Holiday Cooking with Your Kids

By Erica Clark
September 12, 2011
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Credit: Rick Lew
Chances are you're spending a lot of extra time in the kitchen during the holidays preparing for countless festive meals. With these fun, kid-friendly recipes your hours in the kitchen can also be bonding time with the little ones. Happy cooking!
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Having an extra hand in the kitchen come holiday time is never a bad thing. Spend quality time with your kids by enlisting their help with these tasty, easy-to-make appetizers and desserts.

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Apple-Cranberry Galette

Credit: Alexandra Rowley

What's better than biting into a fresh-from-the-oven homemade pie? Seeing the pride on your child's face as he tells everyone at the table that he's the one who made it!

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Cake Balls

Credit: Frances Janisch

These yummy bites are a crowd-favorite any time of year, but switching up the sprinkles for classic holiday colors turns these treats into a festive dessert.

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Easy Veggie Dumplings

Credit: Gemma Comas

Your little one will love learning how to fold these wonton wrappers just right. These two-bite snacks make terrific appetizers.

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Black-Bean Salsa and Tortillas

Credit: Paula Hible

Skip the jarred stuff and have your tots help you mix up this simple salsa instead. Serve with homemade tortilla chips or buy a bag from the market.

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Pie Pops

Credit: Frances Janisch

Take a break from the standard pie presentation and serve these sweet, jam-filled treats to close out your holiday meal.

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Krispy Kale Chips

Credit: Paula Hible

Who needs fat-laden potato chips when you can indulge on these nutrition-packed Krispy Kale Chips as an appetizer to dinner?

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Chocolate Malt Crinkles

Credit: Miki Duisterhof

Let your tots help form the dough into small balls. They'll love watching the cookies expand and form the namesake "crinkles" through the oven window.

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Presidential Veggie Dip

Credit: Paula Hible

Serve this simple dip with cut-up veggies as a light and refreshing appetizer before a heavy holiday meal. If your child is old enough, let her help peel and dice the cucumber.

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Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

Credit: Paula Hible

Turn kid-favorite fruits and cheese into amusing shapes with small cookie cutters, then thread them onto small skewers. Be sure to watch kids carefully when working with pointy skewers.

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Breadstick Snails

Credit: Paula Hible

Standard dinner rolls are delicious but breadstick snails add an extra layer of fun to the dinner table. Children will get a kick out of rolling the dough and adding the antennae.

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Christmas Fudge

Credit: Paula Hible

Decadent white chocolate fudge gets a festive lift from colorful dried fruits. Older children can melt the chocolate over a double boiler. When cooking with younger kids, melt the chips in the microwave instead.

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Starry Chocolate Fruit

Credit: Paula Hible

Serve pieces of chocolate-dipped fruit as a pre-dinner treat or a sweet finish to the meal. Let your kids dip the fruit pieces in the chocolate and place them on wax paper to set.

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Mini Veggie Frittatas

Credit: Rita Maas

Nothing is more frustrating than a room full of guests and a roast that refuses to finish cooking. These protein-packed apps are a smart way to satisfy hungry diners and buy yourself some extra time in the kitchen to complete the meal preparations. Let your kids whisk the eggs and mix-ins together, then spoon the mixture into the muffin cups.

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Gingerbread Men

Credit: Rick Lew

Your tiny chefs will love decorating their gingerbread men (and women) with royal icing and other accoutrements. Don't worry if the cookies aren't perfect; they'll still taste delicious!

Copyright &copy 2011 Meredith Corporation.

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