When summer’s in full swing, you definitely don’t want to turn on the oven. And with kids out of school, you need to keep them busy. What better way to do that than involve them in the kitchen making some fun and easy treats together?
These treats are a healthier alternative to candy and slushies and ice cream bars. And they’re so easy to make!
It’s a great way to spend some time together, start building healthy habits, and get kids involved in the process of their food. Perfect for a rainy day, or when you all need a break from the sun.
Here are 15 easy recipes for kids to try this summer
1. Sugar-Free Watermelon Raspberry Popsicles
All you need to make these beauties is fruit, a blender and popsicle molds. Getting some popsicle molds will be well worth the investment, since pure fruit based popsicles are getting so expensive.
You can use these molds over and over again every year, trying different flavors and combinations.
Get the recipe by Dreena Burton
2. 5-Ingredient No Bake Brownies
With just 5 ingredients (plus an optional chocolate drizzle), you can get these super fudgy brownies going any day of the week. And with no added sugar, you can rest assured these are adding nutrition to growing bodies with every bite.
Chances are you’re going to get requests to make these again and again, so keep the date supply stocked at all times…
Get the recipe by Brittany Mullins of Eating Bird Food
3. Refreshing Creamsicle Smoothie
Get that creamsicle flavor at home, with fresh oranges and all healthy ingredients. No driving, no lines, no disposable cups.
These are a perfect mid-afternoon refresher when things have been hot and wild in the summer sun. Make your own, to sip while the kiddos are slurping.
Get the recipe by Kathy Patalsky of Healthy Happy Life
4. Almond Butter Rice Crisp Treats
A vegan twist on rice crispie squares, made with natural almond butter and brown rice syrup, is easy to put together and not quite as goopy as the marshmallow version.
Kids will feel super pleased with themselves, and because rice crips are so chewy, these might just slow them down long enough to sit.
Get the recipe by Angela Liddon of Oh She Glows
5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
Game to try something different? These cookie dough bites are made with a base of chickpeas for a low-glycemic treat. And with no raw eggs, there’s nothing to worry about – go fancy and make the truffles with the coating, or just eat the cookie dough right from the bowl.
Get the recipe by Ricki Heller, on veganook
6. Chocolate Hummus
If you want to try another interesting sweet treat with chickpeas, this chocolate hummus looks perfect to pair with fresh fruit for a sneaky high-protein snack. This will fuel lasting energy through the afternoon, and fill small bodies with important nutrients, like calcium and iron, as well as those powerful antioxidants in cocoa.
Get the recipe by Terita Heath-Wlaz on Super Healthy Kids
7. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
Although chocolate chips and coconut are hard to top, the base of these energy bites could lead you in all kinds of different directions.
Get creative in making different flavor combos, based on what’s in your cupboards. With a bit of flaxseed in there, you’ll boost the omega-3 content which is important for kids.
Get the recipe by Marly of Namely Marly
8. Raw Vegan Candy Apples
This could make a fun choose-your-topping adventure. The vegan caramel is so easy to whip up. Then set out small plates with different toppings, and kids can create their own masterpieces. These are just as much fun to eat as they are to create!
Get the recipe by Vanessa Croessmann of Vegan Family Recipes
9. Banana French Toast with Caramelized Bananas
This recipe is best for slightly older kids, or younger kids could be your sous-chef to dip the bread and pass to you for frying. But no matter what, get the whole family ready to enjoy a Sunday brunch feast with this delicious french toast.
The caramelized bananas are a cut above your average french toast topping, and you might want to add some berries or sliced melon.
Get the recipe by Richa Hingle of Vegan Richa
10. Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats
This is a perfect post-dinner project and can set everyone up for a healthy and delicious breakfast to grab and go in the morning. Who knows, if they get hooked on it you could try to keep it going through the school year!
Get the recipe by Mel of A Virtual Vegan
11. Chocolate Cherry Nice Cream
With just four ingredients, this is the epitome of easy recipes for kids – and is so incredibly delicious! Cherries have such a rich flavor, and this will make for a supremely decadent dessert. Homemade ice cream without all the sugar and dairy is a totally healthy way to wind up the evening.
Get the recipe by The Pretty Bee
12. Watermelon Blueberry Salad
It’s not possible to get too much watermelon in the summer, and this easy fruit salad is so irresistible you may have to make this daily while it’s in season. With a zesty pop of flavor from mint and lime, this is a sure-fire winner.
Get the recipe by Amy Katz of Veggies Save the Day
13. No-Bake Chocolate Cereal Layer Cake
With just seven ingredients, this cake is easy enough for anyone to make. Adults will probably want to handle the frosting, but the cake itself is so simple.
It looks so impressive that anyone would feel proud to have made it, and the kids will surely revel in presenting their creation to the table for a decadent dessert.
Get the recipe by Nicole Axworthy, for Nature’s Path
14. Almond Date No-Bake Cookies
These little guys are over-the-top cute, and Audrey gives so many images of ideas to try with this easy no-bake cookie base. From hedgehogs to stars to hearts to fish and beyond… Let your creative sides go wild, and see what you come up with!
Get the recipe by Audrey of Unconventional Baker
15. Healthy Snickers Ice Cream Bites
These look – and taste – so decadent that you wouldn’t believe how healthy these little bites are! With only four ingredients, they are incredibly easy to make.
Warning: they will likely become addictive to anyone who bites into one. Tempting thought it may be to make a giant batch, you may want to keep a limited supply on hand.
Get the recipe by Rhian of Rhian’s Recipes
Kitchen Tips for Kids
Obviously be careful with anything sharp, like knives and food processor blades, and anything hot, like a frying pan.
Kids might like wearing an apron to feel like a chef, and it will help keep clothes at least somewhat clean. They might even want to have an afternoon session to decorate their own special apron.
Even if they can’t yet do all the steps of a recipe themselves yet, involving them in the process shows them how their favorite treats come together. Giving them a taste for the abundant flavors of wholesome healthful foods early on helps to set kids up for healthy habits in the long term.
Making a mess in the kitchen is a rite of passage for any budding chef. But my dad always used to ask me when we finished any project what the most important part was. Cleaning up!
