The Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids: A Cookbook for Young Scientists that Transforms the Kitchen into a Food Lab for Learning

by Highlights (Creator)

Grab your lab goggles and whisk because the Highlights team has whipped up The Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids—a collection of easy recipes and experiments where creativity and STEM collide in the kitchen.

Developed by America’s #1 most-read children’s magazine, this book of 75+ recipes lets kids learn about the food they’re making, try experiments, explore new flavors, AND customize delicious recipes.

With foods like Marshmallow Meteorites, Grape and Cheese Towers, and an Edible, Exploding Volcano, young scientists won’t be able to get enough of this STEM-inspired cookbook. Whether you’re an expert chef or new to the kitchen, these easy-to-follow recipes are perfect for building kitchen confidence, exploring new tastes, and gobbling up science facts.

Genres: Cookbooks, Childrens

160 pages, Hardcover

Published February 25, 2025

Reviews

[Marianne Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a FANTASTIC book for kids of all ages. Each page has a food related recipe or project and fun facts relating to the recipe or project. Kids (and adults) can learn about things such as dinosaurs while making a dinosaur out of marshmallows and straws. There’s so much interesting information about different foods, plants, insects, and even the weather, and natural occurrences such as volcanoes… and there’s a recipe or science experiment related each of the topics. The book makes food prep and learning new things fun and interesting. Each page has a list of ingredients or items needed which most are common kitchen or household items. Most of the recipes show several variations and encourage creativity. There’s lots of ideas for making fun treats such as a car out of a banana, or different varieties of taco pancakes, ice cream in a zip lock bag, sushi treats, charcuterie boards, and so much more. There’re so many activities that would be great for kid’s parties, babysitters, girl or boy scout troops, parents and teachers.
This book is very giftable.

[Atlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids" - Where Culinary Skills Meet Lab Skills! 🧪🍳

Thank you to Highlights for the advance copy and adorable apron! All opinions are my own.

Hold onto your spatulas, parents! Highlights has cooked up a recipe for educational success that's equal parts delicious and brainy. "The Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids" transforms your kitchen into a full-blown STEM laboratory where curious minds can whip up edible experiments that are as tasty as they are teachable.

Why Your Little Scientists Will Gobble This Up 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬
• Learning disguised as FUN - From Marshmallow Meteorites to Edible Exploding Volcanoes, kids won't even realize they're absorbing scientific principles!
• Creativity on a plate - Each recipe encourages customization and "what if" thinking
• Accessible science - Complex concepts explained in bite-sized, kid-friendly chunks
• Confidence builders - Step-by-step instructions create kitchen success stories
• Variety to satisfy every curious mind - Covers everything from dinosaurs to weather patterns to food chemistry

This hardcover wonder packs 75+ recipes and experiments using ingredients you probably already have lurking in your pantry. Picture your child constructing grape and cheese towers while learning about structural engineering, or making banana cars while discovering the physics of motion. The brilliant minds at America's #1 children's magazine have truly outdone themselves with this collection.

Parent Perks That Make This Book Worth Its Weight in Gold 💡📚
• Rainy day salvation - Kiss "I'm bored" goodbye forever
• Versatility champions - Perfect for playdates, birthday parties, scout troops, and classroom activities
• Household ingredient heroes - No bizarre shopping trips required
• Multi-age appeal - Engaging for various ages and skill levels
• Gift-giving greatness - The perfect present for curious kids (comes with serious cool-parent points)

I found myself totally absorbed in the colorful pages, delightful explanations, and clever food creations. The section on "Speedy Snacks" has me plotting to serve some of these at my next adult gathering (shh, don't tell the kids I'm stealing their recipes)! 🤫

Whether you're raising a future chemist or just trying to get through Saturday afternoon without screen time meltdowns, this book delivers a perfect blend of education and entertainment. It's a masterclass in making learning deliciously fun!

