Veggie Buds Club Blog - Veggie Buds Club

Spinach Cookies

2/7/2021

These delicious 4-ingredient Spinach Cookies are definitely kid-approved and so easy to make... they are sure to become a family favorite! They are healthy enough to be considered a "breakfast cookie" (they pair great with vanilla yogurt!) and sweet enough to be considered dessert. That's a win-win in our book!

Eat Pretty Darling created this simple and tasty veggie-packed recipe for Veggie Buds Club. Be sure to lettuce know if you make these by leaving a comment below!

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

This is an easy one! Put veggies in dessert and this is a sure fired way to get kids excited about veggies. This is a super simple recipe to bake with your kids, they can help out from start to finish and will know that the spinach is in the cookie (and eat them anyway!).

Spinach Cookies

Spinach Cookies

Author: Eat Pretty Darling

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 25 Min

These delicious 4-ingredient Spinach Cookies are definitely kid-approved and so easy to make... they are sure to become a family favorite!

Ingredients

1 ripe banana
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Handful of spinach

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a blender, combine banana and spinach. Puree until smooth. It will become like a liquid.
Add in oats and chocolate chips and mix until combined. Scoop the mixture onto a lined baking sheet. I like to make them into balls and flatten the tops a bit once they are on the sheet.
Bake for 18-20 minutes. Makes 6-8 cookies.

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Garlic Knots

1/13/2021

What kid doesn't love garlic bread?! These tasty Garlic Knots are a very kid-friendly way to help your kids get acquainted with garlic.

This recipe was developed byEat Pretty Darling for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

Get your kids in the kitchen! Kids love to bake and this recipe allows them to mix up all of the ingredients with their hands (in the biggest bowl you have... spills will happen!). Finally, they can help twist up the garlic knots! The knots don't have to look perfect, have fun with this recipe and let your kids take the lead.

Garlic Knots

Garlic Knots

Yield: 8

Author: Eat Pretty Darling

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Fresh, warm garlic bread can't be beat! Enjoy these tasty Garlic Knots with your favorite pasta, soup, or as a side dish to a variety of meals.

Ingredients

Olive oil
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup fat free Greek Yogurt, drained of any excess liquid
2 teaspoons butter
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add the yogurt and mix until incorporated and then knead with your hands until it comes together as a dough. If it’s too sticky, add a little more flour.
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each one into a worm like strip, this part is really fun to get the kids involved! Make the strips about 9 inches long. Tie each strip into a knot.
Line a baking sheet with parchment and place the knots on the sheet. Spray or brush the knots with olive oil. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
While they are baking, melt the butter and garlic in a small skillet. Cook until golden. Brush the knots with the garlic butter after they are removed from the oven and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

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Sweet Potato Blondies

11/9/2020

Your kids are sure to love this sweeeeet veggie-packed treat. Orange sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene (just like carrots!) so they support healthy vision and are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

When you bake these with your kids be sure to use the BIGGEST bowl you have, spills will happen...! This Sweet Potato Blondie recipe is great to make with children because you only need one bowl.

Sweet Potato Blondies

Sweet Potato Blondies

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min

You and your family are sure to love this sweeeeet veggie-packed treat. Orange sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene (just like carrots!) so they support healthy vision and are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Ingredients

1/3 cup mashed sweet potato
1/2 cup almond butter (or any nut/seed butter)
1/4 cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or more cinnamon
1/2 cup all-purpose, whole wheat flour or 1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or grease really well with oil.
In a large bowl, whisk sweet potato, almond butter, oil, vanilla, and sugar until smooth. Whisk in baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin spice then stir in flour and chocolate chips.
Spread the batter in the baking dish then top with a few more chocolate chips, if you’d like. Bake until set and puffed around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes.
Cool completely then cut into squares.

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Pumpkin Pizza Rolls

10/19/2020

Pizza lovers rejoice! Pumpkin purée, cheese, and pizza dough combine to make a delicious and super kid-friendly way to enjoy pumpkin. You can make your own pizza dough with more pumpkin purée mixed right in or use store-bought pizza dough for a quicker option. Either way, it’s a great recipe to get kids into the kitchen and explore this orange veggie.

Happy Kids Kitchen developed this recipe for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

You can watch Monica Irwin, from Veggie Buds Club, make this tasty savory treat on Twin Cities Live! She chats with the hosts about fun ways to get your kids involved.

