Cooking with children is a fun way to bond as a family and create lasting memories. Kids of all ages can participate in making simple recipes. Have your little ones wash vegetables, stir batter, or sprinkle on toppings. School-age kids can measure and pour ingredients. Teenagers can take the lead on more complicated recipes.

Baking cookies is always a favorite. Sugar cookies or chocolate chip cookies are easy for little hands. Have kids help measure, pour, and mix the batter. Let them roll out the dough and cut out fun shapes with cookie cutters. Once baked, kids can decorate the cooled cookies with icing and sprinkles.

Pizza making engages kids of all ages. Have kids help knead the dough, roll it out, and add sauce and toppings. Set up a topping bar with items like pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, spinach and allow kids to choose their favorites. Kids will have fun putting on the toppings and seeing their creations bake in the oven.

Smoothies are refreshing and kid-friendly. Kids can help wash and cut up fruit like bananas, berries, mango and peaches. Let them measure and pour the fruit, yogurt or milk and juice into the blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Kids will enjoy the hands-on experience and drinking the results of their labor.

Pasta is always a kid favorite. Have kids help measure and pour ingredients for a homemade sauce. Let them stir the sauce as it simmers. Kids can also help boil the pasta, stirring occasionally. Once drained, kids can mix the pasta with the sauce. A simple salad completes the meal.

Quesadillas or burritos are easy for kids to assemble. Set out ingredients such as beans, rice, salsa, cheese, lettuce and allow kids to build their own. Have them help warm the tortillas, then fill and fold them. Kids will enjoy eating their culinary creations.

Pancakes are a perfect breakfast treat for kids to make. Have kids help measure and stir the batter. Let them ladle the batter onto a hot griddle and watch the pancakes cook. Once flipped, kids can add toppings like syrup, fruit, whipped cream or chocolate chips.

Making homemade play dough or slime is more of a craft than a recipe, but kids will have fun mixing the ingredients and kneading the dough. Let their imagination run wild as they shape and mold their creation. Making play dough or slime teaches kids how different ingredients can combine to make something new. Cooking with kids creates opportunities for math and science learning in a fun, hands-on way.