Pumpkin Recipes for Kids (and Babies too!)
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Which Pumpkin Recipes for Kids will you try this fall?
Tasty, healthy and brimming with both nutrients and fall flavors? ‘Tis the season for pumpkin recipes for kids! These delicious, health-promoting, super easy treats are reminiscent of autumn, great during baby-led weaning, and the perfect kid-friendly pumpkin recipes to make and share with babies, toddlers and kids.
Many people assume pumpkins are a vegetable. Did you know that pumpkins are technically a fruit?
Pumpkins are also rich in fiber as well as beta carotene, which gives pumpkins their beautiful orange fall color and gets converted into vitamin A inside the human body.
Creamy when cooked and blended, pumpkin puree pairs beautifully with warm autumn spices in everything from muffins to quick breads to baby food to energy balls to “nice cream” to smoothies, pastas, sheet pan dinners, and pancakes.
Cooking pumpkin from scratch is great, but if you don’t have the bandwidth, canned is also fantastic. Top tips when shopping for pumpkin puree: look for BPA-free cans and be sure to choose 100% pure pumpkin* rather than pumpkin pie filling, which is often loaded in added sugars.
Scroll below to check out my recipe round-up of fall-themed pumpkin recipes for babies and toddlers from some of my favorite registered dietitians and see which lunch, dinner, breakfast or snack options appeal to you.
I will be toasting you and your littles with my Pumpkin Spice Latte throughout the month of October!
On another note, if you’re struggling with picky eating behaviors in your toddlers and kids these days, keep in mind that an exposure to a new food doesn’t have to mean eating it! Just seeing, touching, playing with, licking, or smelling a food also count as food exposures that when repeated over time, increase the likelihood that a child will accept that food.
If you're interested in learning more about picky eating, picky eating support, and tools to overcome picky eating, check out this blog post.
Pumpkin Recipes for Babies
Packed with pumpkin and bursting with nutrients, these cookies are easy to make and include 5 different allergens. Omit the chocolate chips if serving to an infant (without the chocolate chips, these cookies have no added sugar). From my new cookbook, Safe & Simple Food Allergy Prevention: A Baby-Led Feeding Guide to Starting Solids & Introducing Top Allergens.
These Easy Pumpkin Pancakes are great for babies during baby-led weaning, but my girls and I love and eat them all the time as well. One of my favorite mom-hacks is to batch cook pumpkin pancakes on the weekends and freeze the extra for easy, portable baby meals that you can take with you, on-the-go.
Fans of pumpkin spice will love this easy-to-make, no-added-sugar pudding that is subtly tart and sweet and loaded with vitamins, fiber, and probiotics. For a dairy-free version, swap out the dairy yogurt for vanilla coconut or soy yogurt. For a more robust, peanut-like flavor, add an additional tablespoon of peanut butter. You can also add pumpkin seed or almond butter. From the cookbook, Safe and Simple Food Allergy Prevention: A Baby-Led Feeding Guide to Starting Solids and Introducing Top Allergens With 80 Family Friendly Recipes, by Malina Malkani, MS, RDN, CDN.
“Looking to use up that extra pumpkin? These Pumpkin Cinnamon French Toast Sticks make a quick, healthy and balanced breakfast or snack for the whole family! Especially great for baby-led weaning, as a finger food for toddlers or an easy kid-friendly breakfast!” Recipe by registered dietitian, Elysia of Haute Healthy Living.
“This Healthy Pumpkin Pasta is just as easy as making a box of mac and cheese, but packs in a lot more nutrients, and more protein, too!” Created by registered dietitian, Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN, LD of Mama Knows Nutrition.
I wish I could bottle up the cozy scent that fills my kitchen whenever I bake these warming, baby-friendly pumpkin muffins! Sweetened only with fruit, they contain no added sugar or salt and are rich in beta-carotene, a nutrient that supports baby’s developing eyesight and immune system as well as overall growth. The blend of spices is a great way to introduce some flavor, and the texture is soft and moist - perfect for our littlest eaters!
“This tasty pumpkin spice nice cream will satisfy your pumpkin spice cravings with no sugar added! This "nice cream" recipe uses bananas for sweetness and creaminess, making it the perfect option for dairy-free diets. Learn how to make this pumpkin nice cream recipe with both canned pumpkin and with fresh pumpkin. You'll love this vegan pumpkin soft serve frozen treat!.” Created by registered dietitian, Summer Yule. Great for babies and toddlers, alike!
