Recipes & Toppers

For a family baking project, cupcakes take the cake! They’re kid-sized, fun to eat and offer built-in portion control. The first step to success is choosing a cupcake recipe that doesn’t have a lot of ingredients or steps but does contain a flavor that your kids really love. If that recipe happens to have a few “better-for-you” ingredients such as rolled oats, whole wheat flour, fruit, or nuts, engage your young bakers in a conversation about healthful eating. If not, brainstorm ways you might make that recipe more healthful. It’s amazing how creative kids can be.

Whole grain rolled oats used in place of some of the flour pump up the nutrition in Hidden Berry Cakes. Created in the Quaker Oatmeal Kitchens, these not-too-sweet, vanilla-flavored cupcakes feature a surprise in the center – berry-licious fruit spread.
A simple dusting of powdered sugar instead of gooey icing makes these a good choice for lunch boxes. When individually wrapped airtight and frozen, they’ll keep a month or more.

Oats can be substituted for up to one-third of the flour in recipes for cupcakes and “big” cakes, cookies and bars, and other baked goods. Use either the quick (1 minute) or the old fashioned (5 minute) oats as they are interchangeable in baking.

When you have less time to spend in the kitchen, think in terms of semi-scratch baking. Luscious Snow Cakes look and taste like they were made from scratch but use a white cake mix. Lowfat yogurt, egg whites, water and a little oil trim fat, while the oats help keep the cakes moist. Topped just before serving with a chilly “icing” made from ice cream, these cupcakes will go so fast you won’t have to worry about them melting! For more tips for baking with kids and recipes, visit the Quaker Kitchen.

Recipes & Toppers

We have created four special recipes in honor of Oatmeal Month! These easy, great-tasting recipes feature whole-grain oats, a good source of fiber. In addition, the first two pancake recipes offer a delicious and nutritious twist on a favorite weekend breakfast.

Oaty Pear 'n' Pecan Pancakes

Pumpkin Hotcakes with Warm Maple Apples

The other two recipes are wholesome treats that parents can bake with their children. Baking together not only offers a fun family activity but also provides an opportunity for parents to instill life-long healthy eating habits in their children.

Hidden Berry Cupcakes

Snow Cakes

Mix 'Em Match 'Em Toppers

Nothing warms up a cold January morning like a hot bowl of oatmeal, and foods that are a good source of fiber, like whole grain oats, can be part of a diet for maintaining a healthy weight. Since variety truly is the "spice" of life, here are the Quaker Oatmeal Kitchens' "Top Pick" Toppings for mixing and matching!