Recipes that kids love to eat, are easy to make or can be made ahead. Cookies, snacks and menu ideas.

Kids Make Homemade Cookies

As parents and grandparents, we are always trying to think up memory-making occasions with the kids. And what better way to do that than making cookies? Kids love to eat cookies, and when kids make cookies, they really like eating them.

Most of the following recipes use either packaged cookie dough or a cake mix, so the kids can make them with minimal parental (or grandparental) help. But even with help, the process of making and baking cookies is fun. Find the recipe for making the cookies shown above by going to the Betty Crocker site.

At the conclusion of this article, you'll find pictures of my grandkids making cookies at my house.

1. Snickerdoodle Sandwiches

Sometimes I want to have fun, with a minimum of mess, so I use packaged sugar cookie dough to make these. They are really special snickerdoodles because two of them hold a tasty filling to make a sandwich. Find the recipe at Better Homes & Gardens.

2. Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here is another quick, easy and foolproof recipe, one which uses cake mix to make the dough. This is great when making cookies with little ones whose attention span is short or non-existent. This simple, tasty recipe can be found on the sally’sbakingaddiction site.

3. Thumbprint Cookies

You'll soon find out which jelly is the kids' favorite when they start filling the thumbprints in these cookies. Instead of rolling them in nuts, consider using crushed cereal. You'll find the recipe over at allrecipes.

4. Pretzel Buttons

Although these pretzel buttons are a great Christmas cookie, think about using pink M&M's for Valentine's Day, and appropriate colored candies for other holidays and occasions. Have the kids unwrap the candy kisses, but be sure to have plenty of them. Trust me, a bunch of kisses will never hit the pretzel. The recipe is found at Sweet Annas.

5. Cookie Pizza

The pizza crust is made using refrigerated sugar cookie dough, so it's super easy to make. The kids love adding the candy toppings. Go to Better Homes & Gardens for the recipe and then begin making memories with the little ones.

6. Dipped Pretzel Rods

When you are finished making these pretzel sticks be sure to make some hot chocolate for the kids. They love stirring their cocoa with the sticks. Go to the kitchen is my Playground to find the recipe.

7. Easy Chocolate Cookies

I, and my grandkids, love chocolate so this is a favorite. The main ingredient for making these cookies is a box of chocolate cake mix. The recipe for these easy chocolate cookies is found on the circle of moms site.

8. Peanut Butter and Banana Drops

I haven't made these cookies yet, but using a package of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough to make them would seem super easy. Better Homes & Gardens has the recipe. Imagine how great the house will smell with the aroma of these in the air.

9. Rainbow Cake Mix Cookies

I add a flavoring when making these cookies because they are made using a white cake mix. Of course, they could be frosted with different flavored frosting also. Find the recipe to make these cake mix cookies at THE 36th Avenue.

Grandkids Making Cookies at my House

Getting a Work Table Ready

The following pictures and recipe shows my grandchildren, Ella and Devin, making cookies at my house. To prepare for making cookies, we moved an end table from the living room and covered it with a dishtowel. Then we tied dish towels—I didn't have aprons for them—to keep the cookie dough off their clothes. I gathered the ingredients together and measured them for the grandkids, and then let them do the dumping and mixing. The following is their experience in pictures.

Cookie Ingredients: Measured and Ready

This is the recipe used, but instead of chocolate chips, M & Ms were used.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup soft shortening
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teas. vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teas. soda
• 1/2 teas. salt
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• 1 6 -oz. pkg. choc. chips

Instructions

1. Thoroughly mix the shortening, sugars, egg, and vanilla. Add the flour, soda, and salt. Stir in the chopped nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonsful on an ungreased cookie sheet, about two inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until light brown. Cookies should be soft.

© 2012 Loraine Brummer

Know any kids who want to make cookies? - or leave a comment.

TheDeeperWell on April 15, 2012:

I bet your grandkids loved it that they were part of a squidoo idea...I always say that squidoo is like a kind of scrapbooking.

reasonablerobby on April 01, 2012:

What great family photos. I would love my own holiday as 'No Assignment Marking Day' after two semesters at University I sure do need it LOL :)

Jules Corriere from Jonesborough TN on April 01, 2012:

I love the idea of being able to make up my own holiday-- it makes me really consider what I think is important in life, and then find a way to celebrate it. I enjoyed reading how you would celebrate a day you could make up for yourself. Congratulations on making the best of Silly Celebrations for March. Blessed.

poppy mercer from London on April 01, 2012:

oh sweet!

Rose Jones on March 31, 2012:

Very cute lens! I loved seeing the pictures of your grandchildren - they looked like they were having a blast.

sousababy on March 31, 2012:

Congrats on making the monster board - hope to see a purple star on this one too. Sincerely, Rose

julieannbrady on March 26, 2012:

Hey Hey! Such a great day to celebrate by making cookies. Save one for me please.

Melody Lassalle from California on March 26, 2012:

What a wonderful holiday! I bet the house smelled great afteward.

Ellen Mitchell on March 26, 2012:

I'm game for a holiday like this. Cute lens.

sousababy on March 26, 2012:

Those children deserve a google +1 (and grandma and grandpa too).

sousababy on March 26, 2012:

Oh, this was such a wholesome read for me . . a far cry from my newly declared 'Make Up Your Own Holiday Day' lens - ha! The photos are wonderful and I can't wait to have grandchildren now. Looks like a lot of fun!Take good care,Rose

Marc from Edinburgh on March 26, 2012:

Cute lens :)

gamrslist on March 26, 2012:

i want some cookies now ill go buy some thanks for cool lens

MelonyVaughan on March 26, 2012:

What a lovely idea!

AJ from Australia on March 05, 2012:

They look like they are having so much fun and a great way to keep them busy and happy for their visit.

anonymous on March 03, 2012:

AWESOME! Looks like they had a great time! You are such a good grandma!!

anonymous on March 02, 2012:

Loved every picture! Can see you are enjoying the joys of being a grandmother!