The Fitness and Wellness Center's Blog

2 Tasty Valentine’s Day Treats for Kids

By: LECOM Staff

February 11, 2019, 11:00 am - Categories: News

Lower Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS
-1/4 cup butter, softened at room temperature
-1/3 cup packed brown sugar
-1/3 cup granulated sugar
-1 teaspoon cinnamon
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/8 teaspoon salt
-1 egg
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
-3/4 cup rolled oats
-1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
-1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
-1/2 cup snipped dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins

INSTRUCTIONS
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugars, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt and beat until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
-Beat in egg and vanilla to combine.
-Beat in flour.
-Stir in oats, coconut, chocolate chips, and dried fruit.
-Scoop out teaspoon-size balls and place onto a baking sheet two inches apart. Press down slightly.
-Bake about 10 minutes or just until edges are set. Cool on pan for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Lower Sugar Vanilla Cupcakes with Dye-free Frosting

These lightly sweetened cupcakes with slightly pink frosting are perfect for a Valentine’s Day treat.

INGREDIENTS
-1/4 cup butter, softened at room temperature
-1/4-1/3 cup sugar
-1/4 cup sour cream
-1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-2 eggs
-1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-1 recipe Raspberry Frosting
-raspberries
INSTRUCTIONS
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
-Cream the butter and the sugar with a handheld mixer until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Add in the sour cream, milk, vanilla, and eggs and beat to combine. Add the baking powder, salt, and flour, and mix until just combined. Stir with a spatula to make sure all of the dry ingredients are combined thoroughly.
-Spoon into paper liners, filling each cup about halfway. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until just golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.
-Mash 1/2 cup raspberries in a small bowl with a fork. Spoon into a fine mesh colander and press and scrape through the wire to release the juices into a small bowl. Discard the seeds. You should have about 1/4 cup smooth raspberry puree. Set aside.
-Beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup sour cream, and 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup with an electric mixer in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add additional sweetener if necessary.
-Beat in raspberry puree.
-Spread or pipe (I use a zip-top plastic bag with one corner cut off as a piping bag) onto cupcakes. Garnish with a raspberry on each if desired.

Reference
Palanjian, Amy. 2018. 10 YUMMY AND HEALTHY VALENTINE’S DAY TREATS FOR KIDS. February 5. Accessed January 2019, 2019. https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/recipes/holiday/valentines-day-treats/.