One of my favorite (interpret favorite however you’d like) activities to do with my children is cooking with them. And, if you’ve ever attempted to bake cookies with your children, you’ll know that the use of the word “favorite” should be loosely interpreted.

My mother taught cooking classes with children throughout my childhood, and my memories and perceptions of what those moments should be like were all pleasant, fun, and even enjoyable. Somehow, it never turns out that way for me and my clan.

Cooking with kids can be chaotic, stressful, and - well - messy. When you throw in the stovetop or oven - it gets complicated, scary, and overwhelming. Enter the no-bake dessert recipes. They allow you to create, to control, and to enjoy the time spent with your children.

Fruit Kabobs
How fun (and easy) is a fruit kabob? Watermelon, pineapple, and honeydew cut up into fun shapes with cookie cutters and slid onto a skewer. No knives, no stove, no oven. If you’re nervous about the skewers, you can use popsicle sticks or long sucker sticks you can find at Michael’s Craft Stores.

Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup natural peanut butter
½ cup honey or agave syrup
4-6 Tablespoons of mini chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life)
2 teaspoons of vanilla
dash of salt

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Roll into balls. Store in the refrigerator. If you have nut allergies in your home, try it with soynut butter or sunflower seed butter. Throw in some raisins for an extra yum.

Banana Pudding
1 pkg of instant banana pudding
1 8-oz container of your favorite whipped topping
1 box of vanilla wafers
3-4 bananas

Make the pudding according to the package directions. Stir in the whipped topping. Fill a ziplock bag with some of the vanilla wafers and let your children hammer it. You want them broken but not crushed. Mix the broken wafers into the pudding mixture. Cut the bananas into slices. Your children can help using a popsicle stick as a knife. Mix the cut bananas into the pudding mixture. Line a 9x9 glass dish with some of the remaining vanilla wafers. Pour the pudding mixture over the wafers. Top with another layer of wafers. Put in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it. Be sure to allow enough time for the wafers to get soggy. Yum!

Cinnamon Rolls
Slices of white bread, crusts removed.
Butter
Cinnamon-Sugar mixture
Confectioner’s Sugar

With a rolling pin, flatten the bread slices. Your children will love that! Next, spread the butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Roll the bread into a log and slice into 1-inch thick pieces. In a small bowl, start with 2 Tablespoons of powdered sugar. Add ¼ teaspoon of water at a time until you get the consistency of a nice glaze. Drizzle over the cinnamon rolls and enjoy!

No-bake cooking is the perfect way to introduce your children to cooking and to create a fun, family tradition. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as my children and I have enjoyed them.