Pumpkin Pizza Rolls

Pumpkin Pizza Rolls

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Pizza lovers rejoice! Pumpkin purée, cheese, and pizza dough combine to make a delicious and super kid-friendly way to enjoy pumpkin.

Ingredients

1 recipe of homemade pumpkin pizza dough (recipe below) or 1 package of pre-made pizza dough (about 1 pound)
6 tablespoons pumpkin purée (canned or homemade)
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup baby spinach, chopped (optional)
1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a round or square baking pan with parchment or grease well with oil.
Roll pizza dough out as thin as possible making a large rectangle measuring about 15-by-12 inches. If using a ball of store bought pizza dough, it may take some time to get the dough rolled thin.
In a small bowl, mix pumpkin purée, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and salt. Spread pumpkin mixture evenly across the pizza dough rectangle, leaving a small border around the edges.
If using spinach, sprinkle evenly over the pumpkin layer then add a layer of shredded mozzarella.
Starting with the longer side, roll the dough into a log. Cut into 12 equal rounds then place them in the prepared pan. Bake until cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

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Homemade Pumpkin Pizza Dough

Homemade Pumpkin Pizza Dough

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 15 Min

Enjoy this homemade pizza dough with pumpkin purée mixed right in!

Ingredients

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup pumpkin purée (canned or homemade)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Instructions

Add flours, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl or the bowl of a food processor. Mix to combine.
Add the pumpkin in a 1 cup liquid measuring cup then add enough water to make 1 cup of pumpkin and water mixed. Add pumpkin mixture, olive oil, and honey to the bowl/food processor and mix until no dry flour remains. If dough is too dry, add another tablespoon of water at a time. Remove dough and knead on the counter to get a uniform ball of dough. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes before using.

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Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.

Kale and Zucchini Egg Cups

9/16/2020

These kale and zucchini egg cups are super easy to make and pack a veggie punch. They're a great breakfast to have on hand to get food in your belly and your children's bellies quick!

This recipe was created by Eat Pretty Darling for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

Have your child rip the kale leaves up into small pieces! This is a very tactile and super fun way for them to interact with kale before they try them baked in the egg cups.

Kale and Zucchini Egg Cups

Kale and Zucchini Egg Cups

Yield: 4-6

Author: Eat Pretty Darling

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 30 Min

These kale and zucchini egg cups are super easy to make and pack a veggie punch. They're a great breakfast to have on hand to get food in your belly and your children's bellies quick!

Ingredients

1 cup shredded zucchini, squeeze moisture out
1 large kale leaf, stem removed and chopped finely
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk (cow or plant)
1/2 cup flour (any type)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until fully incorporated.
Line a muffin tin with silicone liners or spray oil so they won’t stick. Pour egg mixture into liners until three quarters full. Bake for 24-26 or until eggs are cooked and set.
Serve immediately or store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.

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Chive and Cheddar Drop Biscuits

4/3/2020

Kids love biscuits so these Chive and Cheddar Drop Biscuits are sure to be a family hit!

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

Drop biscuits are so simple to make and a great recipe for your child to help you with. Have your child use safety scissors to snip the chives (adult assistance may be required) and let them get messy during step #3 when they mix the batter with their hands! Finally, they can top each biscuit with the shredded cheese.

Chive and Cheddar Drop Biscuits

Chive and Cheddar Drop Biscuits

Author: Veggie Buds Club

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Kids love biscuits so these Chive and Cheddar Drop Biscuits are sure to be a family hit!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon fine salt
1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
3/4 cup whole milk or milk of choice
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease the baking sheet.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and chopped chives.
Add the cold butter to the dry ingredients and use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour until it resembles a coarse meal.
Add the milk and stir with a fork until the mixture just comes together into a fairly sticky dough.
Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to drop balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
Sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese on the top of each biscuit.
Bake biscuits until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes.

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20 Veggie-Packed Breakfast Recipes

1/30/2020

Breakfast is an important meal that gives you energy to get the day started. But often a major food group is missing from your breakfast plate or bowl... veggies!

We have compiled some of our favorite veggie-packed breakfasts into 3 categories: Savory, Baked Goods, and Smoothies. Each recipe below includes veggies, is delicious, and is simple to make!

