3 Delicious Fall Treats to Make With Your Kids on a Budget

From Everything Finance

3 Delicious Fall Treats to Make With Your Kids on a Budget is a post originally published on: Everything Finance – Everything Finance – Its all about Money!

I can’t believe the fall is here already! Where did this year go, anyway? As crazy as this year has been, I have actually been looking forward to this season with my kids. Fall is my favorite time of year. And not just because of the holidays right around the corner. I love the leaves changing and the weather finally starting to cool down, especially here in the South. With the changing season, comes some of my favorite fall treats to make with the kids. As with everything we make together, we do it on a budget also. So we can eat some delicious fall treats and not kill our wallet either.

1. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

If your kids are anything like mine, they love to have some warm fall drinks during this time of year. In fact, every time we do a movie night (or day) they request these. As an adult, I add coffee to mine because I prefer it that way. But they don’t need all that caffeine, so making theirs without the coffee works just fine. And it costs less too!

You don’t need a lot of ingredients for this recipe, but you can add more if you want to get fancier with it. All you need is:

• 6 oz Water = FREE
• 6 tsp Sipping Chocolate = $.32
• 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice = $.51
• 1/4 C Coconut Milk = $.35
• Dollop of Whipped Cream = $.12

TOTAL = $1.30 per cup

This recipe is extremely quick and easy to make, which makes my life so much easier. All you have to do is boil water in a tea kettle. While the water is boiling, add the sipping chocolate to each cup along with the pumpkin pie spice. After the water reaches a boil, pour into each cup, stirring the entire time to break up any clumps. Add coconut milk and continue stirring.

If you want to get really fancy, you can top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin pie spice. So much better for you and much more cost effective than getting one of these fancy drinks out somewhere. Which is why this one tops our list of delicious fall treats on a budget!

2. Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are something I have been making since I was young. When I was diagnosed with Celiac at the age of 6, my mother had to try and figure out some cookie options for me. This was in a time where gluten-free wasn’t a widely known term. So, she found an old flourless peanut butter cookie recipe and tweaked it. I have changed it a little bit over the years as I have found a better consistency. This recipe is not only gluten-free, but delicious, really easy to make, and very budget-friendly.

All you need for this recipe is:

• 16 oz Organic Peanut Butter – $2.12
• 1 C Cane Sugar – $.96
• 2 Egg Whites – $.40
• 2 oz Dark Chocolate Chips – $.26

TOTAL = $3.74 (24 cookies) or $.16 per cookie

These are extremely easy to make. All you have to do is throw everything in a bowl (except the chocolate chips) and mix on medium until batter is consistent. It will be thick because you need to hand roll each ball and drop it onto a cookie sheet. Next, have one of your children come behind you and create a cross fork pattern on top of each cookie to smash them down.

The next step is my kids’ favorite part of making this recipe. They get to decorate the top of each cookie in whatever design they want with the chocolate chips. This gets to be really fun because you never know what your kids will come up with next.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes before trying one. They are so delicious when they come out of the oven, that I have a hard time stopping myself from eating more than one!

3. Pumpkin Avocado Chocolate Pudding

Pumpkin Avocado Chocolate Pudding is a new fall favorite of mine. Not only is it easy to make, but it is packed with powerhouse nutrients also. Things such as:

• Antioxidants
• Fiber
• Magnesium
• Omega 3
• Protein
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C

Because of the short ingredient list, you can get away with spending very little on this delicious dessert. And if you reduce the chocolate and sweetener in this fall treat, it could even be a breakfast food. Either way, the only ingredients you need for this recipe are:

• 2 Ripe Avocados – $2.68
• 1/2 C Pumpkin Puree – $.59
• 1/2 C Cocoa Powder – $1.77
• 1/2 C Coconut Milk – $.70
• 8 Dates (softened) – $1.83
• 2 t Pumpkin Pie Spice (or any other spices you prefer) – $1.03

TOTAL = $8.60 (4 servings) or $2.15 per serving

If this recipe isn’t sweet enough for you, then you could add some natural sweetener such as maple syrup or agave. But, I find it to be sweet enough as it is with the dates and the pumpkin. Plus, we usually use vanilla coconut milk which is a bit sweeter naturally, so that is another option.

All you have to do is throw everything in a Vitamix or blender and blend until the mixture is smooth. Then portion out into individual containers and refrigerate for at least an hour to set. If you want to get really festive, you could top it with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds. This is becoming one of my all time favorite delicious fall treats!

These are some budget-friendly delicious fall treats to make with your kids this year!
Click To Tweet

Overall, there are so many delicious ways you can celebrate fall on a budget with your kids. But, we love to make fall treats to celebrate since we reserve these for only that season usually. Our favorite fall treats to make are:

1. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
2. Peanut Butter Cookies
3. Pumpkin Avocado Chocolate Pudding

Of course, the possibilities could potentially be endless with pumpkin options during this season. So, get creative with your delicious fall treats. And make sure to have a lot of family fun together while you are creating.

What are some of your favorite delicious fall treats to make with your kids on a budget?

3 Delicious Fall Treats to Make With Your Kids on a Budget is a post originally published on: Everything Finance – Everything Finance – Its all about Money!

This post was published on Everything Finance