What is it about carrots that kids just love? Maybe it’s that baby carrots make for a quick snack – and they’re perfect for dipping. Or is it because carrots have a slightly sweet flavor? It could just be the bright, orange color that attracts kids of all ages to grab a handful. Whatever the draw, you can go through bunches of carrots with these fun recipes. To keep it simple, try the carrot apple salad or creamy carrot rice as a side dish. Make carrots for breakfast with the carrot cake pancakes. And for a snack? You can’t go wrong with sea salt and cinnamon carrot chips (move over potatoes!) or carrot coconut pineapple muffins.
Carrot Apple Salad
Here’s a combo you might not have expected – this carrot apple salad recipe from Taste of Home. The crisp texture of the apples mixes perfectly with the crunchy carrot slivers. Add in some raisins for chewiness and then bring the entire salad together with yogurt, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Carrots + salad = smiles all around!
Creamy Carrot Rice
Add some color to plain old rice with this creamy carrot rice recipe from Martha Stewart. Along with chicken broth, it calls for carrot juice to mix into the rice while it’s cooking. Stir in a generous helping of Parmesan cheese and you have a yummy side dish that will brighten up any dinner plate.
Carrot Cake Pancakes
Pack all the flavor of a favorite dessert into a breakfast dish with these carrot cake pancakes from Smitten Kitchen. The batter includes golden raisins and walnuts, but what really makes these pancakes perfect is the topping. Mix cream cheese with water, milk, powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon for a smooth addition to these hearty pancakes. This is a breakfast Bugs Bunny would love!
Sea Salt and Cinnamon Carrot Chips
Who would have thought that carrots fry up into delectable chips? Frugal Kiwi offers a recipe for sea salt and cinnamon carrot chips that’s easy to master. You’ll need to cut the carrots into thin slices (a mandolin or food processor with a slicing disk comes in handy for this), then fry them up in oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and cinnamon. Snack time, anyone?
Carrot Coconut Pineapple Muffins
This recipe infuses carrots with a bit of tropical flavor. From Litty Bitty Bakes, these carrot coconut pineapple muffins are bursting with flavor and good-for-your-kid ingredients. Want to know the secret behind these moist treats? Pineapple yogurt. Yum!
Carrot Kari (Indian-Style Carrots with Mustard Seeds)
Do you have an adventurous eater at your house? If so, your kiddo might be game to try this carrot kari recipe from Saveur. This recipe includes lentils, mustard seeds and a dash of paprika. You might want to go easy, though, on the chiles.
This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated fro 2017.
