Pumpkin Recipes Add Nutrition, Math, Fun

Pumpkin Season Lasts All Year! 

Halloween may be over but the pumpkin season lasts all year. Pumpkin is an all-around nutritious food.  It is low in saturated fat and very low in cholesterol and sodium.  Then it is loaded with an array of vitamins and minerals and a good source of dietary fiber. Since November is one of the top baking months you might try these child friendly recipes.

Kiddie Pumpkin Cookies

  These cookies are quick and easy to make. You will need 2 cups flour, 1 1/3 cup quick or old fashioned oats, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup ( 2 sticks) butter or margarine softened, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar. You can experiment with lowering the sugar to ¾ cup of the sugars.  You’ll need 1 cup canned pumpkin, 1 large egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. If desired, you can add ¾ cup chocolate chips to the batter or poke them in while the cookies are just out of the oven.  Children can drop them one at a time and push them into the hot cookie with a spoon.

Make Kiddie Pumpkin Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Beat in butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar until fluffy.  Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix well. Add flour mixture.  Drop a ¼ cup of dough onto a baking sheet sprayed with cooking oil.  Bake for 14-16 minutes.  Cool before moving.

Kiddie Pumpkin Cupcakes

  This recipe is for moist pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with 

Make Kiddie Pumpkin Muffins

cupcake liners. Whisk together 1/3 cup oil, 1 cup sugar, ¼ cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.  Sift in 1 ¼ cup flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Fold in 1 cup canned pumpkin and then ½ cup chocolate chips. Be careful not to over stir because the batter will become gummy and change the texture of the cupcakes. Fill lined cups 2/3 full and bake for 24-26 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  For more cooking time ideas see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com, wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons, Facebook, and Pinterest   

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos