Let’s face it: No matter how much we want our children to stay away from sweets, they will always crave treats like cookies, cakes, and ice cream. As long as they’re eating nutritious, balanced meals, there’s nothing wrong with giving them sugar as a snack once in a while.

You could even involve them in the baking process! Try these quick and easy cookie recipes:

Peanut Butter Caramel Combo

What do you need:

• 36 pieces bite size chocolate coated caramel peanut nougat bars

• 2 eggs

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Using a blender, mix the peanut butter, butter, brown and granulated sugar in a bowl. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and continue mixing until smooth. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt then add to peanut butter mixture. Blend until all ingredients are well mixed. Cover the container and let stand for half an hour.

Place the nougat bars on a baking sheet (3 inches apart) and spoon 2 tablespoons of the batter around each piece. Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated oven (350F) until the cookies are lightly golden. Let cool for several minutes before serving.

pistachio delight

What do you need:

• 1 package pistachio instant pudding

• 1 1/4 cups of flour

• 3/4 cup butter, softened

• 1/2 cup toasted pistachios, chopped

In a bowl, whisk together the pistachio pudding mix and butter until mixture is smooth. Add the flour and chopped pistachios, mix well. Scoop a tablespoon of the dough onto a baking sheet, leaving a little space between each cookie.

Flatten each portion of the dough. Bake in a preheated oven (375F) for 15 minutes. Chill before serving.

The classic chocolate chip

What do you need:

• 1 egg

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup butter, melted

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Combine the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Carefully add the egg, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir until ingredients are well combined. Add the chocolate chips.

Using a medium cookie scoop, drop dough rounds onto a cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven (350F) until cookies are set, 7 to 10 minutes.

Add a little more sweetness to your little one’s day by making these quick and easy cookie recipes.