Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to make fun crafts and enjoy special treats with your kids. When I think Valentine’s day, I think hearts, cupid, and pink and red. Unfortunately, if you have a child sensitive to red dye or you simply try to avoid food dyes, a lot of recipes are out.
I wanted to think beyond cookies and cupcakes and try new things, so I looked to something that would make tasty, but less indulgent pink, red and Valentine’s inspired treats… strawberry bruschetta! This is easy to make, and so delicious!
Ingredients:
- baguette
- 8 oz of cream cheese
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 cups of strawberries, sliced
- 1/4 cup 100% fruit spread (like Smucker’s simply fruit or Polaner All Fruit)
Directions:
- Slice the baguette into slices measuring about 1/4″ thick.
- Bake on a cookie sheet until slightly crisp (don’t worry about it being too hard for your kids to eat, the toppings soften it up).
- While bread is in the oven, place the cream cheese in a bowl. Add honey and stir to combine. If necessary, microwave for a few seconds to soften the cream cheese.
- Remove bread from oven, spread cream cheese mixture on each slice and top with strawberries.
- Place fruit spread in a small bowl & microwave 15 or so seconds until liquified (careful, it may be hot!) Brush the top of each piece of bruschetta with the fruit spread, allowing it to cover the strawberries and cream cheese. Don’t worry if it drips down the side of the bread, it makes it yummy!
I also made this using puff pastry (cut into heart shapes) in place of the bread.
These tasted just like a fruit/cream cheese pastry from the bakery! Even my husband loves these (both versions) and this isn’t his kind of treat. Serve as a snack or a dessert!
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 11, 7 and 4 year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. Check out Maria’s blog, Change-Diapers, about cloth diapering, and all things kids, motherhood & going green.
Yum! I think I would go for the pastry option rather than bread, but both would tick all the boxes. Strawberries are available all year round now, but I think it would be worth paying extra for decent quality strawberries if making these for Valentine’s Day.
Yum. I bet this dessert is delicious. I’ll have to get some strawberries and give it a try.
Sure looks like a really tasty treat. It would be great for any day, not just Valentine’s day. I am going to make this for my family. I hope I can find some fresh plump strawberries at the farmer’s market.
This looks so yummy and yes… I love leaving out that red dye too. Trying to eat better and cleaner and this looks delish! Thanks for sharing! makes me want some strawberries!
Wow! These look delicious. Very timely since I have some fresh strawberries available. Can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing the recipe.