We love turkey and stuffing as much as anyone, but when it comes down to it, Thanksgiving isn’t really about the food. It’s about being together. It’s permission to set aside time for a day or two to stop hustling and simply spend time with the people we love most. It’s a chance to remember what we’re grateful for.
It’s an opportunity to create magical moments and memories with our little ones.
Anyone with a toddler can tell you what our sweet one, two, and three year olds want most - to help! Little ones this age LOVE to participate in whatever the grownups are doing. The dadada Baby Toddler Tower was designed to help curious kiddos get the boost they need to reach the kitchen counter, the dining table, or the sink - wherever the learning and helping is happening!
This Thanksgiving, we’re celebrating the joy of being together with a short collection of toddler-friendly recipes that make it easy for your tiny helper to lend a hand in the kitchen. Pair these delicious appetizers and desserts with your Toddler Tower for a Thanksgiving full of good eats, great memories, and one very happy great big little helper!
Savory:
Turkey Cheese Ball by In the Kid’s Kitchen
Prep Time: 5 mins
Mess Factor: Practically mess free
What You’ll Need:
A store-bought cheese ball
Pretzel Sticks
Crackers
Candy
With the help of a store-bought cheese ball, little ones can use pretzel sticks, crackers, and candy corn to create a silly Turkey cheese ball for pre-dinner snacking.
Thanksgiving Appetizer Platter by Family Fresh Meals
Prep Time: 10 mins
Mess Factor: Low
What You’ll Need:
All of your family’s favorite charcuterie or cheese board items
For artistically inclined kiddos, there can be a whole lot of joy in arranging a big plate of snacks! Offer your toddler assorted cheeses, meats, olives, nuts, and chocolates to arrange into a turkey, or whatever design they please!
Leftover Turkey Dinner Tacos by The Soccer Mom Blog
Prep Time: 5 mins
Mess Factor: Medium
What You’ll Need:
Corn Tortillas
Leftovers: Turkey, Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce
A super easy way to use up your leftovers that toddlers will love! Kids can help layer each leftover ingredient into the tortillas, experiment with different ratios, and taste-test everything as they go, both individually and as fun flavor combos.
Sweet:
Brownie Turkey Treats by Fun Learning for Kids
Prep Time: 1 hr homemade brownies, 5 mins with store bought
Mess Factor: Low. Few ingredients and quick clean up.
What You’ll Need:
Homemade or store-bought brownie rounds
Candy Corn
Icing
Candy Eyes
Simple ingredients and no-bake options make this an easy kid-friendly dessert with a high cuteness payoff. Toddlers can use candy corn to help create the turkey faces and tails.
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats by Sugar, Spice, & Glitter
Prep Time: 10 mins
Mess Factor: Medium. Food coloring and sticky fingers involved.
What You’ll Need:
Rice Krispies
Butter
Marshmallows
Food Coloring
Vanilla Extract
Tootsie Rolls
Green Fruit Leather
Rice Krispie treats are a classic, and these tiny pumpkin-shaped ones are a sure hit. Toddlers can help pour cereal, help stir marshmallow/butter mixture, shape the pumpkins into balls, and add the Tootsie Roll stems and fruit roll-up leaves.
Caramel Apple Pie Cookies by Food Love
Prep Time: 40 mins
Mess Factor: High. Flour, sticky caramel, and rolled dough involved.
What You’ll Need:
Muffin Tin
Round Cookie Cutter
Pie Crusts
Apple Pie Filling
Flour
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon
Salted Butter
Caramels
These toddler-sized pies are too cute to miss. Little ones can help roll out dough, cut pie crust circles with a cookie cutter, fill the muffin tins, and add toppings.
We’d love to see photos of your family making any of these recipes, or your own special memories, with your dadada Baby Toddler Tower this Thanksgiving! Share your pics with us on social media by using the #dadadamoment
Thankful for all of you!