Father’s Day baking for kids

For the dads who are notoriously hard to buy for, you can’t go wrong with something homemade, especially if it’s also delicious. We’ve put together our top ten favourite Father’s Day baking recipes that will get kids of all ages in the kitchen.

Baking and cooking with kids is a great way to teach them culinary skills while also enjoying family time, and our kid’s baking recipes and kids’ cooking recipes are an easy starting point. We also have a series, Kids’ kitchen, developed to teach kids the essential skills to know.
If you’re a more sophisticated baker looking for a challenge to impress, why not try our showstopping cake recipes?
Take a look at our 25 essential pieces of baking equipment to make sure your kitchen is stocked and ready for any baking adventure, and find the best cake stand to display your father’s day masterpiece.

1. Lemon sponge cake

A slice of this zesty sponge cake is enough to make anyone’s day that bit brighter. The light sponge is topped with a smooth drizzle coating of zingy lemon icing and decorative peel to make a simple, yet stunning, centrepiece for Father’s Day. Teach kids the basics of creating a sponge mixture, beginning with beating together sugar and butter until fluffy. If you prefer them not to use an electric whisk, then a wooden spoon will do the trick.

2. Raspberry bakewell cake

Sponge cake with almonds and raspberries

This simple almond-flavoured cake is incredibly light. Quickly blitz the ingredients together in a food processor, dollop half the mixture in the tin and scatter with raspberries. Spread the rest of the batter on top, then sprinkle over flaked almonds, and bake.

3. Medal cookies

Every hero deserves an iced medal cookie, and there is no better way to commend the father figure in your life than with a bit of homemade arts and crafts. Little hands will love getting stuck into this creative project, just prepare yourself for a bit of a glitter explosion.

4. Mixed fruit tart

This is a great recipe for introducing children and teens to the art of making pastry. You’ll need to be a little more hands-on for this one, but if you’re cooking with young children they’ll be able to have lots of input along the way. Let little ones get creative with fruity patterns or encourage them to simply pile the berries high at the end.

5. Milk chocolate pots with citrus shortbread

Chocolate pots with shortbread and cream

If Dad has a sweet tooth, then these shortbread fingers and silky chocolate pots will be the dessert of dreams. The zingy biscuit sticks are delightfully dunkable and balance well with rich and creamy chocolate. Kids can help prepare this super simple pud, but be careful to keep younger ones away from the heat when melting chocolate.

6. Caramel-drizzled banoffee bake

Banoffee traybake with caramel and cream

This delicious creamy cheesecake filling-style traybake includes all the best elements of a banoffee pie; bananas, caramel sauce and a crumbly biscuit base. It is a great celebration cake that’s made to be shared, however the fact that it’s freezable means if it can’t be finished, nothing has to be wasted. You can freeze the entire cake, toppings and all.

7. Jammy heart drops

No special cutter is needed for these beautiful biscuits, and there are plenty of little jobs for young cooks to help out with. Let the kids get busy piping jam and drizzling icing, they might not look perfect but they will be made with lots of love.

8. Rhubarb & custard scones

These scones are easy to make and use one of Britain’s favourite flavour combinations – rhubarb and custard. You don’t need to stick to traditional triangles, children can shape these whichever way they like. Serve with butter, cream, jam and a selection of summer sandwiches for a Father’s Day afternoon tea. They’re perfect for a surprise picnic, too.

9. Blueberry cake

This blueberry cake is wonderfully simple and the addition of natural yogurt to the sponge makes it moist and delicate, so every bite is magnificent. Children can take the lead with only 10 minutes of prep and three simple steps. Dust with icing sugar for an easy-to-achieve, pared-back finish.

10. Dad’s chocolate drop cakes

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ice cream and chocolate button

This highly rated recipe is pretty much a guaranteed hit for any chocolate fan. Let the children decorate these cupcake treats with Dad’s favourite sweets or nuts for a more personal touch. There should be plenty to go round, so everyone can enjoy them.