Fall Family Recipes and Resources for Denver Families

As the weather turns colder and the hours after preschool become harder to fill, fall is the perfect time to cook up some fun fall family recipes. From counting skills to self-expression and fine motor skills, the benefits of cooking with kids are notable. Denver Preschool Program gathered some of our favorite fall family recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Partner with your little chef and experiment with some easy and cozy fall family recipes.

Fall Family Breakfast Recipes

Pumpkin Pancakes — From The Pioneer Woman (home for all things cozy comfort food) 

• As recipes go, pancakes check all of the boxes — batter to mix, variable and customizable ingredients, and, of course, mastering the flip (with supervision). Start with this basic pumpkin batter that includes pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. Then mix in any favorites or top them with festive fall sprinkles.
  

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal — From Yummy Toddler Food (a great source for kid-friendly meals) 

• Oatmeal is a cold-weather standby for ensuring kids have full bellies and a nutritious start to the day. Just like pancakes, oatmeal can be adapted with different flavors for any family. With this recipe (made from only six common household ingredients), preschoolers can measure the oats, stir the apples, and make it their own with their favorite toppings like nuts, fruits, or different spices.

Fall Family Main Courses for Lunch or Dinner

Mac & Cheese with Butternut Squash —From Joy Food Sunshine (recipes from a mom of 6)  

• Adding butternut squash is a classic way to give this year-round staple a nutritional twist. Save time with frozen butternut squash. Let your kids pick out a fun pasta shape (like the wagon wheel featured in the recipe). Increase the veggie content with additions like edamame, peas, or broccoli. 

Garlic Bread-Topped Chicken Pot Pie — From Delish (an online library of recipes)

• Chicken pot pie is a great combination of onions, herbs, and delicious broth–all of which make your house smell delicious. While adults may want to do the chopping, let  kids combine ingredients for the filling and top the pie with the garlic bread squares. The beauty of chicken pot pie is that everything goes in together. Plus, nothing needs to be perfect because it always tastes amazing right out of the oven.

Fall Family Dessert Recipes

4-Ingredient Apple Crumble — From Allrecipes (a one-stop hub for all things food) 

• This kid-friendly crumble uses just apples, brown sugar, flour, butter, and cinnamon (optional). Kids can help mix the crumble topping and pour it into dishes. Preschoolers and little ones may also enjoy topping this fall apple recipe with ice cream, fruit, or more adventurous additions like  coconut, flax seeds, or sprinkles.  

2-Ingredient Pumpkin Doughnut Holes — From Radish (a kid’s cooking club and meal kit service)

• Radish’s visual recipes offer easy steps for different types of learners as well as the extra education tied to each recipe. Did you know that donuts have been around since the prehistoric era? This recipe is adaptable, easy, and involves dunking so it’s sure to be a winner.

Family Resources for Young Chefs

If your child loves being in the kitchen, and you’d like to start to teach some real cooking skills, check out these online resources and cookbooks.

• ChopChop Family is a nonprofit organization that is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organization is  focused on helping  families develop cooking and nutrition skills together. ChopChop recipes are a more advanced version of family classics that help foster basic knife skills. They include recipes with longer prep time, allowing for more practice (and patience).
• The America’s Test Kitchen Preschool Chef’s Club recipes found online are perfect for young ages. If your preschooler shows interest in elevating their skillsat home as they grow, this cookbook is geared toward ages 8-13 who are interested in cooking from scratch. Just like the adult versions of America’s Test Kitchen recipes, all of these have been tested, but this time, only by kid chefs.

For more fall family activities and adventure ideas, subscribe to DPP’s bilingual monthly newsletter, Family Dispatch. Sign up today!