When I want hands-on time with my kids, I reach for a project we can make side by side. These three Five Below mini food kits make that kind of bonding playful and approachable.
1. Kracie® Popin’ Cookin’ Tanoshii Hamburgers 1.1oz – $5.00
Tiny burgers take shape from candy powders and water, giving kids plenty to mix, mold, and compare with your creations. No baking is needed, though adult supervision and a clear work surface help the steps go smoothly.
Taste: The finished pieces are sweet, playful candy rather than savory burgers. Their molded texture makes eating the miniature components almost as entertaining as assembling them.
Make It Better: Measure the water carefully and follow the steps in order. I set everything on a tray first so spills and stray powder stay contained.
Parting Thoughts: Detail-loving kids will get the most fun from this focused little project.
2. Build Your Own Gingerbread House Village Kit – $5.00
Holiday afternoons feel more companionable when everyone gets a house to decorate, and this 11oz kit makes two. The pre-made icing, decorating tip, mini gumdrops, and shaped candy pieces let siblings or a parent-child pair create side by side without baking first.
Taste: The gingerbread delivers a classic festive cookie flavor, while the icing and candies add extra sweetness. Crisp house pieces contrast with the softer mini gumdrops once decorating turns into snacking.
Make It Better: Divide the decorations before starting so both builders have supplies, then let each person choose a theme for their house.
Parting Thoughts: For two kids—or one child and a willing grown-up—the double-house setup earns its place at the holiday table.
3. Cookie Skillet Baking Kit – $2.50
At $2.50, a real oven project feels refreshingly low-stakes for a child who wants to help bake. The 2.1oz kit includes chocolate chip cookie mix and a cast iron skillet, making it a compact activity for a quiet afternoon together.
Taste: Chocolate chips bring familiar sweetness to the baked cookie. Expect the skillet format to give you a tender center and firmer baked edges, with melted chocolate throughout.
Make It Better: Let kids handle the mixing while an adult manages the hot skillet and oven. Sharing the finished cookie straight from the cooled skillet makes the small batch feel more special.
Parting Thoughts: Young beginner bakers should enjoy the process, but families wanting several portions may find this kit too small.
