Tired of the same old banana bread?  Try these next time you’ve got some overripe bananas; you’ll be glad you did!  The kids will love helping dip these fun festive cinnamon and banana bread biscotti in white chocolate and sprinkles.  These are perfect for the holidays and are a breeze to make!  Enjoy!  Visit picky-palate.com for more family friendly favorites.

White Chocolate Dipped Cinnamon and Banana Bread Biscotti

¾ Cup mashed over ripe bananas

1 egg

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ¾ Cup plus 2 Tablespoons flour

½ Cup plus 2 Tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

½ Cup cinnamon chips

1 Cup white chocolate chips

White non-pereils

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place bananas, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla into a large bowl; mix until combined. Place flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and cinnamon chips into a large bowl; mix to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry until combined. Divide dough into 2 equal parts and place onto a silpat-lined baking sheet 4 inches apart from each other. Form each piece of dough into a 7-inch log, about 2 inches wide. Bake for 25 minutes, remove from oven, reduce heat to 250 degrees F and let cool for 10 minutes. Using a serrated knife, slice biscotti into ½ inch strips, on the diagonal. Place slices back onto cookie sheet and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until crisped. Let cool completely.

2. Melt white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals until smooth. Dip top corner of biscotti in chocolate then sprinkle with non perils. Let dry on wax paper.

Makes about 30 biscotti

Ooozing Monster Apple Mouths

1 large Apple of choice
Peanut Butter
Mini Marshmallows

Core then cut the apple into fourths. Cut out a small wedge on the skin side of the apple. Blot inside with a paper towel then spread lightly with creamy peanut butter. Cut mini marshmallows in half and place over peanut butter to make the teeth.

Bug-apillar Banana Dude

1 ripe banana
Creamy Peanut Butter
Pretzel Sticks
Raisins
Red Fruit Snacks

Cut banana into 1-inch slices. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter on each slice (minus the last piece) then press gently back together, curving slightly if desired. Break pretzel sticks in half, then press into sides of banana for legs. Dip 2 raisins in peanut butter and stick on front banana slice for eyes, then dip red fruit snack in peanut butter and stick on bottom of banana slice for the tongue.

Breadstick Mummy Dogs

1 roll/pkg Pillsbury Breadstick dough (12 count)
12 hot dogs

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Unroll all 12 breadsticks from package. Cut each into 3 equal strips lengthwise. Take 3 strips, one at a time and wrap around 1 hot dog starting from the top of the hot dog. (Each hot dog has 3 thin breadstick strips around it). Leave a small space towards the top of the hotdog to make mustard eyes. Continue wrapping all dogs then place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

2. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes. Use mustard or ketchup for the eyes.

The kids are sure to love these simple and easy Pumpkin Spice Blossom Cookies.  Make sure to check for the new Hershey’s Pumpkin Spice Kisses next time you are shopping, they are great!  With only 4 ingredients, these cookies are done in no time at all.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Blossoms

1 Spice Cake Mix 18.25 oz
14 oz can Libby’s Pumpkin
½ cup sanding sugar
1 bag Hershey’s Pumpkin Spice Kisses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer beat the cake mix and pumpkin until well combined, about 45 seconds. With a cookie scoop, scoop dough and roll top half in sanding sugar (dough is sticky) then place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until cooked through. Quickly transfer to a cooling rack and immediately press kisses into the center of each cookie. I immediately place cooling rack into the fridge for 15 minutes so the kisses don’t melt. I tried both ways and it melts down if just left at room temperature. Enjoy!

About 36 cookies

I love having my boys help out in the kitchen, and these cookie cups are the perfect recipe for little fingers.  The peanut butter cookie dough consists of only 3 ingredients and doesn’t even require a mixer, just a bowl and spoon.  Get those little ones in the kitchen and have fun making these tasty treats!

