All parents need a good selection of kids' recipes and desserts top most children's lists of favorites. Everyone loves something sweet.
Kids' Nutrition
Because desserts are sweet, kids will often forego other food in favor of dessert. Kids' total daily nutritional requirements need to be taken into account when planning and preparing desserts. Otherwise, kids may fill their growing tummies with empty sugar calories that limit their appetites for other more nutritious offerings. Desserts can be appealing and also provide some of the basic food groups recommended each day. Consider dairy products, fruits, and whole grains when making or buying desserts for kids. Here are some delicious kids' recipes for desserts:
Kids' Recipes: Desserts
Fruit Tarts with Cream Cheese
Line a pizza pan or shallow quiche pan with homemade or purchased pie pastry. Bake according to recipe or package instructions until golden brown. Add 2 tablespoons honey and 2 tablespoons concentrated frozen orange to 8 ounces of cream cheese and blend well. Spread cream-cheese mixture on pastry. Place slices of fresh fruit (pears, bananas, apples, mango, papaya, peaches, apricots, etc.) and fresh grapes or berries in a pattern on the cream cheese. Warm ½ cup unsweetened preserves with 2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate. Spoon preserve mixture over the fruit, and then refrigerate the tart until chilled. Cut in wedges to serve.
Fresh Fruit Bowl
Mix a variety of fresh fruits cut into chunks in a large bowl. Squeeze fresh lime juice over the fruit. Sweeten with a couple of tablespoons of sugar or artificial sweetener.
Fruit Smoothie
In a blender, combine frozen fruit, fruit juice, and sorbet to make a thick slush. Ice may be used to thicken the drink if you do not use sorbet. Serve in tall glasses with wide straws and long-handled spoons. Berries, bananas, and peaches all work well as the frozen fruit in smoothies. Avoid fibrous fruits, which do not blend well.
Frozen Whole Fruit Pops
Buy frozen fruit pops from the freezer case at your grocery, or make your own by freezing fresh fruit, processed in a blender with fruit juice, in molds.
Fruit Crisps
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place sliced apples, pears, or peaches or whole berries or pitted cherries in a buttered 8-inch baking pan. With a pastry blender or two table knives, blend 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup quick oats, 1/2 cup flour, and 1 cup brown sugar until you have a coarse, crumbly mixture. Add cinnamon and/or nutmeg, if desired. Bake approximately 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm topped with whipped cream or ice cream.
Fruit Sundaes
Instead of the usual hot fudge or butterscotch sundaes, top ice cream with fresh fruit or with fruit preserves that have not been sweetened with sugar. Add granola, nuts, or other crunchy cereal and top off with whipped cream.
Milk Shakes and Malts
In your blender, combine ice milk or ice cream with milk and a variety of different flavorings, such as frozen strawberries, chocolate syrup, bananas. Serve in tall glasses with a long-handled spoon and wide straw.
Pudding
Make instant or cooked pudding in a variety of flavors. Top with fruit, granola, nuts, or whipped topping.
Baked Custard
Make old fashioned baked custard by mixing 4 eggs, ½ cup sugar, 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (depending on taste), and 3 cups milk. Pour egg and milk mixture into buttered custard cups or ramekins. Sprinkle with ground nutmeg, if desired. Place individual cups in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan containing hot water to reach the level of the custard in the cups. Place the pan in a 350 degree oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a table knife blade into the center of custard. If the custard is done, the knife should come out clean. Chill custard and serve cold.
Kids' Recipes: Desserts Summary
By limiting sugar and using plenty of fruit and dairy products when you prepare kids' recipes for desserts, you can make nutritious and delicious desserts for your whole family. These desserts are especially appealing to kids because of their simplicity and familiar flavors and ingredients.
