Best Kids Cookbooks for Ages 6-12
Cooking is more than just preparing food—it’s a colorful adventure that helps kids learn while they stir, mix, and taste. This ranked list features the best kids cookbooks for ages 6 to 12, carefully chosen for their balance of fun themes, clear instructions, and growing challenges. Whether your young chef is just beginning with a mug snack or ready to host a pretend party, these books build both culinary confidence and creativity.

Perfect for ages 6–8 are bright, easy-to-follow books like Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes and Salad People and More Real Recipes. These charming cookbooks use playful illustrations and simple steps to help kids create pretend soups, produce mosaics, and colorful salads—offering hands-on, safe experiences that build early confidence in the kitchen. For budding independence, titles like Marvellous Mug Recipes: Amazing Single Serving Meals! and Quick Meal-in-a Mug Recipes That Are Too Delicious let kids whip up personalized snacks, soups, or desserts—all in their own mug. These books teach measurement, timing, and a taste of self-reliance with minimal cleanup.
Around ages 8–10, kids are ready for more creativity and playfulness. S’more Cookbook: Tasty Creative S’more Recipes invites inventive campers to craft sweet or savory s’mores using imaginative ingredients. Meanwhile, The Best Butter Book!: Fantastic Flavors of Homemade Butters, Spreads & Sauces offers a tasty twist on everyday staples, encouraging experimentation with flavors like cinnamon-honey or herb-infused spreads. Kids craving a bit of silly fun will love Gross Grub, with quirky recipes like “worms in mud” and “spaghetti brains” that turn weird into laughter—and maybe a surprisingly tasty snack. Equally fun but more structured, Honest Pretzels: And 64 Other Amazing Recipes for Kids gives hands-on dough-shaping recipes perfect for little bakers to knead and craft instead of spoon.
For children starting to cook collaboratively with adults, Cooking with Kids: Yummy Recipes Kids Can Help to Cook provides clear, interactive activities—making it a great bridge between cooking solo and cooking together. Recipes in Children’s Cookbook: Delicious Step-by-Step Recipes also serve this stage well, offering vibrant visuals and clear instructions for breakfast treats, dinners, or desserts. As kids get older, they’ll love Pizza and Pasta: Little Chef Recipes, which lets them build personal pizzas, mix and shape pasta dishes, and taste the joy of customizing mealtime. And when it comes to hosting festive fun? Fun Party Food: Little Chef Recipes, Yummy Snacks: Little Chef Recipes, and Cold Platters for Christmas and New Year invite children to plan creative snacks and platters for friends and family.
From everyday snacks to playful experiments and imaginative treats, this collection has a cookbook to match every young chef’s curiosity and growing skill. Encourage the next generation of kitchen enthusiasts—let them open a title and discover that cooking can be creative, empowering, and full of delicious surprises.

1
S’more Cookbook: Tasty Creative S’more Recipes
1954
177
(By Stephanie Sharp) This book explores creative takes on the classic s’more, offering unique twists on the beloved campfire treat. With a variety of recipes that include different ingredients and flavor combinations, kids can have fun experimenting with sweet and savory s’mores that go beyond the traditional marshmallow.

2
The Best Butter Book!: Fantastic Flavors of Homemade Butters, Spreads & Sauces
1905
166
(By Christina Tosch) This book is all about creating delicious, homemade butters, spreads, and sauces that kids can prepare and enjoy. With easy recipes for flavored butters like cinnamon and honey, kids can experiment with spreading their creations on bread, crackers, and vegetables, adding a fun twist to every meal.

3
Marvellous Mug Recipes: Amazing Single Serving Meals!
1689
96
(By Daniel Humphreys) This cookbook teaches kids how to prepare tasty, single-serving meals in a mug, perfect for quick meals and snacks. With simple, easy-to-follow recipes, children can enjoy dishes like mac and cheese, brownies, and soups in just minutes, promoting independent cooking with minimal clean-up.

4
Salad People and More Real Recipes: A New Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up
1689
229
(By Mollie Katzen) This sequel to "Pretend Soup" offers even more delicious, healthy recipes aimed at preschoolers and young children. The cookbook introduces nutritious ingredients in a simple and fun way, allowing children to create colorful, tasty salads and other fresh dishes that are as fun to make as they are to eat.

5
Honest Pretzels: And 64 Other Amazing Recipes for Kids
1469
114
(By Mollie Katzen) This cookbook features a collection of kid-friendly, delicious recipes, including the classic pretzel. Each recipe emphasizes healthy, simple ingredients and encourages young chefs to try new things in the kitchen, making it easy for kids to create meals that taste great and are fun to make.

6
Quick Meal-in-a Mug Recipes That Are Too Delicious: Prepare Your Meals In Just 5 Minutes
1412
83
(By Valeria Ray) This cookbook features quick and easy recipes for meals made in a mug, perfect for kids who are looking to cook independently. From savory to sweet, these recipes are ideal for busy schedules, allowing children to make their own meals in just five minutes with minimal fuss.

7
Gross Grub
1335
180
(By Cheryl Porter) For kids who love the idea of making "gross" foods, this book is filled with quirky recipes like "worms in mud" and "spaghetti brains." It encourages kids to experiment with food while laughing at the fun, sometimes gross, names and appearances of the dishes, making cooking a silly and engaging experience.

