When snow days hit we head to the kitchen, whether our kids are toddlers or tweens. Though rumor has it, there are places in the U.S. where the sun is always shining, the air is warm, and the kids are not stuck indoors with a snow day. If you live in one of these glorious places a) I’m jealous, and b) bookmark these super fun kitchen projects to do with kids on a weekend or a rainy day. But for anyone in a snow zone like me, these kitchen activities for kids will help make your day inside a little more fun — and delicious, too.
This post contains affiliate links that help support our small business at no additional cost to you, so thank you!
Updated for 2024
Related: The ultimate guide to snow day activities: 30+ wonderful ideas
My Korean Kitchen: Banana Milk Recipe
1. Make a fun flavored milk bar
I love, love this idea of making a making a milk bar with kids. Flavored milks are such a treat but, also loaded with chemicals and colors. Go au naturel with simple recipes for pink milk, Korean banana milk (shown above, from My Korean Kitchen) chocolate milk with homemade chocolate syrup, and vanilla milk. I’d normally suggest starting with one of the recipes, but if you’re in from the storm, make them all and have a tasting party. We might even do a cold flight and a warm one because we’re fancy.
Pics & Pastries homemade marshmallows
2. Make homemade marshmallows…
My go-to kitchen project with kids is making homemade marshmallows, like these from Pics and Pastries. You can add flavor with all kinds of extracts, but I’m old fashioned when it comes to marshmallows; I like them with just a hint of a good vanilla like this one, perfect for piling on top of my favorite decadent homemade hot chocolate recipe.d
Related: A snow day boredom buster guide to keep kids entertained in the kitchen
Marshmallow Monsters from Say Yes
3. … then whip up some marshmallow monsters
If you do cook up marshmallows and want to keep the kitchen fun going, use them to make these adorable marshmallow monsters from Say Yes. Of course store-bought marshmallows work fine, and they’ll be just as cute. And they’re monster brains, as tasty to eat. Muahahaha.. Also check out the fun marshmallow snowflake kitchen craft we featured here. Easy!
Easy hot chocolate bombs from Fresh April Flours
4. Make a DIY hot chocolate bomb, the fancy way or the easy way
These recipes for hot chocolate bombs range from easy and fun to absolutely outrageous. You’ll generally need a few supplies on hand like a silicone sphere mold, but if you’d rather go for fun and delicious versus Instagram-perfect, we like this muffin tin hot chocolate bomb hack from Fresh April Flours.
Vanilla Sour Cream Rainbow Cake from The Cake Merchant
5. Make a crazy cake…the crazier the better!
Other than a holiday or birthday, when else are you going to make a willd cake? Plus — unlike on a birthday — there is no pressure for it to come out perfectly. If you feel like baking, try The Cake Merchant’s Vanilla Sour Cream Rainbow Cake above that I featured in our ffun Easter Cake roundup. Kids will love it.
Other amazing cake ideas when you have a long snow day to fill up with fun:
– a polka dot bundt cake
– a funfetti cake
– a single-serving mug cake
– this spectacular rainbow shaped rainbowcake
Whipperberry’s Red Velvet Heart Pancakes
6. Try making some outrageous pancakes
Kids will never say no to pancakes on a snowy day, in my experience. This post on outrageous Valentine’s Day pancake recipes doesn’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day! Whipperberry’s Red Velvet Heart Pancakes are gorgeous and delicious, made with some pretty basic ingredients (though you’ll need buttermilk). You can even use an all-natural food dye like these; so glad they’re even easier to find these days!
Rainbow marbled homemade Pop Tarts from Aww Sam
7. Get your full unicorn on
This post on wildly delicious unicorn treats is definitely one to bookmark for a snowy kitchen activity with the kids. You can’t go wrong with rainbow marbled homemade Pop Tarts, right? Grateful to Awww Sam for this inspiration. If you reallllly have a lot of time with the kids, make the crust from scratch using our tutorial on how to make pie dough in five easy steps. Otherwise, store-bought pie dough keeps things simple.
8. Make your own DIY edible finger paint
If you have a little one at home who’s getting bored, this edible finger paint recipe from Imperial Sugar couldn’t be easier and more engaging. Plus, it turns into a legitimate craft that they can engage with for hours. Again, try using all-natural food colors, which don’t take away the fun one bit.
Incredible edible play dough from Smart School House
9. Make your own DIY edible play dough
Preschoolers will love making this homemade edible play dough from Smart School House. If you don’t have the right ingredients, try the edible peanut butter play dough recipe from Modern Parents Messy Kids, and, yes, you can substitute Sunbutter or other peanut butter alternatives.
You could even make your own DIY sunflower seed butter… which is like idea 9.5 now. Bonus for you!
Cupcake decorating battle via Savory
10. Host your own cupcake wars battle
Got competitive kids? What could be more fun than hosting your own cupcake wars! Savory has a full 86 ideas for snow day fun in the kitchen, including great tips for a cupcake decorating battle. As if we need another excuse to buy more outrageous sprinkles like these!
