on the baking sheet!

10. Chocolate-Coconut Cookies

These chocolate-coconut cookies combine the rich flavor of chocolate with the tropical sweetness of coconut. It’s a great way to introduce your child to a new flavor combination.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Cream the butter and sugar together, then add the cocoa powder, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Stir in flour and shredded coconut until fully combined.
Scoop dough onto a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Tip for your little one: Let them add the shredded coconut to the dough and roll the dough into little balls!

Conclusion

Baking cookies with your child is a fun and rewarding experience that not only results in delicious treats but also helps strengthen your bond. These 10 easy cookie recipes are perfect for little hands and offer lots of opportunities for creativity, from rolling dough to decorating cookies. So, put on your aprons, grab your mixing bowls, and get ready for some sweet memories in the kitchen!