You may agree that cheese makes the earth a better place to live. Many children love this delight. And so their parents keep trying interesting and tasty cheese recipes for kids for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert. From grilled cheese on toast to cheese sticks, cheese makes everything better. Cheese is a good source of protein, healthy fats, and calcium and a good way to sneak in some nutrition in your child’s diet. Read this post to check out some versatile, yummy, simple, and healthy cheese recipes for your cheese lover kid.
Key Pointers
- Cheese is rich in proteins, healthy fats, and calcium that are necessary for proper growth and development in children.
- Other than cheese toast, there are several delicious cheese recipes that children love.
- Cheese may also be served with rice, certain salads, and sandwiches.
- Interesting cheese recipe ideas include oreo cheesecake, cheese frittata, and cheese fondue, among others.
11 Easy And Delicious Cheese Recipes For Kids
1. Oreo Cookie Cheesecake:
You Will Need:
- 25 Oreo cookies
- 4 packets of cream cheese
- 4 Tbsp of butter
- 4 Tbsp of cornflour
- 4 whole eggs
- 1 cup of sugar or coconut sugar
- 2 Tbsp of vanilla essence
- 2 bars of chocolate
- 1/2 cup of cream
How To:
- Crush the cookies and mix with butter. Line the base of the cake tin with this mixture.
- Whip cream cheese, cornflour, and sugar together. Then add the eggs.
- Add the vanilla essence, cream and chocolate.
- Pour the mix over the Oreo crust and bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees C. Then reduce the heat to 100 degrees C and bake for an hour.
2. Margarita Pizza:
You Will Need:
- Whole wheat or multigrain pizza dough
- 4 Tbsp of Salsa sauce
- A handful of basil leaves
- 1 cup of grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 Tbsp of Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
How To:
- Preheat the oven and grease the baking tray. Roll out the dough and place on the baking tray.
- Spread a layer of salsa sauce and sprinkle mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle the basil leaves and bake for 12 minutes.
- Take out the pizza from the oven and add a dash of seasoning and olive oil.
3. Potato Gratin:
You Will Need:
- 3 potatoes
- ½ Tbsp of salt
- Pepper to taste
- 1 clove of garlic
- A pinch of nutmeg powder
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- 10 gm of gruyere cheese
- 20 ml of cream
- 15 gm of cheddar cheese
- 10 gm of butter
- 10 gm of parmesan cheese
How To:
- For this quick recipe, wash the potatoes and cut into thin slices. Keep them immersed in water.
- Whip the cream with garlic, rosemary, and thyme.
- Grate the cheese and set it aside.
- Now drain the potatoes and season with nutmeg powder, pepper, and salt.
- In a baking dish, layer the potatoes, sprinkle the cheese, and top with cream.
- Repeat the process.
- Top with butter and bake for 15 minutes until it turns brown in color.
4. Cheese Frittata:
You Will Need:
- 8 eggs
- 1/2 Tbsp of salt
- 2 Tbsp of chopped chives
- ¼ Tbsp of pepper
- 1 cup of chopped white onion
- 1 Tbsp of butter
- 2 cups of baby spinach
- 1 cup of roasted chopped red peppers
- 1/3 cup of grated white cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup of ricotta cheese
How To:
- Mix the eggs with pepper, chives, and salt. Leave it aside.
- Melt the butter in a pan and sauté the onions.
- Now add the spinach and roasted red peppers. Sauté the vegetables. Add ricotta cheese and stir well.
- Add the egg mix to the pan and cook for two minutes. Sprinkle cheddar cheese and cook for two more minutes.
- Transfer the frittata to the baking sheet and bake until it turns golden brown in color.
- Cut into wedges and serve with crusty bread.
5. Muffin Sandwich:
You Will Need:
- 1 egg
- A pinch of salt and pepper
- 1 English muffin
- 1 Tbsp of butter
- A slice of cheese
- 1 Tbsp of butter
- A Bacon
How To:
- Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and place a round cookie cutter in it. Place ½ Tbsp of butter in the ring.
- Whip the egg in a bowl with salt and pepper.
- Pour the egg into the ring and cook for three minutes.
- Run the knife to loosen and flip the egg in the pan. Cook for 30 seconds. Top with cheese and bacon.
