The Best Cooking Gifts for Kids

Tovla Jr. Knives for Kids 3-Piece Set

$10 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $28 at QVC

When your children are ready to make the leap and actually start helping in the kitchen, this set of kid-safe knives is a good place to start. The FDA-grade, BPA-free kitchen tools are made of a premium nylon material with serrated edges that chop but are much more delicate than sharp metal counterparts. Though your child will relish in the newfound autonomy, you can let go of your breath.

Material: Nylon | Blade Style: Serrated | Sizes: Large, medium, small

Little Tikes Backyard Barbecue Get Out 'n' Grill Play Set

$40 at Walmart $42 at Wayfair $41 at Kohls.com

Another toy for younger kids to get them excited about cooking, this play grill set even includes a hot dog, hamburger, and some utensils to complete the setup. All the pieces fit inside the grill compartment for storage, and the toy isn't too bulky—it can be neatly tucked into a corner. Just a note: Some assembly is required.

Dimensions (Assembled): 24 x 11 x 28 inches | Weight: 9.8 pounds

Baketivity Kids Baking DIY Activity Kit

$37 at Amazon $40 at Walmart $37 at Baketivity.com

Take any guesswork out of the next family baking session with a kit that includes just what you need to make one special treat—nothing more. In each box, you’ll get all of the ingredients pre-measured for convenience, step-by-step educational instructions, plus a learning activity to dive into while dessert bakes. This particular kit makes tasty cinnamon buns, but there are other treats available, too, like chocolate chunk cookies or cake pops.

Includes: Dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon mix, sugar, yeast, brown sugar, vanilla sugar), recipe instructions, game instructions

Uncommon Goods Dinosaur Taco Holders

$25 at Walmart $17 at Uncommon Goods $25 at Toynk.com

Kids love dinosaurs, kids love tacos; put them together and you get these handy gadgets. These T. rex- and triceratops-shaped taco holders are perfect for family dinners. Adorable and practical, they can hold two tacos each and keep all the ingredients upright and safely in the tortilla shell. Of course, they can also work with other foods, like doughnuts, sandwiches, waffles, and plenty more. Uncommon Goods also has a stegosaurus-shaped nachos and dip set where the chips form the dinosaur’s spikes. Make dinner whimsical and get kids excited to eat.

Material: ABS plastic | Dimensions: 10.25 x 3 x 5 inches

Cookies by Design Majestic Mermaid Cookie Decorating Kit

View on Cookiesbydesign.com

Artistry and baking can go hand in hand. Encourage kids’ creativity with this Majestic Mermaid Cookie Decorating Kit from Cookies by Design. Depending on which size is ordered, there are 10 or 20 pre-baked sugar cookies in the shapes of mermaid tails, clam shells, and starfish. In terms of decorating, the kit includes sugar sprinkles and four bags of colored icing in purple, light purple, turquoise, and light turquoise. Cookies by Design also has a number of other themes available, including Magical Unicorns, Summer Vibes, and a Birthday Kit.

Includes: 10 or 20 shaped sugar cookies, 4 bags of colored icing, sugar sprinkles

Flour Shop Rainbow Pop-Up Cake Kit

$60 at Williams-Sonoma $60 at Havenly.com

The only thing better than baking a cake is baking a layered rainbow cake that nestles into a push pop. That’s right—this special kit comes with everything an adventurous baker needs to whip up the rainbow-hued push pops the NYC-based Flour Shop is famous for. The set, which comes packaged in a tin ripe for gifting (no wrapping required), makes plenty for a small crowd of 12.

Includes: Vanilla cake mix, vanilla frosting mix, 6 neon food coloring gels, rainbow sprinkle mix, 12 push pop molds, pastry bag, decorative tin

Presto Poplite Hot Air Popper

$31 at Amazon $31 at Walmart $40 at Wayfair

Popcorn is a classic treat for family movie night. Kids can help make the snack with the Presto Poplite Hot Air Popper. Not only is it simple to use, the Poplite also doesn't require any oil. It's able to pop up to 18 cups of popcorn in just 2.5 minutes. The built-in popcorn measuring cup also doubles as a convenient butter warmer. Thanks to the curved chute, the popcorn can fall directly into a serving bowl.