Peanut Butter Cup Surprise Cookies

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

12 mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, unwrapped

36 mini marshmallows

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

2-3 tablespoons heavy cream

1/4 cup mini M&Ms

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place peanut butter, sugar and egg into a large bowl and mix until well combined. Scoop dough evenly into a 12-count mini cheesecake pan or mini muffin pan. Cook for 13-15 minutes until almost done. Remove from oven and press a peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie until flush with cookie top. Top each cookie with 3 mini marshmallows and return to oven for 2-3 more minutes or until marshmallows are puffed. Remove and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

2. Place chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted smooth. Stir in 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream until silky and smooth. You can return back to microwave for 15 seconds to get a thinner consistency. Spoon chocolate over top of puffed marshmallows and sprinkle with mini M&M’s.

Makes 12 cookie cup.

These frozen banana treats are a hit with the whole family.  The kids will especially love to come home from school to see these waiting in the freezer for them!  My boys shared these with their friends and they were eaten in no time.  There were definitely smiles across the whole table!  Use cute toothpicks or just pop them right in your mouth.  Enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Frozen Oreo Banana BitesBananas ready to eat
Creamy Peanut Butter
Chocolate Bark or melting chocolate of choice
Crushed Oreo Cookies

Peel and cut bananas into 1 inch pieces. Melt peanut butter in microwave until very soft. Roll bananas into peanut butter then place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet.

Place in freezer for 20 minutes or until peanut butter has firmed up.

Melt chocolate according to package directions.

With spoons, dip bananas into chocolate and place back on the waxed paper. Press cookies into sides of bananas so they stick in the chocolate.

Stick back into freezer until frozen, about 1 hour. Serve with toothpicks or just pop in your mouth!

I bet the kids have never seen a peanut butter and jelly sandwich like this one before!  I made a similar recipe that was quite complicated, but after some experimenting I found you can make this braid quick and easy by using Pillsbury’s French Bread Loaf.  It’s warm, gooey, and delicious.  The kids will be so excited!  Enjoy!

The Warm Peanut Butter And Jelly Breakfast Braid

1 can Pillsbury French Bread Loaf

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup of your favorite jelly

1 egg whisked with 1 tablespoon of water

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1-2 tablespoons milk

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Carefully roll out French Bread Loaf over a floured counter top so it is in the shape of a rectangle.  With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to an even thinness.  Using scissors, cut strips, about 3 inches deep into the long sides of the dough, cutting in towards the center of the dough, leaving about 3 inches of uncut dough in the center.  Carefully spread peanut butter down the center of the uncut dough, then spread jelly over peanut butter.  Take each cut strip of dough, going from one side to the other, and fold over filling making a braid down the center.  Brush top of braid with egg wash.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until nice and golden.  Let cool for 10 minutes, then whisk together the powdered sugar and milk and drizzle over top of braid.  Cut into squares and enjoy!

6 servings

With summer being so busy, it’s nice to have some quick and easy snacks that the kids can make themselves and enjoy with their friends.  This cute Graham Cracker Bruschetta will make any afternoon brighter!  The nice thing is you can top them with whatever you have on hand.  Any cookies, fruit, nuts, or candy work great.  Enjoy!

Graham Cracker Bruschetta

graham cracker squares
4 oz softened low-fat cream cheese
2 Tablespoons sugar
Berries, fruit, cookies, nuts, or candy

Place graham crackers onto a serving plate. Combine cream cheese and sugar in a bowl until combined. Spread onto graham crackers and top with desired toppings.

Here’s another fun quick and simple lunch or afternoon snack favorite.  How can you beat a lunch in 60 seconds? When you are short on time these whole wheat pizza roll-ups will always do the trick!

Whole Wheat Pizza Roll Ups

Guerrero Whole Wheat Tortillas
Handful of Tillamook shredded mozzarella cheese
5-6 turkey pepperonis per tortilla
2-3 Tablespoons of Ragu Pizza sauce per tortilla

Place tortilla on microwave safe plate. Sprinkle tortilla with cheese, layer with pepperonis, and drizzle with pizza sauce. Microwave for 30-60 seconds in microwave until cheese is melted. Roll up and dip in additional pizza sauce if desired.