- Split and toast the English muffin.
- Butter the insides of the muffin and place the egg, cheese and bacon inside. Serve immediately.
6. Mac And Cheese:
You Will Need:
- 1 ¼ cups of uncooked macaroni
- 1 cup of low-fat milk
- 2 Tbsp of all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ Tbsp of salt
- 1/8 Tbsp of black pepper powder
- 1 slice of bread
- 1 Tbsp of butter
How To:
- Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the package. Drain and keep it aside.
- Heat milk and flour in a pan. Stir well and keep cooking until it thickens.
- Now add salt, cheese, and pepper. Stir well. Add the pasta and toss well. Leave it aside for a few minutes.
- Place the bread in a food processor and make bread crumbs.
- Now heat the bread crumbs and sprinkle them over the macaroni.
An anonymous mom to an 8-month-old has found a way to make this classic dish healthier by sneaking in more veggies and making it enjoyable for her son. She shares, “I figured I would try adding some veggies to make a really yummy food healthy too! What I didn’t expect was for it to actually taste so great! It was so good! I’m not even kidding, I was even sitting there eating it! My son devoured this without even giving a thought as to there being peas and spinach in this! You could use other veggie purees, too. Broccoli puree or butternut squash puree would work especially nicely (i).”
7. Cheddar Cheese Scones:
You Will Need:
- 6 slices Chicken salami
- 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup of butter
- 1 Tbsp of baking powder
- ¼ Tbsp of baking soda
- ½ Tbsp of mustard powder
- ½ Tbsp of salt
- ¼ cup of chopped green onion
- ½ cup of grated cheddar cheese
- 2/3 cup of buttermilk
How To:
- Cook the chicken salami over medium heat.
- Mix all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and mustard powder in a bowl.
- Now add the butter and cheese to the flour mixture. Mix well. Then add the green onions and chicken salami.
- Make a dough with the flour mixture using the buttermilk.
- Transfer the dough to a lined baking sheet and cut it into wedges.
- Bake until the scones turn golden in color.
8. Quesadillas:
You Will Need:
- ¼ cup of salsa
- 1 1/3 cups of grated cheddar cheese
- 4 whole wheat tortillas
- ¼ cup of corn kernels
- 1 cup of cooked boneless chicken, diced
- ¼ cup of diced red pepper
- 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil
How To:
- Spread a spoonful of salsa on each tortilla. Sprinkle grated cheese.
- Now sprinkle a spoonful each of red pepper, corn, and diced chicken. Fold the tortilla in half so that it forms a semi-circle.
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the quesadillas on both sides.
- Cut into wedges and serve with sour cream or salsa.
9. Cheesy Rice Balls:
You Will Need:
- 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp of olive oil
- 1 egg
- 2 cups of cooked rice
- 6 small mozzarella cubes
- ½ Tbsp of salt
- ½ cup of finely grated Parmesan and cilantro
How To:
- Mix the rice with Parmesan cilantro and salt in a bowl.
- Take a small portion of the rice mixture and tuck in a mozzarella cube. Shape the mix into a ball.
- Now coat the rice balls with egg and breadcrumbs. Bake until they turn golden brown in color.
10. Cheese Fondue:
You Will Need:
- 100 gm of shredded Gruyere cheese
- 100 gm of shredded Swiss-style cheese
- 2 Tbsp of cornflour
- 1 cup of dry white wine
- 1 Tbsp of lemon juice
- A pinch of nutmeg powder
- ½ Tbsp of dry mustard
- 6 chopped baby corns
- 1 chopped broccoli
How To:
- Mix cheese and cornflour in a bowl. Refrigerate for a few hours.
- Blanch baby corn and broccoli in hot water and then rinse with ice water.
- Add lemon juice and wine to a pan and let the mix simmer. Add the cheese mix and keep stirring. Cook until the mix turns creamy.
- Now add the nutmeg powder and mustard. Add the vegetables and stir well.
- Transfer the mix to a fondue pot and cook over a low flame.
11. Fettucine Alfredo:
You Will Need:
- 300 g fettuccine
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¾ cup cream
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup cheese (parmesan,reggiano, or cheddar, grated)
- 2 tbs parsley
How To:
- Cook pasta in salt water as per the packet instructions.
