My boys are like eating machines lately. They pack huge lunches, but still come home from school ravenous, searching through the cupboards for something good to fill their tummies. They don’t mind snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables, but they really love baked goods like granola bars, cookies, muffins, and snack cake.
I don’t have much time during the week to bake them homemade snacks, but on the weekend I’ll try to make at least one homemade thing for them to pack in their lunches or eat after school. Sometimes I’ll make a double batch so I can freeze some to enjoy later. This snack cake is a great choice for baking and freezing.
Made with pumpkin puree, bits of fresh apple and ground flax seed, this cake is healthy enough to be called a snack rather than a dessert. It’s like one big muffin cut into squares. You could probably use the batter in muffin tins if you prefer, but I just find it easier to pour it all out into one pan. It takes a little longer to bake that way, but at least it’s less work for me.
The kids were very happy about this snack and eagerly claimed squares to pack in their lunch for the next day. It’s a nice snack for grown-ups, too, and goes really well with a cup of coffee.
But I think it was Ayla who enjoyed it most of all…
She could not get enough of it! It was so cute watching her stuff her face.
What snacks do you like to make for hungry kids?
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
- 6 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 apple, chopped
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
- In another bowl, mix together flours, flax, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in apple.
- Pour into a greased 8 x 8″ baking pan and bake at 350F for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let it sit in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool on a wire rack.
My kids like to whine, especially when it comes to the food they eat, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to make tasty and healthy meals for them. Follow along as I share family-friendly recipes and reviews from my picky family members, who I lovingly call “The Whine Critics.” 
