California Raisins Pumpkin Bread #SnacktoSchool #LoveYourRaisins

Kids are back in school and trying to get them to eat healthy snacks can be a challenge. However, not impossible! Adding delicious California raisins to your dishes will not only ad loads of flavor, it will pack a powerful nutrition punch as well! California Raisins are an all-natural, dried-by-the-sun fruit you can feel good about sending with your kids as they head back to school or offering as an after-school snack. The ingredient list says it all: Raisins.

Here are a few ways you can add California raisins to your back to school snacks…

1. Add them to any trail mix or granola recipe.

2. Add them to a bread recipe (see mine below).

3. Make ants on a log. It is so simple. Just spread some peanut butter on celery and your California raisins … “ants” … are in a line on top of the peanut butter.

4. Make it simple and just have them on the go! California Raisins are a great choice for wholesome, healthy, on-the-go snacking. They are a great value, too! According to the USDA, raisins are the most economical dried fruit.

5. You can also throw them in salads along with some favorite nuts or seeds. It really adds a new layer of flavor to your salad recipes.

California Raisins come by their sweetness naturally. With California Raisins, the nutrition label tells a great story: Zero fat, no cholesterol and no added sugar. Plus, raisins offer 9% of your daily fiber and potassium, and 6% of your daily iron. (per quarter cup serving)

I added them to a pumpkin bread recipe I have and they really packed some amazing flavor into this bread. The family LOVED it! I hope yours does too!

California Raisins Pumpkin Bread

1-15 oz can of organic pumpkin
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp vanilla
4 large organic eggs
3 cups organic all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup of finely chopped, macadamia nuts
1/2 cup of California golden raisins
1 – 9x5x3 loaf

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and make sure that your racks are low enough that the top of your loaf pans will be in the center of the oven.

Grease bottom only of loaf pan with butter or shortening.

Mix pumpkin, sugar, and apple sauce in large bowl.

Add eggs.

Mix well.

Set aside.

Mix all dry ingredients.

Sir in to wet.

Add nuts and raisins and make sure they are mixed well.

Pour into loaf pan. Optional: top with a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar, a few nuts, and some golden raisins.

Bake for 70-80 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, and bread is golden brown.

Let cool for about 10-15 minutes on a wire rack.

Then, loosen sides, and remove loaf from pan, and let cool out of pan on wire rack.

Once it is cool, slice it up and enjoy!

We like ours a little warm with a some butter.

For more information about California raisins, be sure to check out www.loveyourraisins.com and follow California raisins on Facebook! Note: If you visit their Facebook page, you can sign up to receive a California raisins prize pack (limited supply, while quantities last).

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.