50 Dessert Recipes to Make for a Sweet Afternoon with Your Grandchildren
There's nothing more valuable than time spent with your grandchildren, but it can be hard to find things to occupy their time that don't involve a screen. An afternoon spent baking up a storm with your grandkids is one of the most fun (and delicious) ways to enjoy each other's company. Not only does baking require some incognito math practice, but they'll use these novice baking skills forever. These easy dessert recipes for kids cover any and all taste bud preferences. If your grandkids favor citrus over chocolate, try our Cakey Lemon Brownies or Frozen Lemonade. Have a few cookie monsters on your hands? They'll love baking homemade Funfetti Cookies from scratch. If you think you have a true future baker in your kitchen, teach your grandchild how to make his or her first Old-Fashioned Pound Cake or batch of chocolate fudge. Let them get creative decorating an easy sheet cake recipe or our simple sugar cookies. These easy dessert recipes for kids range from no-bake delights like Chocolate Lasagna, Buttermilk-Peach Popsicles, and Fresh Strawberry Milkshakes to baking projects that will hone their skills like Rainbow Sherbet Cake and Oreo Cheesecake. Whatever dessert you end up with, the most important part of baking with your grandkids is that they have fun and make a new memory.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
This new recipe is quickly becoming an all-time favorite amongst readers, and every budding baker needs a go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe on hand.
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Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge
Recipe: Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge
Every Grandma has her own chocolate fudge recipe, and we're willing to bet plenty of them rely on this iconic one from the '50s.
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Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting
Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting
The kids will have so much fun baking and decorating these candy-pink adorned cupcakes made with the beloved Southern-made soft drink.
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Chocolate Lasagna
Recipe: Chocolate Lasagna
The grandkids will love crushing up the Oreo cookie crust for this retro layered dessert. Plus, you don't have to worry about any oven-related injuries with this no-cook option.
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Easy Sugar Cookies
Recipe: Easy Sugar Cookies
With this go-to sugar cookie recipe, the grandkids can decorate them any way they want.
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Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies
Recipe: Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies
Hand pies are easy to assemble and grab-and-go for a picnic or playground adventure.
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Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Recipe: Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Let the kids poke holes in this rich sheet cake and pour the homemade vanilla pudding over it.
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Fresh Strawberry Milkshake
Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Milkshake
Is there any treat easier or more nostalgic than a milkshake? Top with as much fresh whipped cream as the kids want.
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Cakey Lemon Brownies
Recipe: Cakey Lemon Brownies
If your grandkids aren't chocolate fanatics, try these rich "brownies" made with cream-cheese lemon frosting—yum!
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Make any day feel like a birthday with a homemade chocolate chip cookie cake. The grandkids can go wild with frosting and sprinkles designs.
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Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Recipe: Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
How cute are these cupcakes? Lay newspaper down on the kitchen table and have a decorating party.
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Pink Lemonade Cake
Recipe: Pink Lemonade Cake
Instead of a lemonade stand, make today's activity a lemonade cake!
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Red, White, and Blue Popsicles
Recipe: Red, White, and Blue Popsicles
Don't wait for the ice cream man—make these nostalgic treats right at home.
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Chocolate Pudding Pie
Recipe: Chocolate Pudding Pie
This creamy, rich pie is perfect for the chocolate loving kids out there.
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Birthday Cake Ice Cream
Recipe: Birthday Cake Ice Cream
Delight the grandkids with their favorite ice cream shop treat at home.
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Quick PB&J Thumbprints
Recipe: Quick PB&J Thumbprints
These five-ingredient cookies are so easy, the kids can make them from start to finish without your help.
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Red Velvet Cake Balls
Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Balls
These easy little treats start with a box of cake mix, and your grandchildren will love making them.
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Air Fryer Donuts
Recipe: Air Fryer Donuts
We love trying out new recipes in our Air Fryers, and this one is going to be a hit with the kids come weekend brunch.
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Cakey Strawberry Cobbler
Recipe: Cakey Strawberry Cobbler
Even kids who aren't keen on eating their servings of fruit each day will devour this rich cobbler that's more like a cake.
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Frozen Lemonade
Recipe: Frozen Lemonade
Enjoy this delightful frozen treat on a hot afternoon spent outside playing.
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Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies
Recipe: Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies
They might add the packaged version of these to your cart at the grocery store, but our homemade recipe tastes better and makes for a fun project.