Bottom line: This book belongs in every family kitchen where curiosity and cookies can happily coexist. Your kids will be having too much fun to notice they're becoming little scientists! 🧁🔬

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew science could be so delicious? This Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids includes a wide range of food-based experiments for young chefs to try. From building with food to mixing flavors to archaeology and crystal creation, every page provides an opportunity to learn scientific subjects with the help of food. Clear instructions and vivid visuals in the form of photographs and illustrations give readers the information they need to be successful in their endeavors. Incorporating a variety of recipes, including sweet, savory, fruits, and more, the book is as versatile as it is engaging and offers the flexibility of adjusting recipes to accommodate individual tastes. In some cases, adult supervision or assistance may be necessary, but in others, children have the creative freedom to proceed with the experiments on their own. Every recipe has some connection to a larger concept, and this design makes more complicated ideas both accessible and memorable for children. Scientific ties are often found in call-out boxes that answer a question that children–and many adults–are likely to wonder about while bringing the experiment to life. Written in a way that children will understand while still providing factual, in-depth information, these asides greatly enhance the learning possible through these experiments. Whether reading about the experiment in advance or getting busy in the kitchen, children will grow their understanding of the world through the fun and unique activities included in this book. Backmatter supports the reader’s ability to locate specific concepts within the text, and the book itself is built on a sturdy cover with glossy interior pages. High quality in both its design and its presentation, this is a superb addition to nonfiction collections for curious youth.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of STEM-experiment, fun-filled recipes, this book will inspire future scientists and chefs alike with informative content that includes relevant scientific facts about healthy ingredients tested by kids for kids. Bold, eye-catching pictures and engaging illustrations enhance the already appealing recipes and may encourage more nutritional eating choices. Hard to put down, this mouthwatering text will inevitably lead to gastronomical testing in the kitchen. Safety tips, an index, and table of contents make finding and making recipes easy, creating an accessible resource that seamlessly blends culinary arts with scientific principles. This inspirational collection of recipes transforms cooking into an educational adventure, both entertaining and instructive. Link to complete review:https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Prince William Public Libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

An edible erupting volcano? Glow-in-the-dark Gelatin? Edible slime made from gummy worms? Science has never been more delicious. The Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids is filled with kid-friendly recipes that double as science experiments, ready to turn breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert into an educational and fun excuse to play with your food.

Snacks like the Solar Eclipse Crackers, Pyramids of Cheese-a, and Marshmallow Dinos are a simple way to get started before moving on to some of the more complex recipes. The instructions are easy to follow, with great visuals, and each recipe page includes a section explaining the science behind the project. This book is a fun and unique way to get kids experimenting.

- Review by Independent Hill Library Staff

Click here to find the book at Prince William Public Libraries.

[Patricia Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCITING !! FASCINATING!! INSPIRATIIONAL!! Yes, when I got this book with a lab/chef apron, I threw down my mystery book and began reading. It's so colorful, with great explanations of chemical processes , the sciences involved in food recipes. AND then the recipes (no kidding, I am going to make some of these for the next Porsche club dinner at my house! They are so cute. o.k., p. 11 "Speedy Snacks" will be appetizers as well as the deviled eggs delights. The explanations are so well done, with little informational facts added, experiments that you/child can do ( p. 51) . A FUN BOOK, A Great book for Kids of ALL ages . Hurray for Highlights and GoodReads for bringing this book to the world of delight and science.

[Melissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won an advanced copy of this book from GoodReads. This books so great for kids and curious adults! Plus it came with the cutest blue apron too! It has a variety of science experiments but they are also edible creations. Many pages have a variety of alternative recipes to fit your family’s needs. It’s an excellent way to explore science with food. Most recipes use regular household items which I also loved.

This book would also make a great gift.

[Jessie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave it to my niece who has 5 kids 16,13,10,9,7. The boys love to blow up things. Lol 😂. 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. They love this book Birthday weekend coming up, so Aunt Jessie gets to help make some of the recipes. 😁🤪🙄🤣

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t a cookbook in the truest sense. It’s more about cutting and presenting foods in an unusual but fun way. Most of the tasks were time consuming and too difficult for the age group that would most enjoy the presentations.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[Julia Pika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Very fun and engaging cookbook, this is sure to please any curious & inventive kids!

[Rachelle LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8 year old niece loves doing different recipes from this book. She has fun and wants to do everything on her own.

[Nichole Montanez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our first attempt at this book was the fruit kabob that turns into candy fruit. It also lended the idea of a fruit kabob for my twins sleepover. We can’t wait to try other things in the book

[julie cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

My grandson love looking through the book and finding a recipe that he wanted to try!

[Angel McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this on Goodreads giveaway! So cute and packed full of awesome things for children! Love it.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way for kids to learn about cooking and science! Tons of photos for reference. All around good book for kids!