2015
WISE Score
Subscribers
Pop-culture-infused baking that turns your favorite fandoms into actual food.
Bradley Bakes (formerly Cooking With Bradley) is a gem in the often-toxic landscape of YouTube. It's a creator-led channel that actually encourages kids to get off their screens and make something.
It avoids the 'hustle' energy of bigger channels and stays focused on the craft. If your kid is into fandoms—whether it's Taylor Swift, Marvel, or Lady Gaga—this is a fantastic way to turn that passive interest into a tangible skill.
Best for kids 8 and up who have the patience for baking and an interest in pop culture. Younger kids will enjoy the 'A Dream Is A Dish' series if they love Disney or Marvel.
Upbeat, positive, and focused on the joy of creating. Bradley's tone is inclusive and enthusiastic without being manic or over-the-top.
Excellent use of pop culture themes—like turning Loki's aesthetic or Beyoncé's album into specific recipes—which encourages kids to see creative possibilities in everyday tasks.
The content itself is very safe, but it's hosted on YouTube with open comments. Standard platform risks apply regarding the sidebar and external links.
Provides actual culinary instruction and encourages a 'maker' mindset. It's a great bridge between screen time and real-world kitchen skills.
There is a lot of 'junk food' content on YouTube—videos designed to keep kids clicking without ever teaching them a thing. Bradley Bakes is the opposite. By leaning into the 'A Dream Is A Dish' concept, Bradley connects the dots between the media kids are already consuming and the practical, messy, rewarding world of baking.
What makes this channel work is the sincerity. Bradley isn't just chasing trends; he's a genuine fan. Whether he's reacting to a new Lady Gaga single while frosting a cake or saying goodbye to his Harry Potter-themed kitchen, there's a level of authenticity here that kids respond to.
For parents, the 'enrichment' factor is high. Baking requires math, chemistry, and a whole lot of patience. When a kid wants to make a 'Loki Key Lime Pie,' they aren't just watching a screen; they're learning how to temper eggs and zest a lime. It’s the kind of screen time that actually has an 'off' switch—because eventually, you have to go to the kitchen and preheat the oven.
Get a personalized guide on any topic
