It doesn't have to be all play, help your children package up their creations as homemade Christmas gifts for family and friends, and you've got presents with the personal touch checked off your to-do list. Even if they don't have the perfect finish, granny will still be impressed.
We've fallen heels over heals for these polar bear peppermint creams and the good news is that they're super simple to make. Kids will love rolling the minty paste into balls and flattening it to make bear heads, then decorating with cute little faces. Sure to bring a smile to the lucky recipient!
White chocolate unicorn bark
Tailor this edible gift to anyone's tastes by playing around with colours, toppings and sweets you know they'll love. Kids can get creative and the results will leave everyone with a warm glow.
Cheese stars
Let the kids show off their cooking skills and get in the festive spirit with these fun-looking easy cheesy treats. They make great party food or a lovely homemade gift.
Cheese stars
Hot chocolate stirrers
These stunning hot chocolate stirrers are simply made in empty fromage frais pots. Let little hands get busy decorating with hundreds and thousands, mini fudge pieces, chocolate buttons or chopped-up peppermint candy canes. Or experiment with flavours like cardamom, candied peel and freeze-dried raspberries with another sophisticated stirrer recipe.
Melting snowman biscuits
Want something fun to do indoors yet don't want to create loads of mess? We think we have the perfect Christmas project. These biscuits might be sticky but no actual baking is required so there's minimum washing up. And the kids can get stuck straight into the best bit, the decorating. Everyone's a winner.
Rudolph cupcakes
It's hard to resist Rudolph at the best of times, but if he's on the top of a chocolate cupcake then we stand no chance. Children between three and seven should be able to line the muffin tin, stir the mixture and spread the icing. From the age of seven and upwards kids should be able to make the cakes with assistance but will still need help with the oven and hot tin. All children will love decorating. Pop the decorative bits into bowls to give your kids the freedom to do the cupcakes themselves, and remember to leave some out for Santa as an extra special treat.
These melt-in-the-mouth shortbread triangles are easily transformed into something magical. Help decorate with Smarties or other sweets and wrap the creations in cellophane bags with pipe cleaner 'reindeer' antlers. If you've got under-10s, most steps can be done independently except handling the oven and cutting out the shortbread. Over-10s can do everything by themselves if they want to - so you can relax with a cup of tea.
