5 Kid Friendly Recipes: Cherry

Cherry Smoothie

• Ingredients:

  1. 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen cherries

  2. 1 banana, peeled and sliced

  3. 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

  4. 1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)

  5. Honey or maple syrup to taste (optional)

  6. Ice cubes (optional)

• Instructions:

  1. Place cherries, banana, Greek yogurt, and milk in a blender.

  2. Blend until smooth and creamy.

  3. Add honey or maple syrup if additional sweetness is desired.

  4. Add ice cubes if desired and blend again until well combined.

  5. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Cherry Popsicles

• Ingredients:

  1. 2 cups pitted fresh or frozen cherries

  2. 1/2 cup apple juice or orange juice

  3. 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

• Instructions:

  1. Place cherries, juice, and honey or maple syrup in a blender.

  2. Blend until smooth.

  3. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds.

  4. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until firm.

  5. Remove from molds and serve immediately.

Cherry and Almond Muffins

• Ingredients:

  1. 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen cherries, chopped

  2. 1 cup whole wheat flour

  3. 1 cup rolled oats

  4. 1/2 cup brown sugar

  5. 1 teaspoon baking powder

  6. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  7. 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

  8. 1/4 teaspoon salt

  9. 1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)

  10. 1/4 cup vegetable oil

  11. 1 large egg

  12. 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

• Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners.

  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

  3. In another bowl, whisk together milk, vegetable oil, egg, and almond extract.

  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

  5. Fold in the chopped cherries.

  6. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups.

  7. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

  8. Let cool before serving.

Cherry Oat Bars

• Ingredients:

  1. 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen cherries, chopped

  2. 1 cup rolled oats

  3. 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

  4. 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

  5. 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

  6. 1/4 teaspoon salt

  7. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

  2. In a bowl, combine rolled oats, whole wheat flour, honey or maple syrup, melted coconut oil, salt, and vanilla extract.

  3. Mix until well combined.

  4. Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish.

  5. Spread the chopped cherries evenly over the oat mixture.

  6. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture on top and press down lightly.

  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

  8. Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pitted fresh or frozen cherries, chopped

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional, e.g., walnuts or pecans)

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

   1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Prepare the Wet Ingredients:

   1. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

   2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.

3. Combine the Dry Ingredients:

   1. In a separate bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt.

4. Mix the Dough:

   1. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

   2. Stir in the rolled oats until evenly distributed.

   3. Gently fold in the chopped cherries, nuts (if using), and dark chocolate chips (if using).

5. Form the Cookies:

   1. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

   2. Flatten each cookie slightly with the back of a spoon or your hand.

6. Bake the Cookies:

   1. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set.

   2. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. Serve and Enjoy:

Serve the cherry oatmeal cookies with a glass of milk (dairy or non-dairy) for a delicious and nutritious treat.