5 top tips for baking with a toddler

Ever tried baking with a toddler?

If you have you’ll know it’s not exactly about precision or speed.

It’s more like a slow-moving, flour-dusted adventure, equal parts of chaos and delight.

And while the result might be a slightly sunken sponge or a lopsided fairy cake, the real joy is in the doing.

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Here are some things you need to remember before you buy the ingredients.

The first steps

Before you dive in, wooden spoon in hand, you must:

Prep like you’re hosting a mini festival. Toddlers love choice, so having bowls of premeasured ingredients ready to go can help avoid the “I want to pour the whole bag” moment.
Let go of the outcome. The cake might be underbaked, the icing might resemble abstract art, and someone will almost certainly eat raw batter. That’s all part of it.
Talk through the steps. Even if they’re too young to grasp the science of baking powder, narrating the process helps them feel involved. Plus, it’s a sneaky way to build vocabulary (and patience).
Offer choices where it doesn’t matter. Let them pick the cupcake cases or sprinkle colours. It gives them ownership without derailing the bake.

Now, about the mess. There will be mess. Flour on the floor, sticky fingers, and possibly a spoon in someone’s hair. But mess is memory-making. It’s the kind of thing they’ll talk about years later: “Remember when we made that cake with the blue icing and it tasted like toothpaste?”

Baking together & building connection

And then there’s the emotional side. Baking together can be a gentle way to build connection, especially for children who might need a bit of extra reassurance or routine. For families involved in Christian foster care, these moments in the kitchen can become particularly meaningful acts of service and love, reflecting the biblical call to care for the vulnerable. These small rituals, like baking on a Sunday afternoon or decorating cupcakes for a birthday, can become anchors of comfort and belonging. They’re not just about sugar and sprinkles; they’re about showing up, being present, and creating shared joy in ways that mirror Christ’s unconditional love.

Music adds to the fun

Back to the kitchen, don’t forget the music. A bit of background melody (nursery rhymes, or whatever they’re currently obsessed with) can keep everyone’s spirits high while you wait for the oven to do its thing. And if you’re lucky, you might even get a spontaneous dance break.

Make sure you have the right tools to hand

Some parents swear by silicone baking trays. Others prefer the old-school metal tins. Either way, toddlers will likely be more interested in licking the spoon than the bakeware. That’s fine. Just make sure you’ve got a damp cloth nearby and maybe a spare apron.

Take your time

And finally, don’t rush it. Toddlers operate on their own time. If they want to stir for ten minutes or spend half an hour choosing which sprinkles to use, let them. The cake isn’t the point. The togetherness is.

So yes, baking with toddlers is messy, slow, and occasionally baffling. But it’s also full of giggles, sticky hugs, and the kind of sweetness that lasts far longer than the cake itself. Why not get baking.

This is a collaborative post.