Berries As Cute As a Cupcake

With food manufacturers pouring billions each year into convincing our kids to eat junk, how’s a health-minded mom to compete?

Presentation is a big part of it, something Madison Avenue marketers figured out long ago when they started decorating food packages with cartoons and inserting toys into cereal boxes. One study found 50 percent of kids reported snack from a package adorned with a cartoon character tasted better than the identical food from a plain package.

These “Cute as a Cupcake” Berries are my latest ploy to make nourishing food look every bit as appealing as sugary store-bought treats. With strawberry season officially in full swing, now is a good time to give this one a whirl.

Start with any fresh berries you can get your hands on in any combination. Fill cupcakes papers to the brim along with toothpicks for spearing the fruits. Littler kids can use their fingers if you’re worried they’ll go rogue with a toothpick.

Berries as Cute as a Cupcake

For a more filling snack, whip together equal parts low-fat lemon yogurt and low-fat plain Greek yogurt. Scoop yogurt into cupcakes papers (I use two for added sturdiness), top with fresh berries and serve with a spoon.

Beyond everyday snacks, these treats are great for playdates, after-sports nibbles, and birthday parties. Arrange a dozen on a cake stand and you won’t need Sponge Bob to get the kids to dive in. It’ll be pretty enough to market itself, and whole lot healthier than a cream-filled cupcake.

 

Berries as Cute as a Cupcake

Feel free to put a couple tablespoons of yogurt in the cupcake liners before adding the berries and use two liners instead of one. Equal parts lemon and plain Greek yogurt makes a tasty mix. You may need to scale back the volume of berries a bit. Serve this variation with a small spoon.
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup assorted fresh berries in any combination (strawberries should be stemmed and quartered)
  • 4 colorful cupcake liners

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, mix together the berries. Transfer to cupcake liners, dividing them evenly. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with toothpicks.

Comments

04.17.2012 at9:48 AM #

Leslie

We should do this for our tea! I think even I can handle this!!! 🙂

04.17.2012 at9:48 AM #

Katie Morford

Perfect with petite scones and clotted cream!

04.17.2012 at1:07 PM #

Pamela

Very sweet indeed! Clever too~~~thanks

04.24.2012 at8:25 AM #

Pam Hochman

Sophie loved these during the cooking class. She’s not a big yogurt eaters but she gobbled it up! What kinds/brands of yogurt do you recommend?

04.24.2012 at8:25 AM #

Katie Morford

We used Fage brand non-fat plain yogurt. I also like Chobani.

04.09.2013 at7:48 AM #

Alli

Thanks! This is just what I needed to market fresh fruit after soccer games.

04.09.2013 at7:48 AM #

Katie Morford

The marketing is half the battle!

04.21.2015 at4:07 PM #

Mary @ Fit and Fed

Very easy and healthy. One marketing trick that our local food co-op (PCC) does to help kids develop a healthy relationship with food is called KidPicks. Kids are allowed to pick out one piece of produce from the the produce department and have it for free on each shopping trip. I think it’s a great way to get kids interested in fruits and vegetables! And it’s something folks could do on their own (though of course the produce wouldn’t be free).

04.21.2015 at4:07 PM #

Katie Morford

LOVE that! Plus, it probably keeps kids from begging for snacks while shopping since they are happily chomping away on a piece of produce. Thanks for sharing that.

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