- Take butter in a frying pan, melt it, and add crushed garlic.
- Cook the garlic till it sizzles.
- Whisk egg yolks with cream and add them to the pan. Cook it on low.
- Keep stirring while the mixture thickens.
- Turn off the heat. Add the pasta (after straining) to the pan and mix by tossing.
- Add the cheese and toss to melt the cheese.
- Turn the heat back (low) to heat everything together.
- Sprinkle with parsley and salt and pepper to taste
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What cheeses do children like?
Mild cheeses such as cheddar, cottage, and cream cheese are great for children. However, do not serve children raw and unpasteurized cheeses, mold-ripened soft cheeses, such as brie, and soft blue-veined cheese, such as Roquefort, as these cheeses have a risk of listeria contamination until cooked or baked properly (1).
2. When can I give cheese to a child?
You can include pasteurized full-fat cheese in your child’s diet from the age of six months (1).
3. What are the nutritional benefits of cheese?
Cheese is a rich source of high-quality protein and calcium, which improves bone and muscle health in children. It also provides phosphorus, zinc, and vitamins A and B12, which promote eye and skin health, wound healing, and red blood cell production (2).
4. How much cheese is safe for children?
You can give your child cheese daily. However, start with small amounts to rule out any cases of allergy or indigestion. You may serve one slice of processed cheese or two to four tablespoons of grated cheese as pizza toppings or in a sandwich (3).
5. What are some alternatives to cheese for lactose-intolerant children?
If your child is lactose intolerant, you can consider plant-based alternatives like vegan or soy cheese. You can also try goat or sheep milk varieties such as cottage cheese or feta cheese. Hard or aged cheeses like parmesan, Swiss, and blue cheeses are also low in lactose.
6. Can you recommend any cheese-based desserts for kids to make at home?
Goat cheese pudding, summer berries with goat cheese cream, poached peaches with baked ricotta, cottage cheese pancakes with pineapple and kiwi, and lemon cream cheese are some easy-to-make cheese-based desserts your children would love to eat.
7. How can I make a cheese and vegetable casserole that kids will love?
There are several ways to make cheese and vegetable casserole. You may pick any simple recipe and tweak it as per your preferences. For instance, choose fresh, seasonal veggies your child usually loves to eat. Use different cheese combinations, such as mozzarella and cheddar, to give flavor and texture to the dish. Experiment with grains and add brown rice or pulse-based pasta to make the dish wholesome. Add garlic powder, dried herbs like oregano, and roasted nuts and seeds to up the dish’s flavor. You may also sprinkle bread crumbs at the top of the dish just before baking to get a crispy crust.
Cheese recipes for kids help them get essential nutrients such as fats, proteins, and calcium. Oreo cookie cheesecake, margarita pizza, potato gratin, cheese frittata, muffin sandwich, cheddar cheese scones, mac n cheese, cheesy rice balls, and cheese fondue recipes for kids are some of the fun and interesting recipes to try. You may also add cheese with rice, salad, sandwiches, nachos, or any other favorite foods such as a cheeseburger or casserole. Always purchase pasteurized cheese from trusted sources and store it as per recommendations to avoid contamination. When preparing healthy snacks for kids, it is best to read the labels of the ingredients that may help you understand the amounts of fat, protein, and added nutrients in 100g servings.
Infographic: Easy Cheese Dishes For Children
Parents are constantly looking for creative recipes to satisfy their child’s palette. You can make cheese snacks for them as it is many children’s favorite snack and also a great source of calcium. This infographic brings delicious cheese dishes for children. Check out!
Illustration: Simple And Healthy Cheese Recipes For Kids
Delight your kids with this this simple yet delightful recipe for potato cheese sticks! Discover the effortless process to create these delectable toasted treats in a few easy steps.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Kid’s breakfast ideas.https://whippersnappersblogspot.wordpress.com/tag/toddler-food/
References
- Foods to avoid giving babies and young children.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/foods-to-avoid-giving-babies-and-young-children/ - Cheese.
https://www.healthyeating.org/nutrition-topics/milk-dairy/dairy-foods/cheese - Portion Sizes For Children 1-4 Years.
https://infantandtoddlerforum.org/media/upload/pdf-downloads/1.3_-_Portion_Sizes_for_Children_1-4_Years.pdf
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