My Favorite Organic Holiday Treats to Bake With Kids
The holidays are a time for slowing down, sharing little moments, and making memories that linger long after the last cookie is gone. One of my favorite ways to do this with my kids is in the kitchen — baking simple, wholesome treats together that are just as nourishing as they are fun.
For more ways to make the season intentional and eco-conscious, check out our Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas.
When it comes to baking with my kids, I love finding easy recipes online — the kind that are simple, fun, and don’t require a long list of fancy ingredients. Once we’ve found a recipe we like, we swap in organic flours, sugars, or chocolate, and make cleaner swaps for oils or butter when we can. It keeps baking accessible, healthy, and still full of holiday magic.
Here are my favorite organic holiday treats to bake with kids this season:
1. Classic Organic Sugar Cookies
Nothing beats the magic of a classic sugar cookie — and kids love cutting shapes and decorating them with sprinkles or icing.
How we do it:
We usually find an easy sugar cookie recipe online and swap in organic ingredients.
We love to use coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of refined sugar, and an organic flour — little swaps that make the recipe cleaner without losing the fun.
Why I love them:
Easy for little hands to shape
Flexible recipe for ingredient swaps
Perfect for decorating together as a family
Quick tip: Make a batch of dough ahead of time and refrigerate. Kids can decorate cookies over a couple of days — it stretches the fun without having to make dough from scratch every time.
2. Organic Apple Pie (A Favorite Read-Aloud + Bake-Together Tradition)
There’s something magical about baking an apple pie with kids — the peeling, slicing, mixing cinnamon and apples, and watching it all bubble up in the oven. It feels slow, cozy, and deeply connected to the rhythms of the season.
One of our favorite traditions is reading How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World before we bake. It gets everyone excited and makes the whole experience feel like an adventure. At the end of the book, there’s a sweet apple pie recipe that we love to follow together.
How we do it:
We read the book first (always the best part).
Then we use the recipe in the back — but swap in organic apples, organic butter, organic flour, etc.
If we’re short on time, we use a clean, pre-made organic crust. No shame — just more time for memory-making.
Why I love it:
It blends reading and baking into one meaningful ritual
The warm cinnamon-apple smell brings everyone into the kitchen
Quick tip: Let kids help toss the apples with spices in a big bowl. It’s messy, but it’s always my daughter’s favorite part!
3. Organic Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels
Sweet meets salty in these simple, elegant treats. Melt organic chocolate, dip pretzels, and let kids sprinkle on crushed nuts, coconut, or holiday sprinkles.
How we do it:
Find an easy chocolate-dipped pretzel recipe online and swap in organic chocolate.
For a cozy holiday drink afterward, we love using Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen Chocolate in warm organic milk for hot cocoa — it’s protein-rich and gently sweet. Kids (& my husband and I) love it!
Why I love them:
No baking required — great for busy days
Minimal cleanup (bonus for tired mamas!)
Fun for gifting in mason jars or wrapped in parchment paper
Quick tip: Use dark organic chocolate for a less sweet, more grown-up flavor that still delights kids — I was surprised to discover that my toddler actually loves dark chocolate!
4. Spiced Organic Gingerbread
The smell of gingerbread baking is my favorite holiday aroma. The warm spices — ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg — fill the house with instant coziness.
How we do it:
Start with a gingerbread recipe online and make small swaps — organic butter, maple syrup instead of some sugar, or a touch of coconut oil.
Why I love it:
Hands-on decorating with kids
Can be made into cookies, little houses, or mini loaf cakes
A chance to teach kids about holiday traditions and flavors
Quick tip: Make your gingerbread dough a day ahead — it makes rolling and cutting shapes much easier.
5. No-Bake Organic Energy Bites
For a healthier, kid-friendly option, these energy bites are perfect. Combine organic oats, nut butter, a touch of honey, and mix-ins like cacao nibs or dried cranberries. Roll into balls, chill, and enjoy.
How we do it:
Follow a simple no-bake holiday energy bite recipe online and swap in organic oats, nut butter, and honey.
Kids love helping roll the bites or adding mix-ins — it becomes an activity, not just a recipe.
Why I love them:
No oven required — quick and easy with little helpers
Great for snack time or holiday school treats
Easy to customize with whatever organic mix-ins you have on hand
Quick tip: Let kids get creative with rolling the bites or adding mix-ins.
6. Organic Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Moist, fragrant, and comforting — these muffins are ideal for holiday breakfasts or cozy snack times. Kids can help mix, fold, and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top.
How we do it:
Start with a simple muffin recipe online and swap in organic applesauce, flour, and add some cinnamon — I also love to swap sugar for maple syrup!
Using applesauce as a partial substitute for butter or oil adds moisture and extra fruit, keeping the muffins wholesome without losing flavor.
Why I love them:
Easy to make in batches
Naturally sweet with apples — minimal added sugar
Makes the kitchen smell like the holidays in minutes
Quick tip: Let kids sprinkle a little extra cinnamon or sugar on top — it’s fun and festive!
Tips for Baking With Kids
Prep together: Measure ingredients side by side to teach kids basic kitchen skills, and check out our Holiday Baking Essentials: Best Non-Toxic Tools for Family Baking With Kids to make baking safe and fun for little helpers.
Focus on fun: Imperfect cookies or unevenly dipped pretzels are part of the joy!
Keep safety first: Use child-safe utensils, and supervise little ones (at all times) around ovens and mixers.
Make it an experience: Play holiday music, sip warm cocoa, and let baking be about memories — not perfection.
Pair your baking fun with tips from How to Reduce Holiday Waste (Easy, Realistic Tips) for a more sustainable holiday.
Final Thoughts: Holiday Baking With Intention
Baking with kids doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. Choosing organic ingredients, keeping recipes simple, and focusing on togetherness transforms your holiday treats into something more than food — they become shared moments and memories.
Even small traditions — decorating one cookie at a time, tasting dough together, or sipping protein-rich hot chocolate with chocolate-dipped pretzels — become lasting treasures.
You can also explore our Slower Holiday Season Ideas for Families for more ways to enjoy the holidays intentionally.
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