Baking is one of the easiest ways to get kids of all ages excited about being in the kitchen. There's so much they can get involved in from sieving the flour and cracking the eggs to stirring, icing and, of course, decorating. There's also something so immensely satisfying no matter how old you are, about watching simple ingredients like eggs, sugar, flour and milk turn into something quite magical... like cake.

So let's start with the humble cupcake. It's simple enough for little ones to do, takes less than an hour, and they come out with 24 cute cupcakes — and lots of spoon licking. Win-win.

• Prep time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Makes: 24 cupcakes

For the batter:

• 240g butter – let it come to room temperature so it's easier to mix by hand
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 extra-large eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tsp baking powder
• A pinch of salt

For the icing:

• Approx. 250g icing sugar – but it doesn't have to be exact
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• Any decorations you like or have in your cupboard

If you're looking for a slightly fancier icing, try a butter cream recipe like this one.

1. Heat the oven to 180°C.
2. Set out two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners or grease each muffin hole.
3. In a big mixing bowl and using a wooden spoon or spoonula, cream the butter until it’s smooth. You'll need some elbow grease! An adult can use a hand mixer but this isn't quite as much fun.
4. Add the sugar gradually and keep mixing until the mixture is combined.
5. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each one.
6. Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk. You can sieve them in but don't worry too much. This isn't rocket science.
7. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners. Each one should be about 3/4 full, but who's watching?
8. Bake for 20 minutes (or until a cake tester/skewer comes out clean) and leave to cool on a wire rack.
9. To make the icing, mix a little warm milk with the icing sugar very, very slowly until you have the right consistency. More icing sugar for a thicker icing. Add a few drops of food colouring and you are all set.
10. Set up a decorating station with little containers with all the decorations and let your little ones get creative.

1. Get prepared. Have all your ingredients, the recipe and the right kitchen equipment available — this helps to create focus and allows kids of all ages to really throw themselves into the baking adventure.

2. Aprons on and hands washed. It's all part of the process. Get your kids comfortable, so a small table and chairs works well for young kids and a step that brings older kids to countertop height is a good investment.

3. Remember, kids won't cook like you do! You'll need to embrace the mess (it's OK if all the flour doesn't get through the sieve and the batter doesn't all end up in the cupcake tray). Learning to sieve, crack eggs and ice is all part of the experience.