We've got you covered this Christmas with some top recipes that are great and fun for all the family.
We've been chatting to children's dietitian Angharad Banner to provide you with the best child-friendly recipes for the festive season.
Getting your child involved at mealtimes is great for their development. Whether you're chatting to them at the table or letting them help with the preparation, enjoying food together can help boost their confidence, their language skills and hand-eye coordination.
The four recipes below range from savoury to sweet, so hopefully you can find something that the whole family can enjoy together.
How to make Pizza Stockings
A fun, festive meal for little one's aged 9-12 months and above!
This recipe makes 10 pizza stockings, which you can top with a variety of vegetables depending on what your child enjoys.
The yoghurt and cheese are excellent sources of calcium, which is great for growing their bones and teeth. The dough is lovely & soft and works just as well with dairy-free yoghurt if you would prefer to use that.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can use large cookie cutters. I made a Christmas tree pizza and used the sweetcorn as the baubles - my kids loved it!
You will need:
- 250ml natural yogurt
- 250g plain flour
- 400g tinned chopped tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 tsp mixed herbs / oregano
- 50g cheddar cheese
- Handful sweetcorn / pepper / mushrooms
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 220’C / 200’C fan / Gas Mark 7.
2. Mix the yogurt and flour together to form a dough.
3. Put the tinned tomatoes, puree and herbs into a saucepan and cook on a medium heat to thicken.
4. While the tomatoes are cooking, roll out the dough and cut as shown.
5. Top the pizza stockings with the tomatoes, vegetables and grated cheese.
6. Cook for 20 minutes.
Cheesy Christmas tree twists
This is a quick recipe that has a real wow factor on the Christmas table. It also doesn't take very long to make, so it's a definite win for the whole family, aged 10 months and older.
If you are struggling with lunchtime ideas, then give this savoury dish a go!
It is a delicious sharing dish and your little ones can even use their hands to twist off a "branch", which they will definitely enjoy.
Make the recipe dairy free by using a cheese alternative and checking the ingredients on your pastry.
You will need:
- 125g soft cheese
- 3 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 puff pastry sheets
- 1 tsp oregano / mixed herbs
- 1 egg
- 4 cherry tomatoes
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 200’C / 180’C fan / Gas Mark 6.
2. Mix the soft cheese and puree together.
3. Lay the two pastry sheets on top of each other on a lined baking tray and cut a tree shape through both sheets. Peel the top pastry sheet off and set to one side.
4. Cover the bottom sheet evenly with the cheese mixture and sprinkle over the herbs then put the top pastry sheet back over the bottom half.
5. Score down the middle of the tree then cut strips horizontally through both sheets. These strips will become the "branches". Twist the strip to create the effect.
6. Whisk the egg then brush the beaten egg over the tree. This will help add shine and colour to your final pastry.
7. Bake in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes until golden brown then leave to cool.
8. Cut the cherry tomatoes into quarters and use them as baubles to decorate your tree.
Low sugar shortbread stars
The biscuits are really soft, making them the perfect finger food for little ones who are 9 months or older.
This recipe will make around 30 festive stars and uses a lot less sugar than many other shortbread recipes. Overall it works out at around 3g sugar per star.
You can try different flavours of shortbread by grating some orange or lemon zest in to the flour before mixing with sugar and margarine.
This is a great way to sneak it some added vitamin C too.
You will need:
- 20g raisins
- 300g plain flour
- 200g margarine / butter
- 80g sugar
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 170’C / 150’C fan / Gas Mark 3.
2. Place the raisins in a small bowl and cover with warm water.
3. Put the flour, margarine and sugar in a large bowl and use your hands to mix.
4. Once it starts to look like breadcrumbs continue to mix and it will come together as a dough.
5. Flour the work surface and roll the dough to around ½ inch thick.
6. Use the cookie cutters to cut out pretty stars or other shapes.
7. Drain the raisins and then place one firmly in the centre of each star.
8. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 20 minutes.
Cinnamon apple slices
Looking for a fun weaning snack to lay out on the Christmas dinner table? This festive finger snack can be enjoyed by any babies older than 9 months.
This is a simple recipe using just three ingredients and a traditional Christmas favourite.
I have been making these apple slices since my kids were babies. The smell of cinnamon as the apples are cooking is like a big Christmas kiss.
The apple skin provides fibre and just below the skin is your vitamin C.
This is a great low sugar fruit snack and a delicious finger food that can be enjoyed by everyone.
You will need:
- 20g margarine / butter / dairy free spread
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 apples
Method:
1. Heat the oven to 170’C / 150’C fan / Gas Mark 3.
2. Melt the margarine /butter / dairy free spread in a saucepan or microwave on a low heat and then pour it into a large bowl with the cinnamon and mix.
3. Wash and dry the apples.
4. Slice the apples whole into 1 – 2 mm slices.
5. You can use a small cookie cutter to cut shapes out of the centre of the apple slices if you like.
6. Add the apple slices and shapes to the bowl with the cinnamon mix and stir well until all the apple is coated.
7. Spread the apple evenly on a lined baking sheet and cook for 40 minutes.
8. Leave to cool for 10 minutes.
