Favorite baked goods for snacks?

[DivaJen]

I'm looking for idea for things I can bake at home to send to school with DD for a snack. They need to be healthy - easy on the refined sugar.

Two things I make that she enjoys are pumpkin bread and a carrot/zucchini/dried fruit bread.

Something I buy that I'd love to buy less of are the fruit and grain bars at Trader Joe's.

Anyone have any favorites they'd care to suggest?

[PrincessPerky]

Nope but I would love suggestions too!

but can I have your carrot muffin recipie? I have been expiramenting for awhile but nothing is quite right. always dry.

[DivaJen]

Sure! It's awesome - very healthy, flexible as to ingredients used, and DD loves it.

I'll have to type it up - my mom sent me a jpg of the recipe.

OK, here it is, with my notes afterwards in italics.

Zucchini Carrot Wheat Bread

1 c. finely shredded raw carrots
1 1/2 c. shredded, unpeeled zucchini
1/2 c. chopped pitted dates
1/2 c. seedless raisins
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1.2 t. ground cloves
3/4 t. salt
3 eggs
1 1/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. honey
1 c. thinly sliced, natural skin almonds

Shred carrots. Shred zucchini into a strainer and allow moisture to drain briefly while you prepare the other ingredients. With wet kitchen scissors, cut dates into pieces. Rinse raisins in hot water and blot dry on paper towels. Mix fruits on sheet of foil with 2 T. of the flour. Sift together or thoroughly mix the flours, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Beat eggs at high speed on electric mixture until very light. Gradually beat in sugar, beating to keep mixture light. Slowly beat in oil until thoroughly blended and mixture is light. With rubber scraper, blend in flour mixture and stir until smooth but do not beat. Blend in carrots, zucchini, honey, floured fruits and nuts. Stir until well mixed. Turn batter into two greased, small loaf pans (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2), bake at 350*F one hour to one hour 15 minutes. Tester should come out clean when stuck in center of bread. Cool in pans ten minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Foil wrap and store overnight before slicing.


My DD likes prunes and dried cranberries, so I use those in place of the dates and raisins. You could also try adding dried apricots, coconut, etc and see how that goes. I don't put the almonds in. You could probably substitute applesauce for some or all of the oil. My mom makes these as muffins; the last time I made them, I made one loaf and the rest as muffins. I didn't flour the fruit beforehand and it turned out alright.

[PrincessPerky]

thanks!

[lunchlady]

Banana bread, or muffins is a favorite here....sometimes with a handful of chocolate chips added.
~Chris

[lrjohnson]

Do you have the Tightwad Gazette Muffin recipe? It is a base recipe that you can easily modify-for example, it says 2 to 2-1/2 cups grain, then explains this can be flour, some oatmeal, some cornmeal, etc. Up to 1/4 cup oil-lard, butter, oil, even applesauce. Up to 1-1/2 cups additions, with notes on dry versus wet additions. I had never baked before, but now I make these all the time-cornmeal-oatmeal-peach, or raisin-Splenda-apple. If you don't have the book, I can post the base recipe, but the whole article with notes is really good in letting you know the possible sweeteners, additions, etc.

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

Do you have the Tightwad Gazette Muffin recipe? It is a base recipe that you can easily modify-for example, it says 2 to 2-1/3 cups grain, then explains this can be flour, some oatmeal, some cornmeal, etc. Up to 1/4 cup oil-lard, butter, oil, even applesauce. Up to 1-1/2 cups additions, with notes on dry versus wet additions. I had never baked before, but now I make these all the time-cornmeal-oatmeal-peach, or raisin-Splenda-apple. If you don't have the book, I can post the base recipe, but the whole article with notes is really good in letting you know the possible sweeteners, additions, etc.

I've got the book - I'll have to take a look. Thx.

[flash]

Do you make your own fruit leathers (or whatever they are called these days) and granola? How about apple cake or oatmeal cake (or the cupcake/muffin equivalent)? You can make your own fruit pies/tarts, without sugar -- Mom makes a diabetic crust, but my crust doesn't flake unless it's full butter.

Homemade graham crackers are wonderful.

I make muffins without flour or sugar, just grains, egg whites, lots of fruits/veggies, sometimes protein powder for DH. Super way to use up this and that.

[lunchlady]

I never heard of anyone making graham crackers.....that sounds delicious!
Could you post the recipie ? I'd love to try them!
~Chris

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by flash

Do you make your own fruit leathers (or whatever they are called these days) and granola? How about apple cake or oatmeal cake (or the cupcake/muffin equivalent)? You can make your own fruit pies/tarts, without sugar -- Mom makes a diabetic crust, but my crust doesn't flake unless it's full butter.

Homemade graham crackers are wonderful.

I make muffins without flour or sugar, just grains, egg whites, lots of fruits/veggies, sometimes protein powder for DH. Super way to use up this and that.

Fruit leather - I stay away from them as they get stuck in DD's teeth. She's had one cavity, and I have had a bunch of them, so I worry that her teeth may be soft like mine.

Granola - I love it, but she isn't a big fan. And I eat way too much of it when we have it on hand.

I'd like to hear more about the homemade graham crackers as well.