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SweeTARTS and Smarties Tie-Dye Cake
Recipe: SweeTARTS and Smarties Tie-Dye Cake
If your grandkids have taste buds that prefer sour candy to chocolate desserts, this sheet cake is the one for you to try. Plus, it starts with boxed cake mix and ends with store-bought frosting, so there's no baking difficulty involved.
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Funfetti Sugar Cookies
Recipe: Funfetti Sugar Cookies
We love baking homemade versions of store-bought favorites, and these colorful cookies are going to absolutely thrill the grandkids.
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Chocolate Parfait
Recipe: Chocolate Parfait
Let the kids layer these cute treats to their hearts' desire.
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Buttermilk-Peach Popsicles
Recipe: Buttermilk-Peach Popsicles
We love any way we can use fresh peaches in the summertime, but this cool recipe will definitely be the kids' favorite.
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Coca Cola Chocolate Cake
Recipe: Coca Cola Chocolate Cake
They'll be amazed that their favorite soft drink can actually be used to make a decadent chocolate cake.
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Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie
Recipe: Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie
With all that surface area, the kids will have a ball decorating this slab pie with pastry cutouts.
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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
These nostalgic little cookies make use of pantry staples, and they make plenty of cookies for the kids to bring to the neighbors.
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Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
Reminiscent of the strawberry shortcake bars from the ice cream truck, these pretty-in-pink bars are so fun to layer.
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Rainbow Sherbet Cake
Recipe: Rainbow Sherbet Cake
Rainbow sherbet ice cream? That's old news. Rainbow sherbet cake is the prettiest way to enjoy your favorite ice cream shop flavors.
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Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream
Recipe: Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream
There's nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a heaping bowl of homemade ice cream.
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Strawberry-Blueberry Cupcakes
Recipe: Strawberry-Blueberry Cupcakes
These fresh fruit cupcakes freeze beautifully if you want to save half for the grandkids' next visit.
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Pineapple Granita
Recipe: Pineapple Granita
Instead of running up to the gas station, try a homemade icee that's made with fresh fruit.
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Cathedral Window Cookies
Recipe: Cathedral Window Cookies
Popular at Christmas and Easter, these vintage cookies are a colorful no-bake treat the kids can make all by themselves.
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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Transform the ice cream sandwiches from your freezer into a showstopping treat.
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Homemade Pop Tarts
Recipe: Homemade Pop Tarts
Spend the afternoon making the homemade version of their favorite buttery breakfast pastry.
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Strawberry-Lemonade Cake
Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Cake
Their favorite after-school drink in cake form? They'll be over the moon.
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Kitchen Sink Cookies
Recipe: Kitchen Sink Cookies
Let their imaginations take control with what they add to these soft, sweet-and-salty cookies.
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Triple Chocolate Milkshake
Recipe: Triple Chocolate Milkshake
You won't be able to get the words "triple chocolate" out of your mouth before they've agreed to make this treat with you.
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Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones
Recipe: Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones
Summer beach trips call for these adorable lighthouse cupcakes.
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Oreo Cheesecake
Recipe: Oreo Cheesecake
There's no shortage of Oreo goodness in this recipe—between the crust, filling, and topping of this cheesecake, you'll use an entire pack of Oreos.
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Homemade Moon Pies
Recipe: Homemade Moon Pies
This Southern snack is a true baking project to try at home.
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Snickers Cake
Recipe: Snickers Cake
If your grandkids always reach for a Snickers when you're checking out at the grocery store, this layer cake has got to be your next baking project together.
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Polar Bear Frozen Hot Chocolate
Recipe: Polar Bear Frozen Hot Chocolate
Enjoy hot chocolate taste all year long with this chilly frozen version that's topped with fun polar bear marshmallows.
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Potato Candy
Recipe: Potato Candy
Teach the kids how to make an old-fashioned treat that your mom taught you.
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Peanut Butter Fingers
Recipe: Peanut Butter Fingers
These handheld bars are like a cross between a granola bar and a peanut butter cookie.
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Old-Fashioned Pound Cake
Recipe: Old-Fashioned Pound Cake
Every budding baker should learn how to make one of these beauties, and who better to teach than Grandma?
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Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread
Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread
This deliciously sweet bread is a fun project to layer and devour.
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Brownie Cookies
Recipe: Brownie Cookies
Instead of making brownies with that box of mix in the pantry, try these soft cookies for a change.
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Classic Birthday Cake
Recipe: Classic Birthday Cake
Birthday or no, this from-scratch cake can make any afternoon feel like a celebration.