10 Fun Summer Baking Ideas for Kids During the School Holidays
The summer holidays can feel like they go on forever, and keeping children entertained can be a challenge! But baking is a fun, creative activity that the whole family can enjoy. From decorating cupcakes to creating colourful cookies, baking is a great way for children to learn new skills, while making delicious treats they’ll be proud to show off!
So, if you’re looking for easy summer baking ideas for kids, we’ve rounded up some fun and easy projects that are perfect for rainy days, playdates, family afternoons, or summer celebrations.
Why baking is a fantastic school holiday activity
As well as offering tasty results, baking helps children develop confidence, creativity, and practical skills, all while spending quality time with family. Best of all though, decorating cakes and biscuits allows kids to express themselves through colour, design, and imagination.
From using food colourings, edible glitters, and sugar decorations, every bake can become your own unique work of art!
Here’s 10 fun summer baking ideas for kids to keep them entertained during the school break:
1. Summer Cupcakes
Cupcakes are one of the easiest bakes for kids to decorate. You could start with a simple vanilla or chocolate cupcake recipe, then let the kids create their own designs using edible glitter and ProGel food colouring to make colourful buttercream. Good themes to try include:
- Rainbow cupcakes
- Beach-themed cupcake
- Ice cream inspired cupcakes
- Sunshine cupcakes
Best For: Ages 3-6
Time Needed: 20 mins baking + 25 mins decorating
Essential Tools: Muffin tin, cupcake liners, mixing bowls, piping bags.
2. Colourful butterfly biscuits
Butterfly biscuits are perfect for summer baking. Make use of butterfly shaped cutters and decorate with sugarpaste, edible pens, edible glitters, and shimmering dusts to create stunning wings. This gives kids a great way to experiment with different colour combinations and patterns, which makes every biscuit unique.
Click here for our 'Beautiful Butterfly Biscuit' recipe
Best For: Ages 5-9
Time Needed: 15 mins prep + 12 mins baking + 30 mins decorating.
Essential Tools: Rolling pin, butterfly- shaped biscuit cutters, baking tray
3. Under-the-sea cookies
Ocean-themed cookies are a fantastic way to bring summer adventures into the kitchen. Use shell, fish, seahorse, and starfish cutters before decorating with pre coloured ready-to-roll sugarpaste and sparkling edible decorations. Use for beach themed parties or just for simply celebrating the summer holidays.
Best For: Ages 5-9
Time Needed: 15 mins prep + 12 mins baking + 30 mins decorating.
Essential Tools: Ocean cutters, baking tray, piping bags.
Image: Our EU ambassador sabineguilhem
4. Ice cream cone cupcakes
These fun cupcakes look like ice cream but you don’t have to worry about them melting in the sun! Bake cake batter inside ice cream cones and top with swirls of buttercream, sprinkles, and Sparkle Dust. Perfect for kids of all ages!
Best For: All ages
Time Needed: 40 mins
Essential Tools: Baking tray or muffin tin, piping bag.
5. Magical fairy cakes
Simple fairy cakes can be transformed into enchanting creations using pastel colours, edible glitter, and sugar flowers. Think fairy gardens and magical forests - a great way to get kids to use their imagination.
Best For: Ages 3-6
Time Needed: 35 mins
Essential Tools: Fairy cake tins, spoons for icing.
6. Animal-themed cupcakes
From monkeys and lions to butterflies and ladybirds, animal cupcakes are always a winner with younger children and helps to encourage creativity. Add details using sugarpaste shapes and edible decorations like edible pens to
bring animal creations to life.
Best For: Ages 4-7
Time Needed: 1 hour
Essential Tools: Animal cutters, baking tray
7. Summer garden cake
A simple traybake can become an edible garden full of colourful flowers, butterflies, and sunshine. Decorate with buttercream grass, sugar flowers, and edible glitter for extra sparkle.
Best For: Ages 7+
Time Needed: 1.5 hours
Essential Tools: Traybake / brownie tin, spatula
8. Cake pops
Cake pops are really easy to decorate and perfect for little hands. Dip them in melted chocolate before adding sprinkles, edible glitter, or shimmering decorations. Ideal for picnics, birthday parties, and summer gatherings.
