Parent Corner
Kids Kitchen is a free way to bake together. This page is for the grown-ups.
How Kids Kitchen works
- It's free. There are no children's accounts, sign-ups, comments or photo uploads.
- Nothing is collected from children. The kids' pages never ask anyone to buy or subscribe.
- Every recipe comes from the VanillaGoods recipe collection and lists the jobs a grown-up does, the allergens and whether the dough is raw at any point.
The baking levels
- Little HelpersAges 4 to 6
Pouring, stirring, scooping and decorating. You do anything hot, sharp or electric.
- Junior BakersAges 7 to 10
Measuring, cracking eggs, mixing and shaping. You handle the oven, the mixer and knives.
- Rising ChefsAges 11 to 14
Multi-step projects. Decide what they do alone by their experience and the task.
Age bands are a guide. A grown-up decides what each child can do safely. A recipe's level says what the child can do with you beside them, not that a step is safe at a given age.
Kitchen safety basics
- Hand washing: before you start, after cracking eggs and after handling raw flour.
- Raw flour and eggs: don't let anyone eat raw dough or batter. Raw flour and raw eggs can carry germs; bake it first.
- Hot and sharp things: ovens, stovetops, hot pans, knives and electric mixers or blenders are grown-up jobs.
- Allergies: each recipe lists wheat, egg, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and sesame from its ingredient list. Check your own labels too, and ask before baking for other children.
- Tasting: taste only finished, baked or no-bake food, with a clean spoon.
- Clean-up: wipe counters, wash tools in hot soapy water and put knives away first.
More guidance: FoodSafety.gov.
Little Baker's Shop
Tools that make baking with kids easier. Our picks; we don't sell these ourselves. Links open Amazon, a different store. VanillaGoods does not earn anything from them.
Child-size apron
An apron that fits keeps sleeves and clothes out of the bowl and makes the baker feel official.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Oven mitts
For the grown-up at the oven, and for older bakers learning to carry a warm tray with help.
Good for: Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Kitchen step stool
A steady, wide stool brings little bakers up to counter height.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers
Nylon kid knife set
Made for soft fruit and butter, so a child can practice knife grip while the sharp knife stays a grown-up job.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers
Mixing bowls with non-slip base
A bowl that stays put while small hands stir.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Silicone spatula set
Easy to hold and scrapes the bowl clean.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Nesting measuring cups
Lesson 3 in your hands: spoon, level, pour.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Measuring spoons
Teaspoons and tablespoons with clear marks, for vanilla, salt and leaveners.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Digital kitchen scale
Weighing is the most accurate way to bake and the easiest way to learn grams.
Good for: Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Small balloon whisk
A whisk sized for a child's hand.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Cookie scoop
Even cookies every time, and a satisfying job for the scooper.
Good for: Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Cookie cutter set
Shapes for cut-out cookies, pie crust leaves and sandwich cookies.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Small rolling pin
A lighter pin rolls dough evenly.
Good for: Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
12-cup muffin pan
Fits every muffin and cupcake recipe in Kids Kitchen.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Paper muffin liners
Less sticking, less washing up, and a child can set them in the pan.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Half-sheet pan
For cookies and scones; two pans let the second batch wait while the first bakes.
Good for: Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Parchment paper
Nothing sticks and the pan stays clean.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Cooling rack
Air underneath lets cookies firm up and cakes cool evenly.
Good for: Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Piping bags and tips starter set
A few large tips are all you need for swirls and stars.
Good for: Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Kitchen timer
A big-button timer gives the child the job of calling time.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Popsicle molds
For the two popsicle recipes and the Popsicle Flavor Lab.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers
Gel food coloring
A drop goes a long way for rainbow buttercream and icing.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Sprinkles assortment
The finishing touch for cookies, cupcakes and funfetti.
Good for: Little Helpers, Junior Bakers, Rising Chefs
Bench scraper
Lifts dough, divides scones and cleans the counter.
Good for: Rising Chefs
Books for young bakers are on the Kids Kitchen books page.
What you'll need
A good starter kit: measuring cups and spoons, a large and a small mixing bowl, a rubber spatula, a whisk, a wooden spoon, a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners, a baking sheet with parchment paper, a loaf pan, a cooling rack and oven mitts sized for the grown-up.
Our vanilla is what these recipes are made with: VanillaGoods vanilla extract and beans.
Recipes and tips for grown-ups, by email
New family baking ideas and seasonal recipes. For grown-ups only; unsubscribe any time.
Keep track in My Kitchen
Signed-in grown-ups can save Kids Kitchen recipes and log the bakes you make together in My Kitchen.
Questions
Email us at help@vanillagoods.com.