Looking for fun and easy holiday kitchen activities to do with kids?
Whether you’re baking cookies, making festive treats, or preparing family-friendly meals, we’ve rounded up 6 simple, holiday-inspired kitchen ideas that will keep your kids engaged and happy.
These kid-friendly recipes and activities are perfect for creating lasting memories during the festive season.
Thank you to Milwaukee-based food blogger and cookbook author Philia Kelnhofer of sweetphi.com for these fun ideas:
1. Sugar Cookies (that actually hold their shape)
There’s nothing quite like the joy of holiday cookie-making with kids! It’s a fun, creative, and delicious way to get into the holiday spirit while spending quality time together. Baking sugar cookies is a great holiday baking activity for kids of all ages—whether they’re helping add ingredients, rolling out dough, or decorating with colorful icing and sprinkles. These sugar cookies are a favorite because they actually hold their shape, so you can create stars, reindeer, or snowmen without worrying about them turning into blobs. It’s the perfect recipe to spark creativity and make lasting holiday memories in the kitchen.
2. Graham Cracker Houses
For a simpler alternative to traditional gingerbread houses, try making graham cracker houses! This fun holiday craft is perfect for kids who want to get creative without the hassle of baking gingerbread. With just graham crackers, frosting, and an assortment of colorful candies, the possibilities are endless. Let your little ones design their own mini houses, decorate them with festive treats, and build winter wonderlands right at the kitchen table. This is the ideal holiday craft in the kitchen with kids—it combines the joy of crafting with the excitement of edible creations, making it a win for parents and kids alike!
3. Christmas Tree Pinwheels
Amid all the holiday sweets, it’s nice to have a festive and healthy snack option! These Christmas Tree Pinwheels are not only fun to make, but they’re a tasty, savory break from all the sugar. Using green spinach tortillas to create the “trees,” and filling them with cheddar, bacon, and ranch, these pinwheels are a hit with both kids and adults. It’s an easy and hands-on activity, making it a great way for kids to help in the kitchen. From spreading the filling to rolling the tortillas, little hands can get involved every step of the way. This is a fun, healthy holiday snack that also keeps the kids entertained and excited about being part of the holiday cooking process.
4. Pizza With Kids
5. Hot Chocolate Mix
There’s nothing cozier than sipping on hot chocolate during cold winter nights, and this homemade hot chocolate mix is a perfect treat for kids and families to enjoy together. Whether you’re setting up a DIY hot cocoa bar with fun toppings like marshmallows, candy canes, or whipped cream, or just making a warm cup to enjoy by the fire, this simple recipe is sure to be a hit. Kids will love stirring up their own mugs and adding their favorite toppings. This is more than just a drink—it’s a holiday tradition in the making!
6. Food Gift Ideas
Bonus: Iced Bailey’s Coffee
The holidays are the perfect time to create special memories with your kids, and what better place to do that than in the kitchen?
Whether you’re baking sugar cookies, crafting graham cracker houses, or enjoying a cozy cup of homemade hot chocolate, these fun and easy holiday kitchen activities will keep the whole family entertained.
For even more holiday fun, check out our guide to G-Rated Christmas Movies, test your knowledge with Christmas Trivia, or explore the best Holiday Fun in Milwaukee. If you’re looking for a sweet treat while out and about, don’t miss our Hot Cocoa Stops Along The Hop Streetcar for a cozy sip while enjoying the festive city lights!
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
