The Christmas holidays are one of the best times to bring the whole family into the kitchen. Between the smell of baking biscuits, festive music in the background, and little hands eager to help, cooking becomes about so much more than food.
It’s a chance to spend quality time together and create memories that last far beyond Christmas Day. Cooking with children also helps them build valuable life skills: measuring ingredients, stirring, decorating, and even tidying up afterwards all build confidence and coordination.
If you’re looking for ways to make the most of the festive season, here are five fun and easy Christmas cooking activities that will fill your kitchen with joy. Before you start, you might like to read our guide to essential cooking skills for kids, so little ones feel confident going in.
What you’ll find in this post
- 5 festive cooking activities, from baking to no-bake treats
- A simple recipe for each one
- Tips to keep things low-mess and age-appropriate
- Which activities work best for younger children
The 5 activities
Festive activities to fill your kitchen with joy
Pick and choose based on your child’s age, or work through all five over the holidays.
1
Activity one
Decorate festive biscuits or gingerbread people
Biscuit decorating is a Christmas classic that children of all ages can enjoy. Bake your own dough from scratch, or use shop-bought biscuits if you’re short on time.
- Set out bowls of icing, sprinkles, and small sweets for decorating
- Let children turn their biscuits into snowmen, stars, or reindeer faces
- A great activity for building fine motor skills through icing and decorating
Recipe: Gingerbread Biscuits
Ingredients
- 350g self-raising flour
- 125g butter
- 175g golden syrup
- 100g sugar
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Method
- Cream the butter, sugar, and golden syrup together
- Mix in the flour, spice, and bicarbonate of soda to form a dough
- Roll out and cut into festive shapes
- Bake at 180°C for 10 to 12 minutes, then cool before decorating
2
Activity two
Make mini Christmas pizzas
If you’re after something savoury after all the sweet treats, mini pizzas are a fun and easy option, and a great chance to practise spreading and layering ingredients.
- Use small pizza bases, pitta breads, or English muffins as the base
- Let children spread the sauce and choose their own toppings
- Arrange toppings into Christmas trees, snowmen, or stars for extra fun
Recipe: Mini Christmas Pizzas
Ingredients
- Small pizza bases, pitta breads, or English muffins
- Tomato pizza sauce
- Grated cheese
- Toppings such as peppers, olives, or cherry tomatoes
Method
- Spread the sauce onto each base
- Sprinkle over cheese and arrange toppings into festive shapes
- Bake at 200°C for 8 to 10 minutes
3
Activity three
Create edible reindeer Rice Krispie treats
For a quick no-bake activity, Rice Krispie treats are always a hit, and this festive reindeer version is one your child will be proud to show off.
- Melt chocolate and butter together, then stir in the Rice Krispies
- Shape the mixture into reindeer heads using your hands or a biscuit cutter
- Let it cool slightly before adding the decorations
Recipe: Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 100g chocolate
- 50g butter
- 150g Rice Krispies
- Pretzels, for antlers
- Small red sweets, for noses
- Chocolate chips, for eyes
Method
- Melt the chocolate and butter together in a saucepan
- Stir in the Rice Krispies until fully coated
- Spoon into cupcake cases or shape into reindeer heads
- Add pretzels, sweets, and chocolate chips once slightly cooled
4
Activity four
Build a Christmas tree fruit skewer
Not every festive activity needs to be sugary. These fruit skewers are a colourful, healthier option that’s ideal for younger children who aren’t quite ready for baking.
- Use green grapes, kiwi slices, and strawberries to build a tree shape
- Thread onto a wooden skewer, largest pieces at the base
- Drizzle with a little yoghurt or melted chocolate to look like snow
Recipe: Christmas Tree Fruit Skewers
Ingredients
- Green grapes
- Kiwi, sliced
- Strawberries
- Yoghurt or melted chocolate, to drizzle
Method
- Thread the fruit onto a skewer in a tree shape, widest at the bottom
- Drizzle with yoghurt or melted chocolate
- Serve straight away
5
Activity five
Mix and gift hot chocolate jars
This is one of our favourite festive traditions, because it combines creativity, giving, and chocolate all in one activity.
- Layer cocoa powder, sugar, and mini marshmallows in a small jar
- Let children add chocolate chips or crushed candy canes
- Decorate the jar with ribbon, stickers, or a handmade label
Recipe: Hot Chocolate Jars
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp sugar
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips or crushed candy canes, optional
Method
- Layer the cocoa powder and sugar in the bottom of a small jar
- Top with mini marshmallows and any extra toppings
- Seal and decorate with ribbon or a label reading “Just add hot milk”
It’s about the time together, not the perfect biscuit.
Cooking with children at Christmas is about enjoying time together, not about perfection. Whether the biscuits are slightly uneven or the icing ends up more on the table than the biscuits, that’s all part of the fun.
These activities are a lovely way to keep children entertained during the holidays while helping them build real confidence in the kitchen.
Common questions about Christmas cooking with kids
Written by a parent educator and kitchen safety advocate
Years spent teaching children of all ages to cook, and just as many spent cleaning flour off the ceiling at home, have taught me that readiness beats rushing every time. I write about the practical, honest side of cooking with kids.
