Coconut is an amazing fruit and it has several health benefits. You can use coconut to make some yummy coconut recipes that can leave the kids smacking their lips and fingers. These dishes do not need much time to be prepared as well and they are nutritious.

Read More: Is coconut safe for kids with nut allergy?

Homemade Coconut Recipes for your Child

Below listed are some delicious coconut based recipes you can offer your kids:

• Coconut and date balls

You will need a cup of desiccated coconut and half the amount of pitted dates to make this dish- it is that simple! Blend the coconut and dates in a food processor for a few minutes. Remove the mixture from processor and use hands to roll balls. Give the coconut date balls as snacks to the kids. Inspired from – Kidspot.com.au

• Coconut sandwich

This one is ideal for school and breakfast both! You will need a few slices of bread, grated coconut, hung curd, chopped chilies, mustard seeds and black pepper powder. For cooking it, oil and salt will be required.  Mix the grated coconut, green chilli, hung curd, salt and pepper powder. Heat oil and fry mustard seeds next. Sauté fry and add to the mixture. Spread the fillings on slices and close with another. Then bake the slices in the microwave and serve hot. Read More: marthastewart.com

• Coconut rice (sticky)

This one fits well for toddler breakfasts! Take half a cup of glutinous rice, a cup of coconut milk, a banana and some sugar. Soak the rice for some hours and drain it well. Cook the rice in water until it is tender. Now add some coconut milk to it and in another pan, heat the coconut milk and add sugar. Cut the banana into slices and put in a bowl. Pour the rice in it and the sweetened milk atop. Read more: taste.com.au

• Almond coconut rice pudding

This is one lip smacking dish your toddler will love! You will need to take a cup of rice, a cup of water and the same amount of coconut milk. You will also need a spoon of honey and almond extract. Put all the ingredients in a small cooker and cook. Serve the pudding warm. Read more

• Coconut Ladoo

This sweet coconut ladoo is usually made at festivals, but you can make it any time for kids! You will need 2 cups of grated coconut, a cup of jaggery and a dash of cardamom powder. Heat the jaggery in water in a pan. When it is melted, add grated coconut. Now, add grated coconut and mix well. Stir till it is sticky. Add the cardamom powder. Now, roll the mixture in palms to shape ladoos.

• Coconut biscuit

To make this yummy coconut biscuit, you will need a cup of self-raising flour, sugar, a cup of desiccated coconut, a beaten egg and 100 gram melted butter. Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius. Mix the ingredients barring egg and butter in a bowl. Then add the butter and beaten egg to it and mix very well. Make balls with your hands and flatten them to form biscuits. Place these on baking trays and bake for 15 minutes or so.

• Coconut chia pudding

To make this yummy pudding you will require 1 cup coconut milk, spoonful of honey, 1 cup vanilla almond milk, 4 spoons of chia seeds and ground cinnamon. Add some water to honey and mix well. Now add the mixture with all other ingredients in a bowl. Mix well and then place in refrigerator for a few hours. Serve the pudding cold. Inspired from 

• Healthy Coconut Frosting Shots 

  These chilled chocolate shots are super healthy, awesomely tasty and quick to make. Try this today! Get the recipe here: Coconut Frosting Shot Recipe 

• Coconut rice

To make this dish you will need a cup of rice, 250 ml of coconut milk, water, sugar, half cup of shredded coconut and a sliced banana. Rinse and drain the rice well. Then cook it in water in a deep pot. Heat up the coconut milk and pour it atop the tender rice. Simmer for some time and add the sugar. Serve after sprinkling sliced banana and shredded coconut on top.

Read More: Health Benefits of Coconut Water During Pregnancy

• Coconut ice squares

To make this dessert you will need 250g of sweetened condensed milk, a cup of desiccated coconut and 250g of icing sugar. Mix the icing sugar with condensed milk in a bowl, using a spoon. It will be stiff. Using hands form the coconut ice cubes. Leave in a sealed bowl. Cut with a knife and serve the pieces. They can be kept locked in containers.

• Carrot and coconut salad

Your fussy eating kid will love this textured and delicious salad! You will need lime juice, salt, chopped cilantro, sugar, shredded carrots, coconut and vegetable oil. Mix the cilantro, lemon juice, sugar and salt well. Mix with shredded coconut and carrots. Fry the mixture in oil over low heat. Let it cool and serve.

