Chocolate Brownie

Scroll down to the bottom for the full recipe

Baking with kids is a simple way to build confidence, create connection, and enjoy calm, happy moments together. Whether you love baking already or feel a bit overwhelmed in the kitchen, these tips will help you fall back in love with baking and make it a fun, meaningful part of family life.

Falling in Love With Baking

What do you love?

When you think about it, what does love feel like in your body? Is it calm, joy, connection, creativity, comfort?

For many of us, baking can hold all of those feelings. But sometimes it can start to feel stressful, rushed, or like we are “not good enough”. So how do we fall back in love with baking, and help our kids fall in love with it too?

Baking is more than recipes

Baking is not just about getting something into the oven.

It is a way of spending time together. A way of creating something with your hands. A way of expressing yourself. It can also be a way of showing people we care.

That feeling when someone gifts you homemade baking or a birthday cake is pretty special, isn’t it? Just like we all give and receive love differently, we also experience baking differently.

Some people love precise measurements. Some love experimenting. Some love decorating. Some simply love licking the spoon (I know my kids do).

Yes, baking is a science and measurements matter. But there is no one right way to bake. That is part of the magic, and it is why I love helping families find their own way of creating little kitchen masterpieces.

Create memorable moments, not perfection

If we want kids (and ourselves) to fall in love with baking, sometimes we need to shift our focus. Not: “Did it turn out perfect?” But: “Did we enjoy the process?” The giggles, the spills, the conversations often matter far more than the final result. And if the final result is delicious too, that is a bonus.

Simple ways to fall in love with baking

Make your baking environment feel fun.

Little details can make a big difference. You might play your favourite music, have a cosy drink nearby, use colourful bowls, or turn taste-testing into a fun game (hello, baking show judges). When the kitchen feels inviting, baking starts to feel like a big warm hug.

Find your "go to" recipes.

There is something comforting about a recipe you can come back to again and again. I definitely have my go-to recipes when I need to bring baking to an event. When you're feeling safe and familiar, you can relax and enjoy the process instead of double-checking every step. Once you feel confident, you can start tweaking things with different flavours, toppings, or little twists, while knowing the base recipe has your back.

Use baking as a space for conversation.

The kitchen is a beautiful place for connection. While you are mixing and measuring, conversations often flow naturally. Kids sometimes open up more when they are doing something alongside you. You might talk about the best part of the day, something that felt hard, something that made you laugh, or silly ideas and dreams. Some of the most meaningful conversations happen while creaming butter and sugar.

Let go and enjoy it together

Not every bake will work.

Not every kitchen will stay clean.

Not every recipe will be followed perfectly. And that is okay.

What memories do you want your kids to associate with baking? So many of us have fond memories of Nana’s kitchen or baking with a loved one. My warmest kitchen memories growing up were in the kitchen with my Dad. Failed chocolate icing or delicious chocolate cakes that I was so proud of- this is what we remember.

There are recipe books filled with classic recipes passed down through generations. I sometimes wonder if it was really about baking with Dad, or if it was the love and connection we felt in the kitchen.

You might even picture your Nana or special loved one now, apron on, whipping up something warm and sweet to share with you and a glass of milk. That is the feeling I want to create with my kids. And I want that for you too. Falling in love with baking is not about doing it “right”. It is about being present, sharing moments, and creating memories that feel warm, safe, and loved.

Give these chocolate brownies a try and see what happens when you let go of perfection and lean into the experience. Who knows, you might just fall in love with baking.

Until next time, Heather xx