Best For: Ages 6+
Time Needed: 1.5 hours (inc. chilling)
Essential Tools: Cake pop sticks, deep microwave-safe bowl.
Image: Our EU ambassador sabineguilhem
9. Beach- themed cupcakes
Decorating cupcakes with biscuit crumb for the sand, blue buttercream waves, and edible decorations will bring the seaside home! To create shimmering ocean effects, using a touch of edible glitter.
Best For: Ages 4-9
Time Needed: 20 mins prep + 20 mins baking + 30 mins decorating
Essential Tools: Muffin tin, piping bag or
palette knife
Image: Our Rising Star ambassador rosepetalbakes
10. Cupcake decorating challenge
Turn baking into a competition by setting up a decorating station filled with colourful cake decorating supplies. You could choose a theme such as summer holidays, under the sea or favourite animals - then let everyone create their own masterpiece!
Best For: All ages
Time Needed: 30-45 mins
Essential Tools: Small bowls, spoons, piping nozzles
Image: Our UK ambassador cakesbysims_sweets_
Tips for baking with children
- Make sure to choose age-appropriate tasks
- Always measure the ingredients before starting
- Ensure surfaces are protected with baking mats
- Focus on fun rather than trying to make things perfect
- Encourage children to experiment with colours and decorations
FAQ
What are the easiest baking activities for kids?
Cupcakes, brownies, biscuits, and cake pops are some of the easiest baking activities for kids. They are simple to make, require minimal equipment, and give plenty of opportunities for decorating with icing, sprinkles, edible glitter, and food colourings.
What age can children start baking?
With age-appropriate tasks, children can get involved in baking from a young age. Young kids can help with mixing ingredients, decorating cakes, and using cookie cutters. Older children can follow recipes, measure out ingredients, and assist with baking under the supervision of an adult.
How can I make baking more fun for children?
You can make baking more fun for children by choosing colourful themes such as rainbows, animals, summer holidays, or their favourite characters. They can personalise their creations with colourful icing, edible decorations, glitter, and cake craft pens to help encourage creativity.
What are some good rainy day baking activities?
Rainy days are great for a range of baking activities, such as:
- Decorating cupcakes
- Making sugar cookies
- Baking brownies
- Creating cake pops
- Making a themed celebration cake
- Creating fondant decorations and sugar flowers
What baking skills can children learn?
Baking is perfect for helping children learn:
- Measuring and weighing ingredients
- Following instructions
- Patience and concentration
- Creative skills
- Kitchen safety and hygiene
- Basic maths and science concepts
What is the best cake decorating ideas for kids?
Popular cake decorating ideas for kids include:
- Rainbow cupcakes
- Beach-themed cookies
- Animal biscuits
- Fairy cakes
- Garden-themed cakes
- Unicorn cupcakes
Are edible glitters and food colourings safe for children?
Always choose high-quality edible cake decorating products and use them in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Food grade edible glitters, dusts, and food colouring are made specifically for decorating cakes, cupcakes, biscuits, and other sweet treats.
How do I keep children engaged while baking?
It’s a good idea to keep baking sessions short and interactive. Allow children to make their own creative choices with a focus on the decorating stage. Having a variety of colourful decorations helps to maintain interest and encourage imaginative designs.
What summer themed treats can kids make?
There’s a great range of summer themed treats that kids can
make, which are perfect for picnics and summer parties. Ideas include:
- Sunshine cupcakes
- Beach themed cookies
- Ice cream cone cakes
- Rainbow biscuits
- Butterfly cupcakes
- Tropical cake pops
- Garden themed tray bakes
What cake decorating supplies do I need for baking with kids?
All you need is a few simple supplies to make cake
decorating more exciting including:
- Food colourings
- Edible glitter
- Sprinkles
- Edible decorations
- Cookie biscuits
- Piping bags and nozzles
- Sugarpaste and moulds
Make this summer extra sweet!
Whether you’re making rainbow cupcakes, baking biscuits, or creating colourful cakes, summer baking is a fabulous way to spend time together during the school holidays. With a little imagination and plenty of colourful cake decorations, children can create exciting treats that are just as fun to make as they are to eat! So, go gather your ingredients, put on your aprons, and enjoy a summer full of creativity, baking, and unforgettable wow moments!