Skip the screens and get your kids into the kitchen with King Arthur Baking Company’s new cookbook, Sweet & Salty!: King Arthur Baking Company’s Cookbook for Young Bakers. Not only does it show younger chefs like myself how to macerate, whip, and mix, but delivers tasty treats to be proud of.
But this isn’t just a baking book, it’s an invitation to bring joy, connection, and creativity in the kitchen. It’s written by experts too. After all, King Arthur Baking Company has been a name in the baking world since 1790 where it started in Boston, Massachusetts.
As the United State’s oldest flour company, King Arthur is renowned for showcasing high-quality ingredients, baking tools, and award-winning cookbooks. With a deep-rooted commitment to community and education, the company has long empowered bakers of all ages. With the latest cookbook, the goal is to teach future chefs how to knead, proof, and produce delicious baked goods. I took this to heart, and decided to dig in and create something for my family.
Visit the King Arthur Pop-Up In Denver
While you can find King Arthur tools, flours, mixes, and other goods on the shelves of many grocery stores, right now, and until January 18, 2026, the company has brought its signature warmth and whisk-wielding spirit to Denver with a limited-time pop-up shop in RiNo (and Boulder).
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The airy space offers baking essentials, local pastry drops by the famous Poulette Bakeshop in Parker, hands-on events, and more. It’s also where you can pick up a copy of the Sweet & Salty! cookbook for yourself, your kid, or someone wanting to learn the basics of baking in a fun and insightful way.
Why Every Kid Needs This Cookbook
One of the most delightful aspects of this cookbook is how it combines the joy of baking with the value of learning. The recipes are not only easy to follow, but also come with fun baking facts and tips to deepen understanding of the process. This approach gives young bakers a solid foundation, all while sneakily keeping them engaged and curious.
Some of my most treasured childhood memories were made in the kitchen with my family. I want to make sure my 10-year-old little brother will have the same. Enter Sweet & Salty!, a wonderful tool to get him comfortable in the kitchen and discover the satisfaction of creating something from scratch just as I did at his age.
The vibrant, colorful, and playful pictures throughout the book pulled us in. While most of the recipes are easy to follow, some steps can be a bit challenging and adult guidance certainly helped us. Not only did my little brother and I have fun making recipes, but it made us fall in love with baking.
Making Mostly Apples Apple Cake
The Mostly Apples Apple Cake recipe taught me how to transform fresh apples into a creamy, flavorful cake. But before that, the recipe drew us in. It just sounds cozy and different from other cakes I’ve tried. Best part, it really uses mostly apples.
Part of the recipe I did with my brother, like peeling the apples and mixing the batter, which made it more fun and a little messy. The instructions were easy to read and follow, and the process was simple enough that we didn’t get stuck or confused.
In the end, the cake came out just like I’d hoped. It was soft, full of apple flavor, and not too sweet. It felt like something I could be proud of baking from scratch, and we were. My brother and I had never before taken a boring fruit and turned it into a mouth watering dessert that we could enjoy for the rest of the night. We felt accomplished like we had just baked the best cake ever and it won first place on a baking show. Who would’ve thought that a simple recipe could stir up so much laughter and closeness.
Baking Crunchy Breadsticks
One of the most exciting foods we made were the Crunchy Breadsticks. Sure, all cooking is hands-on, but this recipe really let us dive in. We started by mixing the dough, and my brother insisted on doing it entirely with his hands. There was flour flying everywhere, on the counter, on the floor, even in his hair, but he was having a blast, so I just rolled with it.
We kneaded the dough, rolled it out, and then cut it into long strips. Some were straight, others were… less straight. Twisting them into shapes was probably his favorite part and it kind of turned into an art project. Before baking, we brushed the bread sticks with olive oil and sprinkled on salt and herbs, though he may have gone overboard on one or two.
After 25 minutes in the oven, the breadsticks came out perfectly golden and crispy, and smelled amazing. Crisp on the outside, slightly chewy in the middle, warm with a touch of rosemary, and totally addicting.
Our family devoured them, and my brother was so proud, he felt like he had just scored big on one of his video games. It wasn’t perfect, and the kitchen was a disaster, but honestly, that made it even more memorable.
The Best Part
This cookbook is far more than just a collection of kid-friendly recipes, what truly sets Sweet & Salty! apart is the way it can foster connection. Baking becomes more than just a fun weekend activity, it’s a shared experience. For my family, memories were made while trying out the recipes.
Whether you’re measuring flour together, decorating cookies, or learning why baking powder and baking soda are different, the time spent in the kitchen with loved ones becomes meaningful and memorable.
As someone who doesn’t usually bake for my family, picking up this cookbook was a bit out of my comfort zone. But, when I asked my little brother which recipes he wanted to try, and then actually made them, something changed. Seeing how excited he was, and watching my family enjoy something I made with my own hands, it made me feel really proud.
The best part? Sweet & Salty! is easier than I expected. It gave me the confidence to try something new, and now I feel like I can do even more in the kitchen. With so many flavorful recipes still to explore, we’re excited to try the Lemony Blueberry Muffins and the savory Pizza Party Buns next.
Visit the King Arthur pop-up on Mondays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 2800 Walnut St. Denver; or at 1638 Pearl St., Boulder, kingarthurbaking.com
