Tired of preservative laden jams and chocolate spreads? Here are 30+ Delicious and Healthy Homemade Spreads for Kids that help sneak in fruits & veggies!

One of the easiest and simplest meals to put together is a sandwich. All you need is two slices of bread and some kind of filling and you’re done! Maybe this is why sandwiches are such a hit among Moms all over the world – it’s quick, easy and can be made healthy if you do it right.

Now doing it right is where the trouble usually is. First of all, opting for whole grain bread over white bread is important, and it’s an easy substitution to make. But when it comes to the filling or the spread, there are so many options it can make your head spin. And once kids get tired of the same old BBJ (Bread Butter Jam), you’re back to square one, scratching your head and wondering what to make.

Yes, there is the option of buying commercial sandwich spreads, but as with all store bought foods, you can’t be sure about what’s in it, and chances are they’ve got more artificial flavors and preservatives than actual nutrients. Why subject your child to all that – especially when they can have the homemade versions!

You read right – you can make these spreads right at home! Here is a collection of healthy homemade spreads for kids, ranging from basics like butter and cheese all the way to a chicken and vegetable sandwich spread. With so many options, no two sandwiches will ever be the same again!

30+ Healthy Homemade Spreads for Kids

1. Homemade Butter

Butter is probably the most used spread in every home, being used on its own as well as in combination with others. Since butter is also used for cooking, it makes sense to ensure that the butter you use is 100% clean and free from preservatives.

2. Easy Garlic Butter

Do you always wish you could make those delicious garlic bread sticks at home? Well, thanks to this garlic butter recipe from Cincy Shopper, you can make them in a jiffy! Use the homemade butter recipe to use in this one.

3.  Homemade Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is something that is packed with healthy fats and good protein – if it’s homemade! Store bought versions are often packed with added sugar and preservatives, things you don’t need in your family’s life.

4. Homemade Almond Butter

If you’ve tried peanut butter and want to go further, try this homemade almond butter recipe from Lovely Little Kitchen. With just three ingredients, this is one recipe you’ll be making over and over again!

5. Super Seed Nut Butter

Now, here’s a spread that has all the antioxidants and nutrients you could want! Bakerita uses an assortment of nuts and seeds to make this super-nutritious spread, which is an excellent way to get fussy eaters to get the benefits of all these ingredients.

6. Coconut Cashew Butter

Bakerita gives us another winning recipe with this deliciously creamy coconut cashew butter. Packed with healthy fats and calories, this is a great weight gaining recipe for picky eaters and toddlers. Besides, it’s vegan!

7. Whipped Cinnamon Honey Butter

Enjoy light airy creaminess of this whipped cinnamon honey butter from House of Nash Eats! Use homemade butter and replace the sugar with jaggery powder so you get a dish that’s 100% natural and fresh!

8. Avocado Butter

If you thought all you could do with avocado was make smoothies, think again! Jennifer’s Kitchen shows us that the avocado’s creamy texture is perfect for spreads, and this avocado butter recipe has a delightful little savory spin to it!

9. Apple Jam

Most store bought fruit jams contain pectin, but you can easily avoid it by making your very own homemade jam. This is a 100% natural jam recipe that’s ideal for babies over 7 months.

10. Orange Marmalade

Orange marmalade has that extra zing over regular jams – it also has orange marmalade. This recipe from Eat Little Bird creates a lovely mouthful orange marmalade that’ll have you licking your lips!

11. Easy Homemade Mango Jam

The king of fruits makes for an excellent jam, whether you’re trying a sweet or savory version. Athletic Avocado has a clean recipe that uses coconut sugar instead of refined sugar that gives a beautiful mellow flavor.

12. Homemade Fresh Fig Jam

The Spruce Eats has a recipe that uses fresh figs and looks simply luscious! If your figs are sweet enough, you don’t need to use this much sugar, or you could opt for an alternative sweetener.

13. Raisin Spread

Foods like raisins can pose a choking hazard for young kids, and some of them may not like the wrinkly appearance. Overcome all these obstacles by using those same raisins to make a spread that needs just three ingredients.

14. Homemade Dried Apricot Jam

It’s generally difficult to get kids to eat dry fruits, missing out on the iron and calories in them. But you don’t need to worry about that when you can turn those dry fruits into jam, like this homemade dried apricot jam recipe!

15. Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

Strawberries are often a hit with kids, and even fussy eaters don’t refuse them. But in case they do, there’s still a way out – strawberry chia seed jam from The Busy Baker! This recipe uses honey, which goes well with the tartness of the strawberries.

