The holidays are a time for family, fun, and delicious treats! What better way to celebrate than by making kid-friendly recipes that highlight the best of Oregon’s local ingredients? From the state’s famous marionberries to rich hazelnuts and creamy Tillamook dairy products, these recipes are packed with flavors kids will love. Plus, they’re easy to prepare and include steps designed to get little hands involved in the kitchen.

Whether you’re baking cookies, crafting festive barks, or blending smoothies, these holiday treats bring the whole family together for culinary fun. Gather your ingredients, don your aprons, and get ready to create delicious memories this holiday season!

1. Marionberry Jam Sandwich Cookies

Instructions:

  1. Mixing the Dough: Cream butter and sugar in a bowl. Add the egg and vanilla, then slowly mix in the flour until dough forms.
    • Kids Can Help: Measure ingredients and mix the dough with a wooden spoon.
  2. Rolling & Cutting: Roll out dough on a floured surface and use fun-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies.
    • Kids Can Help: Choose cookie cutter shapes and press them into the dough.
  3. Baking: Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely.
  4. Assembling: Spread marionberry jam on one cookie, then sandwich another on top.

2. Hazelnut Chocolate Bark

Instructions:

  1. Melt Chocolate: Use a microwave or double boiler to melt the chocolate.
    • Kids Can Help: Stir the melting chocolate (under supervision).
  2. Assemble the Bark: Spread melted chocolate on parchment paper. Sprinkle hazelnuts evenly.
    • Kids Can Help: Sprinkle hazelnuts or drizzle melted white chocolate for decoration.
  3. Cool & Break: Chill in the fridge until hardened, then break into pieces.

3. Cranberry-Orange Mini Muffins

Instructions:

  1. Mix Batter: Combine dry ingredients (flour and sugar) in one bowl and wet ingredients (butter, orange juice, egg) in another. Gradually combine the two. Fold in cranberries.
    • Kids Can Help: Measure and mix ingredients, fold in cranberries.
  2. Fill Tins: Spoon batter into mini muffin tins lined with paper liners.
    • Kids Can Help: Use spoons or scoops to fill muffin tins.
  3. Bake: Bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes.

4. DIY Peppermint Bark with Candy Cane Fun

Instructions:

  1. Melt Chocolate: Melt dark chocolate, spread onto a baking sheet, and cool. Repeat with white chocolate, adding peppermint oil.
    • Kids Can Help: Stir the chocolate and spread it.
  2. Decorate: Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top before the chocolate sets.
    • Kids Can Help: Crush candy canes in a bag and sprinkle them on.
  3. Cool & Break: Let it harden in the fridge, then break into pieces.

5. Hazelnut Hot Cocoa with Marshmallow Fun

Instructions:

  1. Prepare Cocoa: Heat milk in a saucepan and whisk in cocoa powder, sugar, and hazelnut butter until smooth.
    • Kids Can Help: Stir the cocoa as it heats.
  2. Serve: Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream.
    • Kids Can Help: Add marshmallows and decorate with sprinkles.

6. Berry-Loaded Yogurt Pops

Instructions:

  1. Blend Ingredients: Blend berries, yogurt, and honey until smooth.
    • Kids Can Help: Push buttons on the blender (with supervision).
  2. Fill Molds: Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze.
    • Kids Can Help: Pour or spoon the mixture into molds and insert sticks.

7. Cheddar Cheese Crackers

Instructions:

  1. Mix Dough: Combine shredded cheddar, butter, flour, and salt into a dough.
    • Kids Can Help: Mix and knead the dough with clean hands.
  2. Roll & Cut: Roll out dough and use cookie cutters for fun shapes.
    • Kids Can Help: Choose shapes and cut the dough.
  3. Bake: Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes.

8. Festive Fruit Pizza

Instructions:

  1. Bake Cookie Base: Roll out sugar cookie dough into a large round and bake per package instructions. Let cool.
    • Kids Can Help: Pat the dough into a circle on a baking sheet.
  2. Mix & Spread Topping: Mix softened cream cheese and powdered sugar, then spread on the cooled cookie.
    • Kids Can Help: Stir and spread the cream cheese mixture.
  3. Decorate: Arrange fresh fruit like marionberries, strawberries, and kiwi slices on top.
    • Kids Can Help: Create fun fruit patterns or faces.

9. Cinnamon Sugar Hazelnut Popcorn

Instructions:

  1. Pop Corn: Pop popcorn and place in a large bowl. Add chopped hazelnuts.
    • Kids Can Help: Watch the popcorn pop and count kernels.
  2. Add Flavor: Drizzle melted butter over the popcorn, then toss with sugar and cinnamon.
    • Kids Can Help: Toss the popcorn in the seasoning mix.
  3. Bake: Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 10 minutes.

10. Marionberry Smoothie

Instructions:

  1. Blend Ingredients: Combine marionberries, banana, yogurt, and milk or juice in a blender. Blend until smooth.
    • Kids Can Help: Add ingredients to the blender and press the buttons.
  2. Serve: Pour into glasses and serve with straws.
    • Kids Can Help: Decorate glasses with fun straws or add a berry garnish.