During testing, we loved how the model was easy to clean since there wasn't any oily residue. We also praise the overall compact frame of the popper, which made it easy to store. However, we did note that the unit needed to cool down between uses.

Power: 1,475 watts | Capacity: 18 cups | Dimensions: 5.81 x 9.25 x 13.12 inches

Fotouzy Cutting Boards

$16 at Amazon

Kids can help prepare meals in the kitchen by chopping fruits, veggies, and more. These vibrant cutting boards are not only great surfaces to prep food on, but they also are color- and symbol-coded for various types of ingredients. For example, the red mat has a picture of a cow on it and can be used for preparing beef. The orange mat has some cheese, the green one has a banana, the yellow one has chicken, and so on.

Not only is this a nice way to introduce various types of food, but you can also use it as a teaching moment about food safety. For example, only using the yellow mat to cut poultry means kids won’t cross-contaminate raw meat bacteria onto fruits or vegetables. Place the mats on a fully dry surface to avoid slipping.

Includes: 7 colored cutting mats | Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 15 x 12 x 0.28 inches

Disney Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker

$30 at Amazon $40 at Home Depot $40 at QVC

Surprise a Disney fan with an appliance that marries two great loves. The mini waffle maker makes one 6-inch Mickey Mouse character waffle (try your hand at a grilled cheese, too!), plus features a few important safety features for young cooks, like non-skid feet and a power light that indicates when the appliance is on and hot.

 Power: 800 watts | Warranty: 1 year | Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.25 x 3.75 inches

Constructive Eating Construction Plate and Utensils

$36 at Amazon $21 at Walmart $51 at Wayfair

Even if your toddler is too young to really get into cooking, you can still foster a love of food from an early age. This fun dining set does more than turn mealtime into playtime. It encourages kids to explore and experiment with whatever you put on their plate.

Includes: Plate, spoon, fork, pusher | Material: Plastic

Hasbro Easy Bake Ultimate Oven

$67 at Amazon $45 at Walmart

There’s a reason the Easy Bake oven has been around for as long as it has—it’s a great and safe foray into the world of baking. The electric oven comes with everything your child needs to make frosted brownies—a baking pan, pan tool, chocolate brownie mix, vanilla frosting mix, rainbow sugar crystals, and, of course, step-by-step instructions.

Includes: Oven, baking pan, pan tool, chocolate brownie mix, vanilla icing mix, rainbow sugar crystals, instructions

Real Cooking Chocolate Pen

$28 at Amazon $27 at Walmart

Trade those trusty markers for a different kind of drawing tool—a pen that deposits real chocolate as your child writes. The kit comes with a melting tray that holds four colored chocolates and a pen that automatically loads to minimize mess, plus 40 mold designs to help guide the creative process.

Includes: Chocolate pen, drawing tip, warming tray and lid, 4 colored chocolate packs, stirring stick, 40 mold designs (2 trays), charging cable, instructions

Chef'n Sweet Spot Ice Cream Maker

$55 at Amazon $65 at Williams-Sonoma $60 at Sur La Table

Sometimes the best treats are the ones you can whip up in just a few minutes flat—particularly if the task involves hungry kids. This cool insulated bowl is a great alternative to more cumbersome ice cream machines, as it preps ice cream, gelato, and other frozen desserts in just 120 seconds.

Includes: Ice cream maker pan, scoop, spade, recipe book

Genuine Fred Shark Munchtime Chopsticks

$8 at Amazon $21 at Walmart $6 at Kohls.com

There are many tricks to learning how to use chopsticks. For example, some people tie disposable chopsticks together with rubber bands. These training chopsticks by Genuine Fred make the task of learning how to use the utensils easy, fun, and child-friendly. Shaped like a shark, the mouth opens when the sticks are pressed together. Kids will have fun puppeting the shark while figuring out how to eat bigger pieces of food with the chopsticks. Genuine Fred has other animal shapes available, too, including a yellow frog, lobster claw, green t. Rex, and the pink and orange toucan.

Material: ABS plastic | Dimensions: 2.75 x 0.87 x 8.86 inches

Uncommon Goods Root Beer Science Kit

$18 at Uncommon Goods

This fun science-based set teaches kids that not all cooking provides instant gratification, but that sometimes the best things are worth waiting for. The root beer making kit comes with all of the ingredients your little food scientist needs to whip up artisanal root beer—sassafras extract, yeast, and a funnel. It also comes with additional tools—labels and instructions—to extend the fun, as your child figures out how to brand their creation.

