Forget arts and sports camps! These easy dishes will keep your kids entertained and tick off another thing on your to-do list during the school holidays.
Upgrade your frozen pizza nights with this Turkish pizza. Thin and crisp with a spicy lamb topping, the lahmacun is an easy do-it-yourself pizza that doesn’t require yeast or proving time. If you're worried about your kids touching raw mince, get them to roll out the dough and sprinkle on the fresh toppings to finish.
Spicy lamb pizza with pickled red onions Source: Sharyn Cairns
Don't tell anyone, but we like to pretend that our obsessive cookie-cutter collecting is actually for the benefit of the kids in the family. Share the love by making these polenta shortbread cookies with them - no icing needed!
Crunchy lemon and polenta shortbread flowers Source: Chris Middleton
Think s'mores without the graham crackers - these bananas act as a perfect vessel to hold gooey marshmallows and melted chocolate. No campfire? Turn on the bottom heat in your oven and watch these babies transform into an indulgent treat in minutes.
Campfire toasted bananas Source: China Squirrel
You might be thinking, "Surely making dumplings are too advanced for children!" But if you've seen Asian family restaurants making trays of pot-stickers, you'll know that kids are roped in early to help out. Dumplings are ageless.
Pork pot stickers Source: Alan Benson
These cookies take just 20 minutes to prepare, and are easy for little hands to roll and shape! Serve with mint tea on the side for a non-caffeinated take on afternoon tea.
Lebanese butter cookies (ghraybeh) Source: Alan Benson
This recipe span all ages - older kids can make these cupcakes with just a little supervision, while the younger children will have a ball of a time piping on frosting (if they don't eat it all first!). Bonus points: these cupcakes are the perfect party cake for kids (both big and small) when gluten and dairy need to be avoided – no more missing out on the fun stuff!
Gluten-free and dairy-free vanilla cupcakes Source: Alan Benson
These Bosnian pastry rolls are filled with cheese, but can also be rolled with Frankfurt sausages, chocolate or jam. Get your kids rolling these up, and if you make a big batch, you can even freeze the leftovers for their school lunchboxes. #winning
Mini rolls with cheese (kifle sa sirom) Source: Alan Benson
Save on the washing up by setting these jellies in the passionfruit shell! If these roll around a little too much, simply scrunch up the baking paper and stuff it into a deep roasting pan to hold them in their place.
Passionfruit jellies in their shell Source: Benito Martin
Not sure about getting your kids to try new fruit? Try baking them into a familiar form! Persimmons have a sweet, rich slightly spicy flavour and go great with the creaminess of coconut. If they're out of season or a little hard to find, substitute with cooked pumpkin.
Persimmon and coconut muffins Source: Alan Benson
Addictively crispy on the outside, these waffles blends cooked cauliflower right into the batter. A great way to get your kids started on their 5-a-day at breakfast. #Eatyourveggies.
Cauliflower and cheese waffles Source: The Washington Post
This can't be a kid-friendly recipe list without puffed rice! Try this Polish treat that uses cream fudge sweets to help shape the crispy rice into cute little pine cones.
Crunchy pine cones Source: Hardie Grant Books