These Pumpkin Cookies for Babies are nutrient-dense, brimming with beta-carotene, soft in texture, perfect for baby-led weaning, and full of fall flavors. Safe for babies from the age of 6 months who are showing the signs of readiness for solid foods.
“I wasn't really sure what to call this dish. We had a lot of this leftover pumpkin soup and I wanted to serve something different but that utilized the soup. My toddler tends to not be so interested in having the same meal two days in a row and I love to repurpose meals. At any rate, my husband came up with this idea. Very easy, filled with veggies and modifiable based on what you have at home!” Created by registered dietitian, Rachel Rothman of Nutrition in Bloom.
Pumpkin Recipes for Toddlers
Perfect for the fall, these Pumpkin Molasses Muffins are a great grab-and-go treat for breakfast or an easy snack to grab on your coffee break. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the autumn flavors of pumpkin and molasses in this family-friendly recipe!
“Fall is in the air, and that means pumpkin season is officially upon us! This easy pumpkin pie oatmeal recipe is a healthy and delicious way to enjoy pumpkin pie flavors. It’s perfect for a quick breakfast or snack on the go. Give it a try today!” Created by registered dietitian, Melissa E. Nieves, LND, RD, MPH of Fad Free Nutrition Blog.
“My love of pumpkin is why I decided to play around this morning and bring you this pumpkin pie in a glass! While the pumpkin spice smoothie is perfect for Fall, it’s also a delicious treat anytime of the year.” Created by Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, of Plant Based with Amy.
“A nut-free, gluten-free, pumpkin-packed breakfast or snack, these baked oatmeal bars are a staple in our house. Dairy-free if you use non-dairy milk and substitute oil for the butter. Kid and toddler approved!” Recipe by Kacie Barnes of Mama Knows Nutrition.
“Pumpkin no bake cookies are quick, easy and delicious, made with only 8 ingredients and can be vegan, dairy and gluten free!” Recipe by Sarah Schlichter of Bucket List Tummy.
This kid-approved Autumn Pumpkin Bread is packed with cozy spices and loads of pumpkin flavor. It’s also quick and easy to make with minimal clean-up. Lower in added sugar and more nutrient-rich than most pumpkin breads, this on-the-go snack or healthy fall breakfast is a hit in my home, every time September rolls around.
“Add the word “pie” and suddenly yogurt becomes a new exciting treat, and this Pumpkin Pie Yogurt will not disappoint! If your little one was delighted by their first taste of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, like mine was, or they just light up at the sound of a treat, you need to give this easy recipe a try! It might just become a staple like it has for us.” Created by Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN, LD, of Mama Knows Nutrition.
“Pumpkin zucchini muffins are perfect for fall, and a healthy muffin recipe for babies, toddlers and adults! Even if you don’t follow a dairy free diet, you’ll be amazed at how good these dairy free pumpkin muffins taste. Perfect for the fall season!” Recipe by Sarah Schlichter of Bucket List Tummy.
“These pumpkin protein balls are delicious no-bake treats, contain NO PROTEIN POWDER, and come together in 5 minutes. This easy recipe is a fantastic snack or dessert to improve your heart health.” Recipe created by Veronica Rouse, MAN, RD, CDE, of The Heart Dietitian.
“These pumpkin cookie dough bites are filled with oats, flax seed, pumpkin puree, honey or maple syrup and dark chocolate chips. They're absolutely delicious, nutritious AND filling, which is what makes a delightful snack.” Created by Julie of The Healthy Epicurean.
Made with Cannellini beans, quick oats, and the option to substitute pumpkin for sweet potato, these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are a fun and festive vegan twist on traditional brownies.
“Yes! It's pumpkin time and this is a recipe for nutrition-packed Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Muffins. You can't miss the marketing of pumpkin-flavored foods and beverages everywhere you go starting after Labor Day and continuing through Thanksgiving.” Created by Colleen Wysocki-Woods, MS, RDN of Zest.
If you’re interested in learning more about how and when to integrate foods into your baby's diet, as well as reducing the risk of food allergies for your baby, check out my new baby-led feeding cookbook!
It helps reduce the risk of developing food allergy during infant feeding and makes starting solids easy, joyful, and delicious for the baby and the entire family as well.
You may also want to download my FREE Baby-Led Feeding Essential Checklist to make sure you have everything you need to get started. Or check out my online BLW course for parents if you prefer to learn via video—it walks you through the whole process of starting solids using a baby-led approach.
Happy feeding!