Includes: Sassafras extract, yeast, a funnel, labels, instructions

Evridwear Kids Cut-Resistant Gloves

$9 at Amazon $9 at Walmart

Knife skills and knife safety are incredibly important to learn, even from a young age. With these cut-resistant gloves, younger kids can protect themselves while confidently building knife skills. EvridWear’s gloves are made from durable polyethylene glass fibers, tightly woven together so blades can’t slip through. The gloves feature an elastic band around the wrist to keep them secure and comfortable. They’re great for chopping vegetables, grating cheese, carving pumpkins, shaving carrots, or cutting paper for crafts. The gloves come in multiple sizes, so you can find a pair that fits your child. There are also multiple colors to pick from: pink, gray, purple, and green.

Material: Polyethylene (HPPE) glass fibers | Ages: 4-15

KidzWerkz Wood Step Stool for Kids

$130 at Amazon $125 at Walmart

If kids want to help in the kitchen but can’t quite reach the countertops, you’re going to need a step stool. This sturdy wooden option from KidzWerks is ideal for any young chef. It’s made of birch plywood and has four anti-slip pads to avoid jostling and floor scratches. Have multiple kids or want to keep this step stool around as your child grows? No problem. It features an adjustable step with three different heights. There is also a removable safety bar to keep kids secure. The step stool comes in four different colors–gray, navy, white, and natural wood–so you can find one that matches your kitchen’s décor.

Material: Wood | Hold Weight: 150 pounds | Dimensions: 36 x 19.5 x 16.5 inches

Eshato Chef Hat for Kids

$7 at Amazon

If you have a child who is already into cooking, you can really make them feel like a pro with a chef's hat. This affordable three-pack is great if things get a little messy and you need to plop one in the washer, or invite a couple of friends over and let everyone feel like a pro baker or chef. Each hat has an elastic band so it can be adjusted for comfort.

Material: Cotton, polyester, elastic | Includes: 3 hats

Edible Science

$13 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $13 at Barnesandnoble.com

For elementary- and middle school-age children, this unique cookbook that focuses on the scientific side of cooking is entertaining and educational. In this National Geographic special, kids will work their way through dozens of thoroughly-tested, fun, edible experiments crafted by a former teacher who holds a Ph.D. in science education.

Pages: 80 | Reading Age: 8-12 | Published: 2015

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs

$11 at Amazon $14 at Walmart View on Abebooks.com

Here’s a fresh idea: Help a budding chef hone their skills by giving them a cookbook they can work their way through from start to finish. This #1 New York Times Best Seller from America’s Test Kitchen is a great choice, since each recipe—breakfast, snacks, beverages, dinners, desserts, and more—is developed by expert chefs and thoroughly tested by more than 750 kids.

Pages: 224 | Published: 2019 | Publisher: Sourcebooks Explore

Modern Chef Kids Kitchen Playset

$499 at Crate & Barrel

You can get your child excited about cooking even before it's safe for them to do much in the real kitchen with a toy version. This modern toy replica is about as cute as it gets. There's an oven, stove, sink, cabinet for storing pots and pans (sold separately), and even a chalkboard for writing out today's specials.

Dimensions: 32 x 15 x 34 inches | Materials: Engineered wood, iron, ABS plastic, and acrylic

Tovolo Dino Ice Pop Molds

$15 at Amazon $16 at Walmart $16 at Wayfair

Store-bought popsicles are fine, but they’re so much more fun when you make them yourself–especially when the molds are whimsical shapes. Tovolo has a four-piece set of ice pop molds in the shape of detailed dinosaurs. The silicone tray’s flexibility makes it easier to remove the ice pops from the freezer. The plastic tail-shaped sticks not only feature an ovular drip protector to keep hands clean, the sticks have fossil shapes that emerge as the popsicle is eaten. Tovolo also has ice pop molds shaped like penguins, monsters, and zombies.

Material: Silicone and plastic | Number of Pops: 4 | Pop Size: 2.64 ounces each

PTC Ceramic Dragon Cookie Jar

$45 at Amazon $45 at Walmart

If the kids in your life love baking cookies, they will need some place to store their treats. This dragon cookie jar will protect any goodies inside while delighting kids with its bright hand-painted design. One reviewer mentioned it’s a little small for a batch of big cookies, but it’s the perfect size for small cookies (Oreo size).