16. Pumpkin Coconut Jam

Coconut jam is quite popular in South East Asia, and is called Kaya. With pandan leaves, coconut milk and palm sugar, this is a jam with a unique recipe you won’t find elsewhere!

17. Homemade Nutella

Is there anyone out there who can resist licking a spoon of Nutella? I don’t think so! But if you’re worried about the unnecessary calories and preservatives, check out this healthy homemade Nutella recipe from Savory Lotus.

18. Lick the Knife Chocolate Spread

This recipe hardly needs any explanation – the name says it all! Sugar Hero tells us how to make a creamy, delicious, nut-free chocolate spread that looks true to it’s name. Just look at the pictures and you’ll start salivating!

19. Chocolate Caramel Spread

If you’re a fan of Twix chocolates or caramel in any form, you’ll love this chocolate caramel spread from Full of Plants! This is a complete ‘from scratch’ recipe, where even the crunchy biscuit bits are homemade! The recipe features an assortment of ingredients, but none of them are sugar!

20. Vegan Coriander Lime Hummus

The Vegan Eskimo knows the magic of tickling your taste buds – how else can you explain this awesome coriander lime hummus? If you’re Indian, you know how coriander and lime taste together, and combined with creamy chickpeas, you have a winner!

21. Homemade Mustard

Mustard is what gives burgers and other kiddie favorites that punchy flavor. It isn’t something that most people would consider making at home, but Wonky Wonderful shows us that it’s really easier than we think!

22. 5 Minute Homemade Ketchup

I know of toddlers who won’t eat anything unless it’s served with tomato ketchup, and who’ll eat anything if served with it! In fact my own son had a phase where he ate ONLY ketchup. So make sure they’re not ingesting artificial colors or preservatives, by making your own ketchup, with this 5 minute recipe from Served from Scratch.

23. Fail Proof Homemade Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is another condiment that’s quite popular with children. They put it in sandwiches, burgers as well as using it as a dip with fritters or fries. So it only makes sense that you should make your own, and if you’re afraid, this fail proof recipe from Inspired Taste should help!

24. Tofu and Cashew Nut Mayonnaise

If you’d like to try a mayonnaise recipe that’s a little off the beaten path, try this one that uses tofu and cashew nuts. Both these ingredients offer the requisite creaminess along with healthy calories, making it a good option for weight gaining.

25. Veggie Lovers Cream Cheese Spread

This veggie spread from Bake at Midnite has so many vegetables it can qualify as salad on it’s own! This recipe is the perfect solution to get your fussy eater to eat a variety of vegetables, through traditional kiddie methods like sandwiches or burgers.

26. Homemade Cream Cheese

Few things can match the pleasure of biting into hot, crunchy toast slathered with soft, creamy cheese! If you want that feeling without the preservatives, make your own cream cheese with this easy recipe from Served from Scratch.

27. Carrot Olive Spinach Sandwich Spread

Just the name of this sandwich spread should have Moms smiling – now here’s a great way to get your picky eater to eat those veggies! Since this recipe from Archana’s Kitchen is a savory one, you can also try adding it to parathas or stuffed dosas.

28. Green Pea Avocado Spread

Avocado’s natural creaminess makes it an ideal ingredient for spreads, and this green pea avocado spread from One Green Planet is no exception. Vegan, gluten-free and nut-free, this is the perfect sandwich spread for any kind of diet!

29. Roasted Beetroot Hummus

The Baking Spoon has a gorgeous looking spread recipe, with the color coming from roasted beetroot. We know beetroots are packed with nutrients, and this is an awesome way to get vegetable-haters to love it!

30. Sun Dried Tomato Chickpea Spread

Protein is an important nutrient for kids, but many don’t get the required amount. However, this spread from Highlands Ranch Foodie solves the problem, being packed with protein-rich chickpeas! This is different from hummus, and is a welcome change.

31. Smoked Mackerel Spread

If your child enjoys fish, then this smoked mackerel spread from Eat Drink Cook is a must try recipe! Packed with healthy fats and protein, this recipe requires just a few ingredients, including the easily available mackerel.

32. Rainbow Bit Sandwich Spread

Here’s another yummy non vegetarian spread from Tiny Tummy Tales and this one qualifies as a meal in itself! You can make this out of tuna or chicken, and with some veggies and spices tossed in, it turns any sandwich into a gourmet meal!

The best part of these spreads is that you can sneak in all kinds of things – fruits, vegetables, meat, fish – and your kids will be none the wiser. There can’t be an easier way to help your fussy eater get his nutrients and maintain his weight. Besides using these as sandwich spreads, they also work well as dips for veggie sticks or other snacks.