Savory Veggie-Packed Breakfast Ideas

Sweet Potato Quiche: This tasty quiche is packed with veggies and bacon (optional) and swaps the standard crust with shredded sweet potato instead for an extra veggie boost.
Savory Corn Pancakes: These savory pancakes are great with avocado or spread with a little cream cheese and made into sandwiches. Yum!
Sweet Potato Toasts: These sweet potato toasts are so versatile because they are delicious both sweet and savory. That’s what makes them the perfect toast substitute!
Rainbow Fried Rice: This rainbow fried rice from Happy Kids Kitchen is colorful, easy, healthy, and delicious for breakfast!
Vegetable Frittata: Healthy Little Foodies has a great kid-approved and veggie-packed frittata recipe, make it ahead and reheat in the morning.
Cheesy Cauliflower Egg Muffins: Be sure to let your kiddos know that their yummy egg muffins have some "hidden" cauliflower inside!
5-Ingredient Bacon & Broccoli Egg Cups: These are a great grab-and-go breakfast option from The Natural Nurturer.
Carrot Banana Protein Oatmeal: This oatmeal from The Natural Nurturer is full of nothing but the good stuff and is super easy to make!
Veggie Oatmeal: Happy Healthy Casa has some great options for veggie-packed oatmeal including how to incorporate zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, squash, sweet potato, and spinach!

Veggie-Packed Breakfast Baked Goods

Carrot Cake Muffin Tops: The top of the muffin is the best part, right? These wholesome treats are a combination of a tender muffin and an oatmeal breakfast cookie.
One-Bowl Sweet Potato Pancakes: These pancakes from are a great way to add some extra nutrients into your morning!
No-Bake Pumpkin Energy Balls: These no-bake pumpkin energy balls from are tasty, and they freeze well so they're a perfect on-the-go breakfast or snack for your kiddos.
Green French Toast Sticks: Enjoy this delicious kid-friendly way to "sneak" in some spinach! Little chefs will know that greens are in this fun breakfast, but they sure won't be able to taste them.
Outrageous Orange Granola: This granola is packed with pumpkin, sweet potato, and carrots- so much orange veggie goodness!
Sweet Spinach Muffins: These kid-favorite muffins from Super Healthy Kids are 100% whole wheat, refined-sugar-free, and packed with fresh spinach!
Banana Spinach Pancake Pizza: This pancake pizza from The Natural Nurturer is a perfectly delicious way to serve up veggies for breakfast! Sweetened entirely with fruit and loaded with spinach.

Veggie-Packed Breakfast Smoothies

Tropical Carrot Smoothie: Your kids are sure to love this tropical vacation in a glass! Kids will love measuring and adding ingredients to the blender, helping to chop the carrot, and pressing the buttons on the blender.
Spinach Superhero Smoothie: This recipe is called "superhero smoothie" because just as superheroes in stories fight crime, the spinach in this smoothie helps fight off illness!
Ants on a Log Smoothie: Adding celery to a smoothie with the addition of peanut butter in a tasty protein-and-veggie packed breakfast!
Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie: This smoothie from The Natural Nurturer is made with strawberry, banana, red bell pepper and is the perfect way to start your day!
Cauliflower Strawberry Banana Smoothie: Just 4 ingredients! Enjoy this simple and delicious smoothie from Live Eat Learn.

Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.

Double Chocolate Spinach Brownies

1/9/2020

These chocolate treats are so yummy no one will know they are packed with protein, fiber, and nutrients from black beans and spinach!

This recipe was developed by Happy Kids Kitchen for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

Even though you can’t taste the spinach it is really important that your child helps make this recipe so you aren’t hiding the veggies. Maybe making brownies with spinach will entice your little one to try spinach in other ways?!

Double Chocolate Spinach Brownies

Double Chocolate Spinach Brownies

Yield: Makes 9 brownies

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 30 Min

These chocolate treats are so yummy no one will know they are packed with protein, fiber, and nutrients from black beans and spinach!

Ingredients

1 can black beans (15 oz.), rinsed and drained well
2 cups baby spinach
2 large eggs or flax “eggs”
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 cup coconut sugar or other granulated sweetener
1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons quick oats or 1/4 cup flour (any kind)
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, divided

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
Add all ingredients to a food processor, reserving half of the chocolate chips for the top. Blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated then blend again if necessary.
Spread batter into the prepared baking pan then sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top. Bake until set, about 25 minutes. Cool then cut into squares.

