14 Great Cook Books for Kids

My son started cooking recently. He started off just making pancakes from scratch– not much harder than a mix. He moved on to creme brulee which is similar to pudding but with a fun element of blowtorching. Molten chocolate cake was one of my favorites that he mastered. He recently converted our Thanksgiving leftovers into Turkey Potpie.

Kids may not really need special cookbooks written for them to learn the basics in the kitchen, but they’re a brilliant way to help them gain some ownership over their own food preparation. Lots of busy parents don’t know how to involve their little ones in the process of preparing meals, but if you give your son or daughter their very own kid-friendly cookbook, they may be inspired to whip up their own tasty treats. So, herd the children into the kitchen, open up one of these 14 great cook books for kids, and start cooking!

14 Great Cook Books for Kids

Best For Preschoolers

Look and Cook Snacks: A First Book of Recipes in Pictures by Valorie Fisher

No reading is required to follow these easy snack recipes. The information is presented entirely in photographs. The snacks vary from substantial such as naan pizza to dips. Recipes for desserts that require baking are included. This is a good way to get kids into the kitchen to make food that they enjoy. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook For Preschoolers & Up by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson

This book was created with the goal of empowering the youngest children to feel confident in the kitchen with minimal adult support. Packed with wholesome and cleverly-named recipes, the main focus of this book is on its colorful illustrations which take young cooks step-by-step through the process of preparing the dish in question so that even pre-schoolers can easily follow along.

A Kids’ Introduction To Italian Cooking

The Silver Spoon For Children: Favorite Italian Recipes by Amanda Grant

Italian food reached the mainstream long ago, and there’s barely a child out there who doesn’t love pizza and pasta. Now, they can prepare their own simple pasta-based dishes with this easy-to-follow Italian recipe book aimed squarely at younger cooks. There are over 40 different authentic recipes to try including favorites like minestrone and risotto that children will recognize and want to make themselves. This book is aimed at kids aged 9 and over, but even younger children will love the pictures and will want to choose the recipes they like best.

Learning The Basics Of Baking

Baking Class: 50 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love To Bake! by Deanna F. Cook

Baking isn’t just a great skill to learn, it’s also a lot of fun, and this recipe book makes the art of cake-making even more entertaining for youngsters. Glossy and spiral-bound, this book is popular with moms thanks to its easy-to-clean design, while kids love the inventive yet simple-to-follow recipes that they can prepare and then eat themselves. Colorful and bright, this book also contains educational elements such as basic safety rules, top tips for cleaning up, and a glossary of frequently used cooking terms. Aimed at children aged between 8 and 12 years, this is a brilliant choice for tweens who are ready to be more independent in the kitchen.

Best For Versatility

The American Girl Cookbooks

There are 8 books in the American Girl Cookbooks series, and each one is a treasure trove of fun and easy recipes that aren’t just child-friendly but practical too. The meals that can be produced by following the instructions provided here can grace any family dinner table, with dishes such as rosemary roast chicken and turkey chili featured on the pages. There are books dedicated to different types of cooking including snacks, cakes, and international cuisine. Although these books are aimed at girls, there’s plenty for boys to enjoy here too, so you shouldn’t be deterred by the titles – these books are great for older kids who already have some kitchen experience or for young chefs who have adults standing by ready to help out when necessary.

Encourage your young cooks to get in the kitchen and start baking with these four fun recipe-packed titles. Whether they succeed or fail in their efforts, you’re sure to enjoy sampling the results! You could even make your little ones feel like a professional chef by buying them their own chef’s apron and hat to wear while they’re preparing food.

It’ll add even more fun to their experience and keep their clothing clean and safe from splashes and spills at the same time. In fact, why not get a chef’s apron for yourself at the same time – you can be the perfect kitchen double act, working together to make tasty treats that the whole family will love! So, what are you waiting for – pop on your chef’s hat and jacket, (you can click here for chef uniforms!) and get cooking!

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