5 Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas to Make with Kids

A big part of our Thanksgiving memories is the food. We can conjure up images of juicy turkey, crispy stuffing, and sweet pies in an instant. One way to make the traditions even sweeter is to involve our children in the festivity preparation in order for them to also start their treasure trove of holiday memories. Below we've listed 5 Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas to Make with Kids.

1. Sugared Cranberries

What you need:

• Cranberries
• Simple Syrup (can make your own - recipe below)
• Sugar

Recipe:

Your kiddos only need to follow an easy two-step process:

• Toss the cranberries in simple syrup and let them dry.
• Toss the sticky berries in a bowl of sugar and let them dry again.
• Voila!

You can also make your own simple syrup (along with your kids) by using 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and stirring them together in a saucepan while heating the mixture over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. You can also experiment with flavor and add anything your heart desires. We recommend vanilla extract or peppermint extract.

Recipe source: www.peanutblossom.com

2. Maple Glazed Carrots

What you need:

• 1 ½ pounds baby carrots
• ¼ cup butter
• ⅓ cup maple syrup
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Recipe:

Have your kids add the carrots into a pot with salted water and cover and then bring them to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until they are tender. Drain and transfer the carrots to a serving bowl. Next up, is melting the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Then stir maple syrup into the melted butter and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until it's warm. Then have the kids pour the mixture over the carrots and toss them until coated. Lastly, season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Let the kids carefully place the squash and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Then pour in water, cover, and cook for about 5 minutes, until the squash is tender. Drain it well, and place it in a large bowl. Next up, mix cracker crumbs and cheese together in a medium bowl and stir half of the cracker mixture into the cooked squash and onions. Then mix the eggs and milk together in a small bowl, and add to the squash mixture. Stir in a 1/4 cup of melted butter, and season with salt and pepper. Let them spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cracker mixture, and dot with 2 tablespoons butter. Lastly, bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until lightly browned and enjoy!

Recipe source: www.allrecipes.com

3. Squash Casserole

What you need:

• 1 medium butternut squash, cooked 
• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 2 eggs whisked
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter softened
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• Topping: 2 tbsp. butter softened
• 1/2 cup crushed walnuts or pecans
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Recipe:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Let the kids mix the following in a large bowl:

large bowl, combine the casserole ingredients: mashed butternut squash, milk, eggs, sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and salt. Stir together until well combined and then pour the stirred casserole ingredients into a baking dish. Set the casserole dish to the side. Next up is mixing the toppings in a small bowl. Crumble it together until well blended and then, sprinkle the crumb topping over the top of the casserole. Next up is baking for 25-30 minutes or until the top is browned and the squash mixture is set. Yum!

Recipe source: www.createkidsclub.com

4. Pumpkin Pie Parfait Cups

What you'll need:

• 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup pumpkin puree canned
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey or to taste
• 2 bananas (optional)
• 2 cups granola or crushed graham crackers
• 6 mini jars

Recipe:

In a medium bowl, have the kiddos mix 1 cup of yogurt, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and maple syrup until well combined. If you want to use bananas, peel then chop them into bite-sized pieces. Then add a layer of granola/graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of each of your 6 mini mason jars. Add a layer of the pumpkin yogurt and then the banana and continue with a second layer. At the end, add a small dollop of the remaining plain yogurt and then add a little additional granola/graham crackers and a small sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Place in the refrigerator until ready to serve chilled.

Recipe source: www.happykidskitchen.com

5. Acorn Candy Cookies

What you'll need:

• 1 tablespoon prepared chocolate frosting
• 24 milk chocolate candy kisses (such as Hershey's Kisses®), unwrapped
• 24 mini vanilla wafer cookies (such as Nilla®)
• 24 butterscotch chips

Recipe:

The kids will enjoy the first step: smearing a small amount of frosting onto the flat bottom of a candy kiss and then press onto the flat bottom of the vanilla wafer. Smear a little more frosting onto the flat bottom of a butterscotch chip, and press onto the rounded top of the cookie. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Set aside to dry for about 30 minutes.

Recipe source: www.allrecipes.com

Don't miss out on our previous articles Where to Pre-order Your Thanksgiving Turkey and How to Prepare Your Thanksgiving Turkey.