Healthy Snack Recipes To Try This Fall

Carrot & Zucchini Bars

Save Print

Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens cook book

Author: MOMables

Cuisine: Baking

Ingredients

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1½ cups shredded carrot
• 1 packed cup shredded zucchini
• ¾ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup canola oil
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 Tbsp flax seed meal (optional)

MOM-notes:

• After shredding your carrots and zucchini lightly pat dry with a paper towel if they seem too damp
• Repurpose leftover shredded vegetables. I usually have leftover shredded zucchini from this and I throw it in our scrambled eggs with some cheese the next morning-- everyone loves it!

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350* F.
2. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, ginger and baking soda.
3. In another large bowl stir together eggs, carrot, zucchini, brown sugar, raisins, oil, honey and vanilla.
4. Add carrot mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.
5. Spread batter in an ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan. (Optional: sprinkle flax seed meal evenly over the top of the bars before baking-- it makes the bars less sticky and I like the texture. You could also add it into the batter, but we have found we like it on top)
6. Bake about 25 min or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean (I usually bake until 20 and then test it from there).
7. Cool in pan and then cut into bars, or whatever shape desired. (I have found that plastic knives cut the best... no clue why!)

 

Homemade Fruit Snacks

Ingredients

• 1 cup water (divided)
• ½ cup (8 tablespoons) gelatin powder
• ¼ cup honey or maple syrup (optional and to taste)
• 1 cup kombucha or fruit juice
• 1 cup pureed fruit (strawberries and other berries are our favorite - applesauce will also work) The easiest method I've found is to defrost frozen berries and puree them with a blender or immersion blender

Instructions

1. Note: It is important to have all ingredients ready before beginning as you'll need to work quickly once you start.
2. Puree fruit to create a puree the consistency of applesauce or a little thinner. For us, defrosted frozen berries pureed in a blender or food processor work perfectly. Set aside one cup of pureed fruit.
3. Set aside one cup of kombucha or fruit juice. 
4. Boil ½ cup water.
5. Place ½ cup cool water in a medium sized bowl or quart size mason jar.
6. Add ½ cup gelatin powder and stir quickly to create a paste.
7. Quickly add the ½ cup boiling water and stir again briskly.
8. This should form a thick but stirable liquid.
9. Add the honey or maple syrup and stir.
10. Add the kombucha/juice and pureed fruit and stir well. You can stir with a spoon or whisk, or use an immersion blender to make it really easy.
11. Very quickly pour the mixture in to molds or a greased glass baking dish or other greased dish and allow to cool in fridge for 2-3 hours.
12. Store in fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
13. Enjoy!

Gummy Fruit Snacks

1 cup mixed berries
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup fruit juice (apple, cranberry, blueberry, whatever)
2 envelopes gelatin (1 envelope = 2 1/2 tsp)

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the berries and water. Bring to a boil and cook until berries are soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender or use an immersion blender to puree berries until smooth. Return to pot. Add applesauce and return to a boil, then remove from heat, cover and set aside.

In a large bowl, sprinkle gelatin over fruit juice and let stand one minute. Add hot fruit mixture and stir until gelatin completely dissolves, 3 to 5 minutes.

Pour into 8 x 8 inch glass or ceramic baking dish (or into molds, if you want to go that route).

Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours. Cut into blocks or shapes.

Read more at http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2011/09/homemade-gummy-fruit-snacks-healthy-snacks-for-kids.html#ds83KowxBxsF5P6T.99

Oatmeal Craisin Breakfast Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup honey
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups quick cooking oats
3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup Craisins or raisins
1/4 cup white chocolate chips (dark would be nice too)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter and honey. Beat in the egg and vanilla until well combined.
In a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet until well combined.
Stir in the craisins and chocolate chips.
Use a medium cookie scoop to drop balls of dough 1 inch apart on the cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to a cooling rack.
Store in an airtight container.