8
Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up
1261
106
(By Mollie Katzen) A fantastic introduction to cooking for young children, this cookbook features playful recipes like "Pretend Soup" and "Apple Sandwiches." Each recipe is designed to help kids develop basic cooking skills in a fun, safe, and creative way, encouraging them to enjoy the process as much as the result.

9
Pizza and Pasta: Little Chef Recipes
1129
151
(By Mercè Segarra) This fun cookbook focuses on two of kids’ favorite foods: pizza and pasta. Easy-to-follow recipes allow children to customize their pizza toppings and create pasta dishes that suit their taste, making cooking a fun, interactive experience.

10
Cooking with Kids: Yummy Recipes Kids Can Help to Cook
1048
147
(By Ivy Hope) This cookbook is designed to encourage children to cook alongside their parents, with recipes that are easy to make and fun to eat. It emphasizes hands-on activities that children can do while learning important kitchen skills and gaining confidence in the kitchen.

11
Children’s Cookbook: Delicious Step-by-Step Recipes
896
34
(By Katharine Ibbs) Children's Cookbook: Delicious Step-by-Step Recipes is a fun and easy-to-follow cookbook designed for young chefs. With clear, step-by-step instructions and vibrant pictures, kids can confidently create tasty meals, snacks, and treats. The book features simple, kid-friendly recipes that encourage creativity, build cooking skills, and promote healthy eating. Whether making breakfast, lunch, or desserts, this cookbook turns the kitchen into a place of adventure and learning. Perfect for beginners and little food enthusiasts!

12
Cold Platters for Christmas and New Year: Amazing Grazing Festive Fare to Share
906
82
(By Christina Tosch) This cookbook offers a variety of cold platters and grazing ideas perfect for holiday parties. From cheese boards to deli meats, kids can help assemble beautiful, shareable platters that are both delicious and visually appealing, ideal for festive gatherings and casual holiday meals.

13
Fun Party Food: Little Chef Recipes
755
97
(By Mercè Segarra) This cookbook is packed with fun and easy-to-make party food ideas, ideal for kids who want to host their own snack-time events. Recipes include everything from bite-sized sandwiches to creative finger foods, teaching children how to plan and create meals for small parties and celebrations.

14
Yummy Snacks: Little Chef Recipes
696
40
(By Mercè Segarra) Perfect for young chefs, this cookbook offers simple snack recipes that kids can easily prepare with little help. From fruit snacks to savory treats, each recipe is designed to be both fun and nutritious, helping children develop their cooking skills while enjoying the satisfaction of making their own food.

15
Best Recipes from Eastern Europe: Dainty Dishes, Delicious Drinks
684
81
(By Sahara Sanders) This cookbook introduces children to the flavors of Eastern Europe, with simple recipes for dishes like pierogi, borscht, and savory pastries. Each recipe is simplified to suit young chefs, while also offering insight into different cultures and the joy of sharing traditional meals.

16
Healthy Kids Cookbook: These Healthy Dishes Can Help to Keep Your Child Living a Healthy and Active Life!
465
42
(By Stephanie Sharp) This cookbook focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle for kids through easy-to-make recipes. From wholesome snacks to full meals, the recipes emphasize nutritious ingredients while making cooking accessible and fun for young chefs, encouraging healthy eating habits from an early age.

17
Tasty Desserts: Little Chef Recipes
460
62
(By Mercè Segarra) A delightful cookbook filled with easy and delicious dessert recipes that kids can make with minimal assistance. From cookies to cakes and pies, this collection allows young bakers to experiment with different flavors and textures, perfect for satisfying their sweet tooth in a creative way.

18
Crazy Dumplings
324
17
(By Amanda Roberts) A fun-filled cookbook dedicated to the art of making dumplings, perfect for kids who enjoy hands-on cooking. The book includes simple, step-by-step recipes for a variety of dumplings, from traditional to creative, allowing children to explore different flavors and techniques while having a great time.

19
Ham for the Holidays: Tasty Christmas and New Year Ham Recipes
310
34
(By Christina Tosch) This holiday cookbook features a range of mouthwatering ham recipes perfect for festive meals, including Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Simple to follow, these recipes are designed for both beginners and seasoned chefs, helping families create delicious holiday meals with minimal effort.

20
Kids Recipes for Christmas: Make Them Feel Special During the Holiday
196
23
(By Stephanie Sharp) This book offers a range of festive recipes designed to make Christmas extra special for kids. With easy, fun-to-make treats and meals, children can participate in the holiday cooking process and enjoy the magic of creating their own holiday traditions.

21
I Can Cook “Pastry” (My Children’s Cook Book, #1)
159
11
(By Marika Germanis) This beginner-friendly cookbook introduces young chefs to the art of making pastries. With easy-to-follow instructions and fun illustrations, kids can create simple treats like pies, tarts, and cookies, fostering their interest in baking and cooking from an early age.

22
Kiddie Cocktails
163
22
(By Stuart Sandler) A playful book featuring non-alcoholic "cocktail" recipes, perfect for kids who want to feel grown-up while enjoying refreshing beverages. Each recipe is colorful and fun, incorporating fruit juices, soda, and other child-friendly ingredients to create exciting mocktails for any occasion.