For everyone out there who needs 30 minutes and 30 layers of clothing to get out the door during the winter months, we’ve created fun kitchen activities to keep you inside instead. Winter cooking is all about creating yummy smells and hearty, simple foods that really stick to your ribs. Any of the ideas below can be created by just you and your family or you can invite friends (young and old) over for a day of baking and eating – either one’s a great way to keep warm.

1. Popcorn and a movie
Snuggling up for a video is something that’s hard to resist when the wind is blowing outside, but why settle for store bought treats? Make your own flavored popcorns by adding parmesan cheese, seasoning mixes, or different herbs after the corn has popped. You might end up creating a new family favorite.

Recipe to try: Flavored Popcorn

2. Warm up with hot cocoa
Skip the powdery packets and make a steaming cup of hot cocoa from scratch. Kids can make the chocolate whipped cream in this peppermint version of a winter classic while adults melt white chocolate chips with whole milk. The cream can be whipped by hand or you can teach your little ones how to use an electric mixer and let them help guide your hand—just make sure someone’s got a tight grip on the bowl.

Recipe to try: Minty Hot Chocolate

3. Fire up your own chili and cornbread
Everyone can help make a special batch of steaming hot chili by chopping up veggies, measuring spices, and making sure your extra toppings are ready and waiting—grated cheese, sour cream, and crumbled tortilla chips are just a few ideas. Skip the beer in the chili recipe below and go easy on the spices for sensitive palates. While the chili is on the stove, you can get the cornbread in the oven—try making it in mini-muffin tins to speed up the baking time. To add extra color and vitamins, make confetti cornbread by mixing in small bits of chopped bell peppers before baking. Saddle up!

Recipes to try: Veg-Head Three Bean Chili and Cornbread

4. Baking Brownies
Almost no one can resist the chewy, crumbly texture of freshly-baked brownies—especially when they’re fresh out of the oven. Brownies are great to make as a family as even the youngest kids can help with stirring, cracking eggs, measuring, etc. To keep things interesting for a crowd, try a brownie competition with different mix-ins such as dried cherries, mini-marshmallows, or chocolate chips.

Recipe to try:Fudgy Brownies

5. Build a snowman cake
Divide your favorite cake recipe between one 9-inch round cake pan and one 4-inch pan (or ramekin), taking the smaller cake out of the oven earlier so it doesn’t burn. Place them on a serving tray and slather on your favorite frosting. Sprinkle fluffy white coconut flakes all over, add gumdrop buttons, eyes and smile, and a baby carrot or circus peanut for a nose. You can even cut snowflakes out of aluminum foil while the cakes are cooling to add more wintry pizzazz to your masterpiece. Who knew you could make a snowman without having to put on your mittens?

Recipes to try: Classic White Cake and Quick Vanilla Buttercream

Check back next month when we’ll be celebrating the first day of Spring!