Food and Recipes Desserts 50 Dessert Recipes To Make For A Sweet Afternoon With Your Grandchildren Make memories and scrumptious sweets with our kid-friendly recipes. By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is an Associate Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 22, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel 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 the skills they learn 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. Have a few cookie monsters on your hands? They'll love baking homemade heart-shaped 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 to baking projects that will hone their skills. Whatever dessert you end up making, the most important part of baking with your grandkids is that they have fun and make a new memory. The delicious outcomes certainly won’t hurt, either. 01 of 50 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Jennifer Causey 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. You'll love the rich, nutty flavor of the brown butter, and the kids will be all too happy with the chocolate chips. 02 of 50 Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Southern Living 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. This is one dessert that the kids are sure to remember. 03 of 50 S'mores Pie Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray Kids love s'mores and we guarantee that they'll love it in pie form too. Unlike its campfire adjacent cousin, no-bake S'mores Pie doesn't need any heat. 04 of 50 Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner The kids will have so much fun baking and decorating these candy-pink adorned cupcakes made with the beloved Southern-made soft drink. These bright sweets have a cherry on top too that the kids will adore. 05 of 50 Chocolate Lasagna Southern Living 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. 06 of 50 Easy Sugar Cookies Carlina Teteris/Getty Images With this go-to sugar cookie recipe, the grandkids can decorate them any way they want. Have a lineup ready to go of fun cookie cutters for the cutest cookies to come. 07 of 50 Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Hand pies are easy to assemble and grab-and-go for a picnic or playground adventure. The kids will have the time of their lives getting their hands dirty to help put together these darling pies. 08 of 50 Banana Pudding Poke Cake Greg DuPree Let the kids poke holes in this rich sheet cake and pour the homemade vanilla pudding over it. The end result will be as sweet as they are. 09 of 50 Fresh Strawberry Milkshake Antonis Achilleos Is there any treat easier or more nostalgic than a milkshake? Top with as much fresh whipped cream as the kids want. 10 of 50 Cakey Lemon Brownies Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Jennifer Wendorf If your grandkids aren't chocolate fanatics, try these rich "brownies" made with cream-cheese lemon frosting—yum! A little bit of white chocolate balances out the acidity without turning any chocolate-averted heads. 11 of 50 Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Micah A. Leal Make any day feel like a birthday with a homemade chocolate chip cookie cake. The grandkids can go wild with frosting and sprinkles designs. 12 of 50 Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey How cute are these cupcakes? Lay newspaper down on the kitchen table and have a decorating party. 13 of 50 Red, White, and Blue Popsicles Jennifer Causey Don't wait for the ice cream man—make these nostalgic treats right at home. These are a grand Memorial or Independence Day treat but will also satisfy on any sweltering Southern summer day. 14 of 50 Chocolate Pudding Pie Micah A. Leal This creamy, rich pie is perfect for the chocolate loving kids out there. Serve it with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and the kiddos will be singing your praises. 15 of 50 Birthday Cake Ice Cream Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Delight the grandkids with their favorite ice cream shop treat at home. No fancy equipment is required and going overboard on the toppings is highly encouraged. 16 of 50 Red Velvet Cake Balls Southern Living These easy little treats start with a box of cake mix, and your grandchildren will love making them. A dessert this bright and tasty is one that the kids will want to make again and again. 17 of 50 Cakey Strawberry Cobbler Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox 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. Plus, even kids with a short attention span will be able to see through this snappy cake that asks only 10 minutes of active time. 18 of 50 Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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. This treat may have been a childhood favorite of yours and now it can be theirs too. 19 of 50 Buttermilk-Peach Popsicles Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox We love any way we can use fresh peaches in the summertime, but this cool recipe will definitely be the kids' favorite. A little honey—not too much—makes this treat even sweeter. 20 of 50 Coca Cola Chocolate Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner They'll be amazed that their favorite soft drink can actually be used to make a decadent chocolate cake. Let them sip on any leftover coke and you'll make their whole day. 21 of 50 Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen With all that surface area, the kids will have a ball decorating this slab pie with pastry cutouts. Prepare the sour dough up to a month in advance so that the kids can get right to the fun part. 22 of 50 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Caitlin Bensel These nostalgic little cookies make use of pantry staples, and they make plenty of cookies for the kids to bring to the neighbors. Any spare Kisses are up for grabs, plus a few kisses on the cheek from Grandma. 