Material: Ceramic | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Dimensions: 9.5 x 7 x  6.25 inches

FarmSteady Rainbow Bagel Kit

$35 at Williams-Sonoma View on Farmsteady.com $35 at Uncommon Goods

Bagels are a breakfast staple. Kids can help create some truly vibrant bagels with this colorful kit from FarmSteady. On the ingredients side, the kit includes dry bagel mix and yeast, so the baker will need to provide the flour, sugar, and water. For decoration, the kit has three bottles of liquid gel food coloring–red, blue, and yellow–which can be mixed together to create additional hues. Following the provided directions, the bagels will be crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and absolutely rainbow bright.

Includes: Dry bagel mix, 3 bottles of liquid gel food coloring, yeast, directions

Oannao Multicolor Silicone Spatula Set

$14 at Amazon

Spatulas are an invaluable tool in the kitchen. They’re great for scraping every last bit of batter to make chocolate brownies, or mixing ingredients together for a savory barbecue sauce. This set of silicone spatulas has a variety of colors, sizes, and styles–perfect for tackling any number of recipes. The offset spatula is great for smoothing out icing atop a cake. The spoon-shaped spatula can help with sampling soups. All in all, the set is handy and versatile. As a bonus, there is a silicone basting brush, a balloon whisk, and an egg separator included with the spatulas.

Includes: Large spreader, large spatula, large spoon, medium spreader, medium spatula, medium spoon, medium basting brush, balloon egg whisk, egg separator

Playz Edible Candy! Food Science STEM Chemistry Kit

$35 at Amazon $65 at Walmart

Cooking and baking are incredible hobbies (and skills), but what about candy making? This incredible candy making kit from Playz not only teaches kids how to make a variety of candies, but it teaches important STEM concepts at the same time. For example, while making rock candy, kids can learn about the science of density and crystallization. The set includes 40 experiments, more than 20 tools, and recipes to make all sorts of candies. It’s a gift that is as sweet as it is smart.

Includes: 2 educational books, cornflour, strawberry jelly, tutti-frutti jelly, citric acid, gelatine bags, sprinkles, thermometer, silicone mold, lollipop sticks, measuring spoon, small measuring cups, crepe paper sheets, satin ribbons, decorative stickers, straws

The Scooby-Doo! Cookbook

$11 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $13 at Barnesandnoble.com

Zoinks! This cookbook is chock-full of kid-friendly recipes all centered around everyone's favorite mystery-solving dog–Scooby Doo! It has a nice variety of items, ranging from mac n' cheese, to parfaits, to pizzas, doughnuts, and of course, plenty of cartoon-worthy sandwiches. There are even helpful tips and tricks marked by a magnifying glass. Colorful and cute, it's a great cookbook for younger chefs looking to get started in the kitchen.

Number of Recipes: 25+ | Pages: 64 | Date Published: 2020

Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set

$16 at Amazon $16 at Walmart View on Melissaanddoug.com

Before cutting real fruit with a real knife, little kids can practice on toys. This adorable set from Melissa & Doug features play fruits held together by gentle magnets. With a slice from the wooden knife, the fruits separate into pieces. Kids can develop fine motor skills while learning how to prepare fruits including cantaloupe, bananas, pears, strawberries, and more.

Includes: Wooden knife, toy fruits (banana, lemon, strawberry, kiwi, cantaloupe, pear, orange)

Godinger The Very Hungry Caterpillar Berry Berry 3-Piece Kids Set

$23 at Amazon $17 at Wayfair $18 at Kohls.com

Eric Carle's "the Very Hungry Caterpillar" is a classic childhood storybook. The iconic art now adorns a melamine dinnerware set that's perfect for hungry kiddos. The Berry Berry three-piece set includes a dinner tray with several compartments (ideal for picky eaters who don't like things to mix), a small mug, and a small bowl. Each one features the titular caterpillar as well as some beautiful berries. There is a whole suite of "Very Hungry Caterpillar"-themed dinnerware available, including a 3 piece set and a serving tray that says "You're the apple of my eye."

Includes: Melamine plate, bowl, and cup | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Microwave Safe: Yes