Read More: Health Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil for Children

• Pineapple and coconut salad

This yummy salad takes about 5 minutes to prepare. You will need a cup of pineapple slices, half cup grated coconut, half cup yogurt, honey and small amounts of arrowroot and vanilla essence. Mix the pineapple slices and coconut well in a bowl. Then pour the yogurt and all ingredients atop. Let it stand keep in refrigerator for a while. Serve the dish chilled.

• Coconut Burfi

This is one dessert both kids and adults can’t resist! You will need a cup of Coconut grated, some broken cashews, 3/4^th cup of sugar, Cardamom powder and ghee. At first, roast the cashews in ghee. Mix sugar and water in a weapon and heat up till it is dissolved. When it is thick, add the coconut. Stir cook and later add the ghee. Next, pour in cardamom and cashews. When the mixture gets sticky and thick, you can put off the flame. Pour it into a tray smeared with ghee and spread flat. Using a knife, cut into square pieces. Store these in an airtight box and serve chilled. 

• Eggless Coconut Cookies

This cookie tastes awesome and is easy to make as well. You will need a cup of flour, a cup of grated coconut, half cup sugar, milk, baking powder and half cup melted butter. At first mix the flour, and baking powder. Beat the sugar in butter well. Mix the butter well with flour. Add the coconut and milk and mix till dough is set. Grease the baking tray with ghee. Make small cookies by using palms from the dough. Bake them at 180 degrees in oven for 15 minutes. The cookies will turn golden brown when done. Serve them hot and fresh. 

• Cucumber Coconut Salad

This is one refreshing salad to tingle your kid’s taste buds. You will need sliced cucumbers, a green chilli, half cup grated coconut, salt, Curry leaves and Mustard seeds. At first, chop the cucumber and mix with grated coconut. Add the chopped chili, salt and mix well. Fry the mustard seeds in oil and add curry leaves. Saute fry and add to the mix.  Serve the salad immediately after mixing everything well. 

• Coconut souffle

This dessert will soothe your kids craving for food. You will need to use 250 ml condensed milk, 1.5 l milk, coconut milk, 50 Grams sugar and same amount of gelatin. Mix and heat the milk and condensed milk in a pan. When it is thick, add the coconut milk. Add the sugar and gelatin next. Pour in a bowl and let it cool. Refrigerate the soufflé and serve it cold.

Read More: Healthy Coconut Frosting Shots – Busy Mom Recipe

• Coconut lentils with lime

This dal will be loved by your kids who detest lentils. You will need a tin of coconut cream, a spoon of mild curry paste, lime juice, sugar, cooked lentil, chopped coriander leaves. Heat the curry paste and add the coconut cream in a pan. Cook for a while and add the lime juice. Add all other ingredients and stir fry. Serve hot after topping with chopped coriander leaves.

• Coconut Cottage Cheese Gravy

This paneer dish in coconut gravy will leave your kids asking for more. You will need 200 grams paneer cubes, a cup of coconut milk, sliced onion, ginger and chili paste, Cardamom, Bay leaves, salt and oil. Sauté fry the paneer cubes and set them aside. Now, fry the cardamom pods and bay leaves. Add the onion and ginger paste next. Then pour the coconut milk, paneer and salt and simmer for some minutes. Turn off the flame when the gravy is thick.

• Coconut banana cookies

This is a gluten and sugar free recipe you can try. You will need 2 mashed, ripe bananas, a cup of oats and half cup of shredded coconut. Mix the three ingredients well in a bowl. The texture should be wet dough like. Make some cookies by using cookie cutters. Bake these for 14 minutes at 350 degrees F. Serve the cookies warm.

• Coconut milk yogurt

This recipe  is simple to make though it takes time. You will need a cup of coconut milk and half cup yogurt. Take unflavored yogurt for the best results. Keep the yogurt in a glass bowl and pour the coconut milk into it. Allow it to sit overnight in a warm room. By morning, the yoghurt will be ready. Serve it at breakfast.

• Prawn, coconut & tomato curry

This yummy prawn coconut curry gets prepared fast. You will need a sliced onion, sliced chilly and garlic, oil, curry paste, vegetable stock, tomato purée, raw prawn and coconut cream. Fry the garlic, chili and onion in oil for a while. Add curry paste and other ingredients except prawn. After 5 minutes, add the prawns and cook for some minutes. Serve the curry with hot rice.

• Coconut carrot soup

This soup will be liked by your toddler a lot. You will require unsalted butter, chopped onion, chopped carrot cubes, kosher salt, chicken broth and unsweetened coconut milk. Fry the onions and carrot in butter first. Add the salt next. Stir cook and add coconut milk and broth. Cook in low heat until the carrots are very tender. Serve with a dash of pepper on top.