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Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.

Beet Chocolate Baked Donuts

11/3/2019

Chocolate and beets together might sound a little strange at first, but the naturally earthy flavor of beets matches really well with rich, sweet chocolate. Don’t have a donut pan? You can cook the batter in a regular or mini muffin pan to make donut muffins.

This recipe was developed by Happy Kids Kitchen for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

This is the perfect recipe to make with both beet skeptics and beet lovers because what child (or adult) doesn’t get excited by donuts, right? Make sure to get all the ingredients out and ready to go (even measure some ahead for younger children) so you can have more fun and less mess baking up some donuts together!

Beet Chocolate Baked Donuts

Beet Chocolate Baked Donuts

Yield: Makes 12 large donuts

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 30 Min

This is the perfect recipe to make with both beet skeptics and beet lovers because what child (or adult) doesn’t get excited by donuts, right? Chocolate and beets together might sound a little strange at first, but the naturally earthy flavor of beets matches really well with rich, sweet chocolate!

Ingredients

Donuts

1 cup beet purée*
2 large eggs**
1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
1/3 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil
1/4 cup milk (any kind)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups whole wheat, all-purpose or gluten-free flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Optional Glaze

1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon coconut or vegetable oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 12-hole donut pan or muffin tin.
In a large bowl, whisk together beet purée, eggs, maple syrup, melted butter, milk, and vanilla.
In another bowl, whisk cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined.
Scoop batter into a large resealable plastic bag or reusable piping bag. Snip off the corner of the bag and pipe batter into prepared pan, filling the holes 2/3 of the way full.
Bake until donuts are puffed up and dry to the touch, about 15 minutes. Cool completely before removing donuts from the pan.
To make glaze, melt chocolate chips then stir in the oil. Drizzle donuts with melted chocolate. Set aside or chill until chocolate hardens. Keep donuts in an air-tight container on the counter for 2 days or in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Notes:

*Make beet purée by blending 8 to 9 ounces of cooked, peeled beets, about 3 to 4 medium-sized beets.

**Substitute 2 tablespoons ground flax seed mixed with 5 tablespoons water for an egg-free version.

Did you make this recipe?

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Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.

Carrot Cake Muffin Tops

5/17/2019

The top of the muffin is the best part, right?! These wholesome treats are a combination of a tender muffin and an oatmeal breakfast cookie. We love them for breakfast or a snack at my house, and this carrot cake version is a must try. The muffin tops are great as is but sometimes I also like to mix in a 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts and a 1/4 cup of raisins to make them extra special.

This recipe was developed by Happy Kids Kitchen for Veggie Buds Club.

"Learn to Love Veggies" Tip

Get your kids in the kitchen! Have your little chef help grate the carrot, measure the ingredients, and mix everything together in a big bowl.

Carrot Cake Muffin Tops

Carrot Cake Muffin Tops

Yield: 8-10 large muffin tops

Author: Happy Kids Kitchen

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 22 Min

The top of the muffin is the best part, right?! These wholesome treats are a combination of a tender muffin and an oatmeal breakfast cookie. Eat them for breakfast or a snack anytime of the day!

Ingredients

1 medium carrot, peeled and end trimmed
1 ripe banana, mashed or 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs*
3 tablespoons neutral oil
3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
3/4 cup almond flour, oat flour, or whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fine salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil.
Shred carrot on the smaller holes of a box grater until you get 3/4 cup grated carrot. Add the carrot to a large bowl along with the mashed banana (or applesauce), eggs, oil, maple syrup, orange juice, and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
Add the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until all ingredients are combined. Stir in nuts and raisins, if using.
Scoop batter onto the prepared pan using a large cookie scoop or 1/4 cup measuring cup. Flatten the tops of each mound slightly with the back of the scoop or cup.
Bake muffin tops until cooked through and golden brown around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Store cooled muffin tops in a container at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Notes:

*For an egg-free version, use 2 tablespoons ground flax seed mixed with 6 tablespoons of water.

Did you make this recipe?

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Check out our shop for products that teach kids to learn to love veggies! This includes veggie activity boxes, kid-safe knives, interactive placemats, and more.