Okay, so Thanksgiving is coming up, and you know what that means – time to think about what the little ones are gonna gobble up after the turkey! I was scratching my head about what to make, ’cause, you know, kids can be picky eaters. I didn’t want to do the usual pumpkin pie, though I heard it’s the most popular in the US. I wanted something fun, something that screams “Thanksgiving” but in a kid-friendly way.
So, I started browsing, looking for ideas. I figured I needed at least three or four different desserts because, let’s face it, kids have different tastes. It’s like trying to order one pizza that everyone will like – nearly impossible! Plus, some kids have allergies or don’t eat certain things, so variety is key.
First thing I did? I made these super cute Candy Acorns. They’re so easy, it’s almost silly. I just grabbed some mini Nutter Butters, melted some chocolate chips, and stuck a chocolate chip on one end for the acorn top and a little pretzel stick for the stem. I stuck them on with the melted chocolate, let them cool, and bam! Adorable, edible acorns that the kids went nuts for. They were a huge hit!
- Mini Nutter Butters
- Chocolate chips
- Pretzel sticks
Then, because I’m a big Harry Potter fan, and so are my kids, I whipped up some Pumpkin Juice. It’s not really in the books, but hey, it sounds magical, right? I basically made a smoothie with pumpkin puree, apple cider, some spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and a bit of maple syrup for sweetness. Poured it into some fancy glasses, and the kids felt like they were in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
- Pumpkin puree
- Apple cider
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Maple syrup
Next up, I tackled something a bit more ambitious – a Turkey Cake. I wanted it to be the centerpiece of the dessert table. I baked a simple round cake, any flavor works, and then the fun part started. I used frosting to make it brown, then used different candies to create the turkey’s face and feathers. Think candy corn for the tail feathers, M&Ms for the eyes, and a little red frosting for the wattle. It wasn’t perfect, but it sure was cute, and the kids loved helping me decorate it.
- Round cake (any flavor)
- Brown frosting
- Candy corn
- M&Ms
- Red frosting
The Final Spread
I also made some Pilgrim Hat Cookies. These were another easy win. I took some round cookies, then stuck a large marshmallow on top with some melted chocolate. After that, dipped the whole thing in more melted chocolate and finished with a little yellow frosting buckle. They looked just like those old-timey pilgrim hats. They were not bad.
- Round cookies
- Large marshmallows
- Melted chocolate
- Yellow frosting
In the end, I had a whole spread of fun, Thanksgiving-themed desserts that were a hit with both the kids and the adults. It was a bit of work, but seeing the smiles on their faces made it all worthwhile. Plus, we had a blast making them together, which is what the holidays are all about, right?
