need cooking/recipe ideas for 25month olds

I am looking for really simple, and hopefully not to messy cooking ideas/recipes that I can do with the kids (they just turned 2, so they are still pretty young). They both really like cooking and being involved, I have done cupcake mixes with them and it has gone ok - but usually I need 2 adults around because one of the kids will usually stick their hands in their batter and need to be cleaned up immediately (before wiping it all around the kitchen). So, has anyone done any good cooking projects with their kiddos that wasn't too messy?
them chocking on it...

Thanks!

 

HERE and HERE are links for some cooking ideas & books for preschoolers. We have a few of the books at the bottom of the page of the 1st link and have used the second book (library).

At that age we did a lot of fruit salads, cracker/cheese/meat snack, trail mix (dump and stir), or boxed mixes together!

It is always messy....but what can you do!

Mine love to cook too so I have involved them since they were really small!

 

They like to help make everything, especially my 2 yr old. I find the key to keeping control of them and the mess is to be super prepared. I get all the ingredients ready in little cups and line everything up. Then they take turns adding ingredients and mixing.

I haven't let any of them near the stove yet, but my brother lets his kids (4 &2) stir stuff while it is cooking.


Our favs::

pizza - my mom got them all their own tiny rolling pins. I make one big pizza and give them little bits of dough to make their own. You can buy the dough in the supermarket or at your pizzeria.

cookies - also use the rolling pin and cookie cutters

muffins, cakes, cupcakes, brownies, pancakes

 

Anything they can just sprinkle and layer....pizza's and chalupas. Also, anything where they can pour the ingredients...rice crispie treats, pancake batter, cookies, cupcakes, muffins. Mine like to stir too. So, if I am making scrambled eggs, I beat the eggs and then let them stir or I mix the batter (pancakes, cookies, cupcakes, pudding) and then let them have a turn.

 

Great ideas!

Another way I let the kids "help" with the cooking is by letting them smell all the herbs and spices. They are SO into it. When we made pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, I let them smell the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc, and then dump (tiny) spoonfuls in.