Rainy afternoons are made for warm cozy kitchens, buttery fingers, and something delicious baking in the oven. If you’re wondering what to bake with kids on a rainy day, choose recipes that are simple to prepare, easy to personalise, and rewarding before patience runs out. And best of all comforting...they have to be comforting!
These five family baking ideas are a great place to start. They work for a relaxed weekend at home, a school-holiday activity, or any afternoon when everyone needs a break from the weather.
1. Make a vanilla sprinkle cake in a mug
For a quick activity with very little mess, try the Vanilla Sprinkles Cake in a Mug Mix. It makes a warm, fluffy treat in minutes, without needing a full baking session. The mix comes in a resealable pouch with five servings, so you can make one when the craving hits and keep the rest ready for another rainy afternoon.
Get everyone choosing their own special mug. Get the pouch and the extra ingredients and get to work! This is such a great bake that the kids can basically do it themselves! They will need you to help with the microwave part and the warm mug afterwards!
Add some extra love to the top of the cake once you have removed it from the microwave - icing, chocolate, ice cream - the list is endless!
2. Bake a batch of fudgy chocolate brownies
If you have more time to fill, the Chewy Chocolate Brownie Baking Mix turns a rainy day into a proper family bake. It makes rich, chewy brownies with crisp edges and a fudgy centre, and you only need a few pantry staples to get started.
Follow the packet instructions, and everyone can help along and get a job to do!
3. Turn baking into a rainy-day decorating challenge
The baking is only half the fun. Give each person a small section of the cooled brownie batch or a slice of cake, then set a challenge such as “make the most colourful design” or “create a rainy-day scene.” This adds a creative activity without needing a complicated recipe or extra equipment. Make a pizza brownie a loaded brownie or even a brownie finger with dipping sauce! Have fun your way!
You can make this a full on fun day with "competitions" and or just use your imagination decoration! Make little name tags, suggestions and even take a couple of photos and keep in the memory box!
4. Create a family bake-and-share box
Rainy-day baking is a lovely way to make something for someone else. Pack a few cooled Funfetti Sugar Cookies or slices of Fudgy White Chocolate Blondies into a small box for a neighbour, grandparent, teacher, or friend. Get the kids to decorate the box or make a card and hand deliver the beautiful gift!
This turns the simple idea of a gift into something thoughtful but also something you have made and done on a rainy day! They have learnt how to bake and make decisions!
5. Start a family baking list
Keep a note on the fridge with ideas everyone wants to try next. Add favourite flavours, decorating themes, and recipes you would like to repeat. This is such a great idea for the next time the weather is horrible or you just need a day where you can be home and the kids have something fun to do...and you get a great treat out of it!
It's always a great idea to keep some idea simple, some fancy and some just quick and easy!
Make rainy afternoons delicious
The best baking activities are not about making everything perfect. They are about giving everyone a small job, enjoying the smell of something sweet, and sitting down together when the baking is ready. Whether you choose a quick Vanilla Sprinkles Cake in a Mug or a generous batch of Chewy Chocolate Brownies, a rainy afternoon can become a favourite family memory.
I remember when we used to do the baking for the big holidays! There were always two set recipes, Crunchies and Peanut Butter Cookies - these were a given and were made weather we helped or not.
Then, we had our own recipes, hers and mine. My sister was never one for baking or cooking, she always chose quick easy recipes, in all honesty, I think she would get my Mom to double up on one of the above more often than not! Me, I would always go for the Neapolitan Cake, first. After much debating I would give in, and we would have to do a South African favorite - Koeksisters. We did this a few times until my Mom also had to throw in the towel and admit defeat, not because they are hard, but purely because of the mess and the time it would take to make these!
These are the memories that I will carry with me forever, the mess, the special moments and the time spent together doing something fun!