23 of 50 Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Reminiscent of the strawberry shortcake bars from the ice cream truck, these pretty-in-pink bars are so fun to layer. These easy but impressive dessert bars will give the kids something to be proud of. 24 of 50 Rainbow Sherbet Cake Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Rainbow sherbet ice cream? That's old news. Rainbow sherbet cake is the prettiest way to enjoy your favorite ice cream shop flavors. 25 of 50 Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream Caitlin Bensel There's nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a heaping bowl of homemade ice cream. This one has kids' favorite Oreos. 26 of 50 Pineapple Granita Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Instead of running up to the gas station, try a homemade icee that's made with fresh fruit. This melt-in-your-mouth treat will hit the spot on a hot afternoon. 27 of 50 Cathedral Window Cookies Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy Popular at Christmas and Easter, these vintage cookies are a colorful no-bake treat the kids can make all by themselves. While you man the stove, the kids can handle to mixing. 28 of 50 Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Caitlin Bensel Transform the ice cream sandwiches from your freezer into a show-stopping treat. With your guidance, the kids will whip up a crowd-pleaser. 29 of 50 Homemade Pop Tarts Micah A. Leal Spend the afternoon making the homemade version of their favorite buttery breakfast pastry. We went for a classic brown sugar-cinnamon flavor, but feel free to experiment to recreate their favorites. 30 of 50 Strawberry-Lemonade Cake Jen Causey Their favorite after-school drink in cake form? They'll be over the moon. Make the cake layers in advance to speed up the process for family-favorite dessert. 31 of 50 Kitchen Sink Cookies Jennifer Causey Let their imaginations take control with what they add to these soft, sweet-and-salty cookies. Even the kids favorite corn chips aren't out of the question for this recipe. 32 of 50 Triple Chocolate Milkshake Antonis Achilleos 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. These no-fuss shakes will be better than any drive-thru. 33 of 50 Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones Emily Mingledorff, Pie Crust & Pixie Dust Summer beach trips call for these adorable lighthouse cupcakes. These cute cakes are easy to decorate with extraordinary results. 34 of 50 Oreo Cheesecake Micah A. Leal 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. 35 of 50 Homemade Moon Pies Shelbie Tunnell This Southern snack is a true baking project to try at home. Introduce the grandkids to a homemade version of this classic treat and they'll be grateful forever. 36 of 50 Snickers Cake Alison Miksch 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. This recipe asks five candy bars, but if you accidentally purchase an extra that's just because it's Grandma's job to spoil the grandkids. 37 of 50 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. These sippers are as cute as they are delicious. 38 of 50 Potato Candy Photo: Alison Miksch Teach the kids how to make an old-fashioned treat that your mom taught you. Passing down this recipe will start a tradition that the young ones will cherish. 39 of 50 Old-Fashioned Pound Cake Southern Living Every budding baker should learn how to make one of these beauties, and who better to teach than Grandma? Thanks to you, they'll already have a good pound cake recipe in their arsenal. 40 of 50 Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer This deliciously sweet bread is a fun project to layer and devour. The pieces don't have to be arranged perfectly to come out delicious so the kids can have a go at it. 41 of 50 Brownie Cookies Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Instead of making brownies with that box of mix in the pantry, try these soft cookies for a change. The kids will gobble up this fusion dessert that's as sweet as they are. 42 of 50 Classic Birthday Cake Micah A. Leal Birthday or no, this from-scratch cake can make any afternoon feel like a celebration. Let the kids go crazy with the sprinkles for decoration! 43 of 50 Banana Split Pops Southern Living Who doesn't love a banana split? This fun and fun-sized version are easy to make, kid-friendly, and the perfect summertime activity that will conclude in a delicious product. 44 of 50 Bird's Nest Cookies Joy Howard Make this recipe with the kids for Easter so that the whole crew can enjoy your sweet efforts. These cute and cartoon-y cookies couldn't be easier to make with just fried chow mein noodles, chocolate, peanut butter chips, and candy eggs. 45 of 50 Birthday Cake In A Jar Southern Living Send the grandkids home with a goody bag from their stay. A mason jar of birthday cake you made together is an adorable and portage dessert that will go the distance. 46 of 50 Heart Cookies Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Though these cookies are intended for Valentines Day, is there ever a bad time to show your grandkids that you love them? The final result will be a love letter in charming dessert form. 47 of 50 Homemade Cake Pops Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox These adorable sweets are surprisingly easy to make at home. Our recipe starts with boxed cake mix for a project that's within reach and not too time consuming with young children. 48 of 50 Root Beer Float Ice Pops Photography and Prop Styling: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Show the young'ins the joys of an old-fashioned root beer float in a fun, fresh form. Frozen root beer will lose its carbonation, ending up with a perfectly smooth popsicle texture. 49 of 50 Muddy Buddy Mix Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis This sweet snack has chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. What's not to like? The kids will have an albeit messy blast making them and you can rest assured that the only heat needed for this recipe is the microwave. 50 of 50 Air Fryer Donuts Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel 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. Our cheat to delicious donuts for the grandkids to munch on is a can of refrigerated biscuits. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit