easy kid friendly desserts

How to Make 11 Awesome Thanksgiving Desserts That Your Kids Will Love

November 8, 2017 by Danielle

Finding a dessert that makes all of the kids happy can be a difficult challenge. So we’ve rounded up 11 awesome Thanksgiving desserts for kids that meet a handful of kid-friendly requirements!

Kids are weird. No, no, listen. They really are. One minute they hate whipped cream, and the next they’re trying to shoot it straight into their mouths because they love it so much. And trying to find a dessert to make them happy can sometimes be difficult during the holidays when the options aren’t cake, brownies, or ice cream. So we put together a few of our favorite Thanksgiving desserts for kids so everyone has options this holiday season. But make sure you have plenty of whipped cream.

11 Thanksgiving Desserts for Kids

Pumpkin Pie with Coconut Milk from A Crafty Spoonful

This pumpkin pie is great for those who may have dairy allergies. It tastes just like regular pumpkin pie but is made with coconut milk instead. And no, you can’t taste the coconut in the filling. Pair it with some coconut whipped cream and you are set for the holidays! This recipe is also perfect to use for mini pumpkin pies as well if you don’t want to make the whole pie.

Candy Apple Dump Cake from A Crafty Spoonful

Still have leftover Halloween candy you’re hoarding away? I’m not judging. But if you want to get rid of some of it, this is the recipe to try! This dump cake is not only easy, all you need is one pan (no separate bowls) to make it! Less dishes = winning in my book. And the kids go crazy over the chocolate + apple combo.

Mini Pecan Pie Bites from A Crafty Spoonful

Oh, these sinfully sweet little bites of heaven are the perfect grab-on-the-go dessert for the littles. The butter cracker hooks the kids and the chocolate drizzle on top of the pecan filling keeps them coming back. Plus, there’s not too much mess with this recipe.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites from My Suburban Kitchen

For those with a more sophisticated palate, these pumpkin cheesecake bites totally hit the spot. They’re very portable, just like the mini pecan pie bites, and pack a punch of flavor with a combo of gingersnaps and pumpkin.

Four Ingredient Pumpkin Pie Dip from My Suburban Kitchen

What kid doesn’t love dip? And this deliciously sweet pumpkin pie dip is the perfect way to enjoy those holiday cookies or a few graham crackers. Just make sure there isn’t any double dipping.

Pumpkin Spice Cranberry Trifle from Flour on My Face

Who doesn’t love a good layered trifle? Kids can dig in and eat a layer at a time or go for the gold and scoop all the way down for a few layers of goodness in one bite. Plus these are a fun recipe to let the kids help assemble!

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cake from Flour on My Face

In case your child has a gluten allergy, or if they’re just avoiding gluten as part of an elimination diet, you need to try this pumpkin cake. You can still stay festive and enjoy all the flavors of the holidays even when you’re gluten-free!

Pumpkin Pecan Bundt Cake from Flour on My Face

Speaking of cake, if your kids are more in a cake and frosting kind of mood, this pumpkin pecan bundt cake is a delicious option. I’ve made mini bundtlets for individual kid portions before and it’s turned out great!

Pumpkin Spice Dessert Bars from {Not Quite} Susie Homemaker

Another quick and easy go to that you can make ahead and bring with you are these pumpkin spice dessert bars. They’re made with pumpkin and applesauce AND have a delicious cream cheese frosting!

Individual Apple Pies from The Love Nerds

What’s Thanksgiving without apple pie? In our house we always have pumpkin and apple pies in addition to the other dessert options so these individual apple pies are perfect for the kids table. A classic recipe with a fun spin.

Favorite Pecan Pie from Unexpected Elegance

And if your kid loves the classics, you can’t go wrong with a pecan pie. Some kids are turned off by this tasty dessert but for those who want to venture out and try new things, this is a great recipe to start with!

What are your go-to Thanksgiving desserts for kids?

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Filed Under: Baking, Desserts, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Thanksgiving Tagged With: Dessert, dessert recipes, desserts, easy kid friendly desserts, Pumpkin, Thanksgiving, thanksgiving desserts, Thanksgiving recipes

Deliciously Tempting Candy Apple Bars with M&M’s

October 17, 2017 by Danielle

These deliciously tempting candy apple bars with M&M’s are the perfect sweet treat to use up all of those apples you picked this season!

Oh my gosh you guys. I’m seriously melting right now and wondering where the heck fall is. Over 100 degrees today and the forecast does not look good over the next week. Oh, how I yearn for the cool crisp 75-degree air of fall.

With pregnancy cravings that have me wanting apple pie, hearty stews, and other fall recipes I can’t help but give into temptation and bake up a delicious treat for the family even when it’s a sauna inside and outside of the house. Did I mention we have no a/c in the new house? Yeah…

After finding some delicious Candy Apple M&M’s on our most recent trip to Walmart I was inspired to make these delicious candy apple bars that are part apple pie, part candy apple.

I made sure to gather most of the ingredients we needed and have it all pre-measured because another crazy girl in the house wanted to help mama out even in this heat.

I’ve found that when cooking or baking with kids a little prep work goes a long way. And makes things go a little smoother. And this recipe couldn’t be easier to make with kids. No mixer needed, no special measuring or ingredients. Easy peasy!

We mixed together the oat mixture and reserved a bit for the topping. The rest we mixed with some delicious applesauce

Once the applesauce oat mixture was ready I let my daughter spread it on the bottom of our 9×13 pan while I tossed the apples in some flour.

Next was my daughter’s favorite part. After I put a layer of apples down she was in charge of adding the Candy Apple M&M’s on top of the apples. Now normally I use a layer of caramel here for caramel apple bars but we wanted some chocolatey candy goodness.

Once she was done I spread the reserved oat mixture over everything and had her help push it down gently. Then we baked up this scrumptious dessert and enjoyed a little kiddy pool fun to cool down.

By dinnertime, these were perfectly cooled and ready to enjoy for our dessert. Boy, was this a good treat to end our hot day. Now let’s bring on some cooler temperatures!

Candy Apple Bars with M&M's

For the candy apple bars

1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup applesauce
3 peeled fuji apples (finely diced)
1 granny smith apple (grated)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup Candy Apple M&M's

For the drizzle

1 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
3 tablespoons apple juice

Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix brown sugar, butter and shortening in large bowl. Stir in 1 3/4 cups flour, the oats, salt and baking soda. Reserve 2 cups oat mixture. Mix remaining oat mixture with applesauce and spread on the bottom of an un-greased 13×9 pan.
Toss apples and 3 tablespoons flour; spread over mixture in pan. Spread Candy Apple M&M’s evenly over apples. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture; press lightly.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender.
While bars are baking, mix together powdered sugar and apple juice and set aside. Once bars are done, let cool before drizzling with icing and enjoy!

Grab What You Need:

What’s your favorite fall-inspired dish?

*This post was originally featured on September 14t, 2014.

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: apple, apple recipe, apples, Candy Apple, Dessert, easy kid friendly desserts, kid-friendly recipes, Recipe, Recipes

Strawberry Mango Cream Pops

May 5, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The a2 Milk Company™. All opinions are 100% mine.

One thing we always have to keep stocked in the house besides milk is fruit. My kids go through fruit like other kids might go through candy. We enjoy fruit for breakfast, with our lunch, and even for dessert! These strawberry mango cream pops are one of their favorites and reminds me of one of our favorite smoothies in popsicle form. So good!

What I love about this recipe is how easy it is to make. 4 ingredients all blended together and poured into cute popsicle molds then set overnight in the freezer. And because we use a2 Milk®, I don’t have to worry about my daughter having tummy troubles or breaking out with eczema. Over the past few months of using a2 Milk® with her we’ve found that reducing dairy and grabbing the a2 milk® instead has helped her.

Strawberry Mango Cream Pops

1 cup strawberries, hull removed
1 cup mangos, sliced
1/2 cup a2 Milk®
2 tablespoons honey

Blend all ingredients in your blender until smooth. Grab popsicle molds and fill to fill line. Make sure not to overfill! Place molds in freezer and let set overnight. Remove molds from freezer and enjoy.

Over the past few months we’ve incorporated a2 Milk® into our everyday lives and it’s now our go-to milk. The kids haven’t noticed a difference at all but I have. Since we’ve introducing our 15 month old to a2 Milk®, and me drinking it as well, she’s been happier and has had less breakouts with her eczema. Since all other forms of mammal’s milk (i.e. goat, sheep, human) only contain the A2-type proteins, she’s used to only getting the A2 protein. I’m hoping this continues to make her transition to cow’s milk easier as she nurses less and less.

What is your go-to dessert for kids?

Interested in more info about a2 Milk®? Check them out on Twitter and Facebook or find where you can purchase it by using their Product Locator! Or check out the great recipes they have on Pinterest. And right now you can take advantage of this a2 Milk® $1 Off Coupon.

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Keep Kids Busy, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: A2 Milk, Dessert, dessert recipes, desserts, easy kid friendly desserts, frozen treats, healthy desserts, ice cream, ice cream recipes, kids food, mango, popsicles, recipes for ice cream, Strawberry, Toddler Food, toddler snacks

10 Red Velvet Desserts With A Twist

February 23, 2016 by Danielle

Are you as obsessed with everything red velvet as I am? Well you are in for a treat! I am loving red velvet desserts lately and decided to take a look around to find a few I could enjoy with the family. And these desserts? OMG! From cookies to ice cream (no machine needed!) to amazing milkshakes, this list has you covered! I suggest going down from 1 to 10 and trying everything. But that may take you a few weeks to complete. Just don’t blame me for the weight gain. I kid!

10 Red Velvet Desserts With A Twist

Are you a big Red Velvet fan?

Filed Under: Baking, Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: brownies, Cake, Cookies, cupcakes, Dessert, dessert recipes, desserts, easy kid friendly desserts, milkshakes, red velvet, trifle, whoopie pie

Summer Activities, Staycations and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops Recipe

June 17, 2015 by Danielle

The school year has come to an end and we are ready for summer! Warm weather, lazy days at the beach, and finding creative ways to cool off in our gorgeous city.

Living in a major tourist destination means that we’re lucky enough to staycation a few times through the year. And summertime is the perfect time to book a staycation and relax poolside at a local hotel or visit a local amusement park.

One thing I love about staycations is that we’re not far from home. And that means having fun and getting a little creative while out and about. That includes figuring out fun snacks to make when we’re away from home so we don’t have to spend to much extra on snacks and meals.

Most hotels we stay at when we’re on our staycations have a fridge and freezer. So we like to bring yogurts for breakfast, pb&j for lunch, and some fun treats for desserts.

When it gets really hot, a good frozen treat is perfect for cooling down. Especially one that includes all of the ingredients I already have in the mini-fridge.

We love creating creme pops at home, so why not re-create a simpler version on the road? And if you don’t have bowls all you need to do is grab your yogurt cup, mix in some chocolate spread and peanut butter, and freeze. Then eat up like ice cream instead of a pop!

These 3-ingredient chocolate peanut butter yogurt pops are the perfect way to enjoy our time in the sun but stay cool while participating in our favorite summer activities.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops

1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 tablespoons chocolate spread
2 tablespoons peanut butter

In a small bowl, whisk together all three ingredients and combine well.
Pour into small cups and stick a paper straw or craft/popsicle stick into the center of the pops.
Place in freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
Pop out of the cups and enjoy!

If you’re looking for great outfits for the kids to show off on your next staycation, check out this coupon for OshKosh. Need to find a store near you? Try the OshKosh store locator.

How are you cooling down this summer?

For other fun ways to spend your summer when you return from your staycation, check out these fun Summer Activities for Kids or try making these Mandarin Orange Creme Pops with the kids.

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Snacks, Uncategorized Tagged With: chocolate, Dessert, desserts, easy kid friendly desserts, greek yogurt, healthy snacks, no bake, Peanut Butter, pops, popsicles, yogurt

20 Smores Recipes

May 11, 2015 by Danielle

Summer is right around the corner (hello Memorial Day! I’m ready for you!) and the weather is getting warmer during the day but during the nice crisp evenings we like to sit around a fire pit and enjoy some family time. And that means 3 things: family, food, and fun.

What’s better than a delicious smore made over a roaring fire? All of these variations of smores that you can enjoy year round! Including my very delicious smores brownies. But I’m warning you, they’re addicting!

There’s no wrong way to make a smore and there’s no end to the possibilities of taking the classic flavors of smores and turning them into delicious smores recipes for every occasion.

Easy Entertaining: Kid Friendly Holiday Desserts

December 11, 2013 by Danielle

I created my easy kid friendly holiday desserts spread using Hershey’s™ Spreads as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars. #SpreadPossibilities #hersheysheroes

When we’re enjoying our holiday traditions I love putting out some easy kid friendly holiday desserts for the kids to enjoy. Whether we’re decorating the Christmas tree while drinking hot cocoa or wrapping gifts for oru friends, we love to enjoy some sweet treats together.

Since we’ve already done so much holiday baking already for gifts, friends, and events, keeping things simple means that I get to spend more time with the kids. And who doesn’t love easy entertaining? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Uncategorized Tagged With: chocolate dip, chocolate spread, easy entertaining, easy kid friendly desserts, Hershey's Spreads, hersheys, holiday entertaining, kid friendly holiday desserts

How to Make 11 Awesome Thanksgiving Desserts That Your Kids Will Love

11 Thanksgiving Desserts for Kids

What are your go-to Thanksgiving desserts for kids?

Deliciously Tempting Candy Apple Bars with M&M’s

Candy Apple Bars with M&M's

For the candy apple bars

For the drizzle

What’s your favorite fall-inspired dish?

Strawberry Mango Cream Pops

Strawberry Mango Cream Pops

What is your go-to dessert for kids?

10 Red Velvet Desserts With A Twist

10 Red Velvet Desserts With A Twist

Are you a big Red Velvet fan?

Summer Activities, Staycations and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Pops

How are you cooling down this summer?

20 Smores Recipes

Easy Entertaining: Kid Friendly Holiday Desserts

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