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

Do you have the Tightwad Gazette Muffin recipe? It is a base recipe that you can easily modify-for example, it says 2 to 2-1/2 cups grain, then explains this can be flour, some oatmeal, some cornmeal, etc. Up to 1/4 cup oil-lard, butter, oil, even applesauce. Up to 1-1/2 cups additions, with notes on dry versus wet additions. I had never baked before, but now I make these all the time-cornmeal-oatmeal-peach, or raisin-Splenda-apple. If you don't have the book, I can post the base recipe, but the whole article with notes is really good in letting you know the possible sweeteners, additions, etc.

I got my book out this afternoon and DD and I made a double-batch of muffins. Some had cherry jelly added to them (homemade from my mom and super tasty) and the rest had craisins and golden raisins in them. Aside from forgetting to double the oil (oops) they turned out pretty good. I used whole wheat flour for part of the all-purpose flour. Thanks for reminding me about this part of the book!

[lrjohnson]

I love this recipe, it got me baking. I've used the soy flour for eggs; excellent. I've used choppped apples (backyard drops)-very moist. Both cornmeal and oatmeal are good as part of the grain; I've also stuck in bran. Sunflower seeds, walnuts. Substitued the syrup in canned peaches for the milk. I even stuck some extra bread crumbs in once. The muffin is never the same. Homemade cherry jelly sounds absolutely wonderful.

[flash]

Sure.

HONEY GRAHAM CRACKERS

1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. oil
3 Tbsp cold water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. molasses

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Divide dough in half and place each half on an ungreased cookie sheet 14 x 17". Flatten and roll, with rolling pin, to 10 x 12" rectangle. If necessary, dust rolling pin with flour to prevent sticking. Mark into 2" squares, leaving dough in place. Prick all over with fork. Bake at 400 degrees F 6 - 8 minutes, until light brown. Remove from oven. Cut apart at markings while still hot. Let cool on sheet or rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Makes 60.

Mom says it works well with alternative sweetners, but I haven't tried.

Also have recipes for vanilla wafers, cheese nips, veggie thins, flatbread, wheat thins, saltines, butter crackers, oatmeal crackers, wheat crackers, sesame seed water crackers, soft pretzels...easily modified for your preferred ingredients.

[DivaJen]

Originally Posted by flash

HONEY GRAHAM CRACKERS

1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. oil
3 Tbsp cold water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. molasses

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Divide dough in half and place each half on an ungreased cookie sheet 14 x 17". Flatten and roll, with rolling pin, to 10 x 12" rectangle. If necessary, dust rolling pin with flour to prevent sticking. Mark into 2" squares, leaving dough in place. Prick all over with fork. Bake at 400 degrees F 6 - 8 minutes, until light brown. Remove from oven. Cut apart at markings while still hot. Let cool on sheet or rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Makes 60.

Mom says it works well with alternative sweetners, but I haven't tried.

Also have recipes for vanilla wafers, cheese nips, veggie thins, flatbread, wheat thins, saltines, butter crackers, oatmeal crackers, wheat crackers, sesame seed water crackers, soft pretzels...easily modified for your preferred ingredients.

Thanks! I'll have to try substituting for the shortening (trans fat) but this recipe seems easy.

Vanilla wafers....yummmmm....one of my faves. Please don't post that one.

[lunchlady]

Thank you, Flash. I'm going to try to make these soon!

[flash]

You know, I have not had shortening in my house in at least ten years, but I don't recall the substitute right now.

My favorite baked snacks as a child were homemade fig newtons (or apricot, or any dried fruit as filling), and homemade snowballs (yes, those chocolate cakes filled and rolled in marshmallow coconut).

I have quite a few sugar-free dried fruit/nut candy/cookie recipes, and lots of peanut butter (instead of oil).

If your DD likes apricots/coconut/nuts, make apricot slims. BTW, you can make your own sweetened condensed milk that is fat free, sugar free, which makes lots of those forbidden recipes not so forbidden

[zakity]

Applesauce Cake

1/2 cup melted margarine
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
2 cups applesauce
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup nuts
1 cup raisins (lightly floured)-optional

Melt margarine. Combine with sugar and eggs. Stir in applesauce. Add dry ingredients and fold in nuts and raisins. Bake in a 9x9 pan at 350 for 45 minutes.

[zakity]

Oatmeal Cake

1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 cup quick oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup partially melted margarine
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Pour boiling water over oats and set aside for 20 minutes. Cream margarine and sugars. Add eggs and oats. Add dry ingredients and vanilla. Bake in a greased and floured pan (13x9x2). Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes (or smaller pan for 35-40 minutes).


Topping:
6 Tbsp melted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 Tbsp milk
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup coconut

Mix butter, brown sugar, milk, nuts, and coconut. Spread over warm baked cake. Put under the brolier unil slightly browned (about 3 - 4 minutes).


NOTES:

We have never used the coconut or the nuts in the topping.

[PrincessPerky]

Anyone have a recipie, or know what is safe, for a teething cracker? I really am having trouble stumaching the price right now, but my baby loves them.

[lunchlady]

I dont have a teething cracker recipe, but my son used to like to teethe on a frozen bagel.