Brunch is not something you usually associate with kids, but it can be a fun way to get them involved in the kitchen. If you prefer to eat smaller meals throughout the day, brunch can be a fantastic way to keep you going between breakfast and lunch. For parents with picky eaters, here are five great brunch ideas for kids that they can help you make.
Apple Pie Parfait
Brunch doesn’t always mean you have to cook something. These tasty parfaits have all the flavors of apple pie with a fraction of the calories. Ingredients:
- Diced apples
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1¼ cups granola
- 2½ cups yogurt
Directions: Mix the apples, lemon juice, maple syrup and cinnamon in a bowl and stir until coated. Put granola at the bottom of your cup, create alternating layers of yogurt and apples, then top with the remaining granola.
Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast
You can’t go wrong with a classic PB&J — even during brunch. This fun little twist on the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a fun brunch snack. Ingredients:
- 3 cups frozen mixed berries
- ¼ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1½ cup milk
- 8 slices of bread
- ½ cup peanut butter — or your favorite nut butter
- ¼ cup roasted nuts — match them to your nut butter
- ¼ cup raspberry preserves
- 2 tablespoons butter
Directions: Mix your frozen berries and sugar in a saucepan with half a cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer over low heat until thickened. Break up and crush the berries while you’re stirring. In a baking dish, mix the eggs and milk. Spread your nut butter on four of the slices and the preserves on the other four. Sprinkle the four buttered slices with the chopped nuts and close the sandwiches. Dip the closed sandwiches in the egg mixture, and cook like regular French toast over medium heat until golden brown. Top with your mixed berry sauce and serve warm!
Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
This might not seem like your typical brunch food, but the combination of sweet and savory in this dish might surprise you. Ingredients:
- 1 large butternut squash
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1½ tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper
Directions: Peel your butternut squash and cut it into cubes. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with cinnamon, maple syrup, salt and pepper. Roast at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes and serve warm.
Blueberry Banana Pancakes
Everyone loves pancakes, but they can get a bit boring after a while. These super tasty pancakes add a bit of fruit to this classic breakfast food. Ingredients:
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 3/4 cup blueberries
- 2 bananas, sliced lengthwise
Directions: First, mix up your pancakes. Whisk together your dry ingredients — flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt — in one bowl. Then, mix your eggs and buttermilk in a second bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then mix in the melted butter and blueberries. Pour your pancake batter into a heated pan and lay one slice of banana on each pancake. Flip when bubbles start to form and cook the other side of the pancake, then serve warm with maple syrup.
Breakfast Casserole
Casserole doesn’t just have to be for dinner. This tasty breakfast casserole has only a few ingredients and can even be prepared the night before, so all you need to do is pop it in the oven in the morning. Ingredients:
- 6 cups of broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1½ cup onions, finely chopped
- 1¼ cup ham, finely chopped
- 3 cups shredded cheese
- 8 cups cubed crusty bread
- 8 eggs
- 3 cups of half and half
- 2 tablespoons minced chives or scallions
- 1¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper — optional
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions: Blanch your broccoli until barely tender, then transfer to an ice bath. Pat dry and set aside. Heat your olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the onions. Cook until soft. In a bowl, combine the broccoli, onions, ham, cheese and bread cubes. Toss to combine, then spread in a baking dish. Whisk together the eggs, chives, half and half and spices until well-mixed, then pour it over the broccoli mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours before cooking. When you’re ready to cook, cover the pan in foil and bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees. After 45 minutes, remove the foil, sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top and cook for another 15 minutes. Rest for 15 minutes, then serve.
Introduce Your Kids to Cooking With These Five Brunch Ideas
Brunch is a fun way to get your kids involved in cooking, so try some of these recipes — or make up some of your own!
