Easter carrot baking recipes for kids

Fun and healthy ideas with Dr Kyla

With Easter just around the corner, you can almost smell the chocolate in the air. Easter is exciting. Kids love the fun, the chocolate, and the Easter Bunny. And what does the Easter Bunny love? Carrots!

Including carrots in baking activities or when preparing tasty snacks is perfect for the Easter long weekend. And, to be clear, offering carrots at Easter isn’t about replacing chocolates. As parents, we can teach our kids how to enjoy all foods, from Easter eggs to vegetables. By doing so, we can raise children who feel calm and in control around all kinds of food, even at Easter.

why carrots?

So, let’s talk about carrots. Crunchy, sweet and nutritious, carrots are designed for dipping, bring a pop of colour to the table, and can be enjoyed in so many ways. If you have a baby exploring finger food, a toddler who prefers beige foods, or older kids who love to help in the kitchen, here are some simple ways to include carrots in your Easter weekend.

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carrot fritters carrot cake overnight oats mini carrot & pineapple muffins carrot & zucchini slice

Easter-inspired carrot recipes

carrot fritters

Perfect for babies and toddlers

These fritters include grated carrot and are perfect for babies and toddlers. If you’re making these for your baby, always double check that the texture matches what your baby can manage.

ingredients:

• ✦ 1 cup self-raising flour
• ✦ 1/2 tsp baking powder
• ✦ 1 egg or egg replacement
• ✦ 3/4 cup milk
• ✦ 1 carrot, grated

method:

• Mix flour and baking powder together.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix until combined.
• Spoon into a frypan over low-medium heat.
• Cook until you can see a few bubbles coming to the surface.
• Flip and cook for 3 mins.

carrot cake overnight oats

No-cook breakfast or snack

Overnight oats are an easy, no-cook breakfast or snack that you can prepare in advance of the big Easter hunt. This carrot cake variation is extra delicious. This recipe is for an individual serving, but you could also make a larger batch.

ingredients:

• ✦ 1/3 cup rolled oats
• ✦ 1/2 cup cow's milk or dairy-free milk
• ✦ 1 tsp chia seeds
• ✦ 2 tbsp carrot, grated (finely grated works best)
• ✦ 1 tbsp desiccated coconut
• ✦ 1 tbsp dried apricots, chopped
• ✦ Sprinkle of cinnamon

method:

• Combine all ingredients and soak overnight.
• In the morning, add additional liquid as needed or a scoop of yoghurt.

mini carrot & pineapple muffins (3+ years)

Great for Easter get-togethers and lunchboxes

This recipe is a crowd-pleaser for Easter get-togethers and is packed with fruit and veggies for a decent serving of fibre. They freeze well and make a great lunchbox addition. The recipe makes 36 mini muffins.

ingredients:

• ✦ 1 1/2 cups plain flour
• ✦ 3/4 cup sugar
• ✦ 1/4 cup sultanas
• ✦ 3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ✦ 1/2 tsp salt
• ✦ 1 cup carrot, grated
• ✦ 225g crushed canned pineapple
• ✦ 3/4 cup sunflower oil
• ✦ 2 eggs

method:

• Preheat oven to 165°C fan forced.
• Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
• Add carrot, undrained pineapple, oil, eggs. Mix well.
• Pour into greased muffin tins.
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until cooked.

carrot & zucchini slice

Perfect for brunch or freezer-friendly snack

Adding carrots to an Aussie classic makes it perfect for that Easter brunch. Try it with sweet chilli sauce for a tasty twist. This also freezes well and makes a nice addition to lunchboxes.

ingredients:

• ✦ 1 medium zucchini, grated
• ✦ 1 medium carrot, grated
• ✦ 1/2 cup plain flour
• ✦ 1 tsp baking powder
• ✦ 1 tsp garlic powder
• ✦ Pinch of salt and pepper
• ✦ 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• ✦ 30ml light flavoured oil (e.g. olive, vegetable, canola)
• ✦ 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated/li>
• ✦ 1 tomato, sliced

method:

• Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan forced) and grease a 20x20cm baking dish with a little oil and baking paper.
• Squeeze out the excess liquid from the grated zucchini, and mix together with the carrot, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• Mix in the beaten eggs, oil and grated cheese.
• Spoon the mix into the lined dish.
• Press the tomato slices into the top of the slice.
• Bake for 30–40 minutes until firm and golden.

conclusion

If you’ve got a bit of time over the Easter break, I really encourage you to give one of these carrot recipes a go. Let the kids help out, embrace the mess, and enjoy the giggles and sticky fingers. Who knew carrots could be so egg-citing?!