The very first time my son and I were inspired to make a recipe based on a book was after reading Donut Feed the Squirrels — which led us straight into the kitchen to make our own Chestnut Vegan Donuts.
The story follows a few determined squirrels who come up with increasingly creative (and slightly chaotic) ways to get donuts from a food truck:
Sneaky plans
Big ideas
Questionable execution
Their schemes don’t quite work out as expected, but in the process they accidentally help create the food truck owner’s number one best-selling recipe — chestnut-flavored donuts.
As I read aloud, I realized the book had quietly answered a question I’d been turning over for weeks: what was I going to do with the small package of prepared chestnuts from Trader Joe’s?
I had originally imagined stuffing. But suddenly, a much more fun idea took shape …
While reading, I looked at my son as a little lightbulb went off in my head and said, “Why don’t we make chestnut-flavored donuts?” His eyes lit up immediately.
This is one of those parenting moments that sticks with you — when curiosity and creativity collide and turn into action.
That night — right after we finished the book — we searched on Amazon and found a confetti-speckled silicone donut pan that could be delivered overnight, so we could make them the very next day (patience has never been my strongest virtue).
When Stories Spill Into the Kitchen
Inspiration has a way of turning into action — especially when it starts with a good book.
This story holds an extra special place for us because it was one of the first graphic novels my son ever read on his own. He was six at the time, and an author (Katherine Applegate) had come to his school to read another book, Doggo and Pupper. He loved it. From that point on, he naturally gravitated toward the kids’ graphic novel section during our weekly library visits.
Graphic novels became a bridge — helping him fall in love with reading in a way that felt fun, accessible, and pressure-free.
That love for stories soon started spilling into other parts of our life, including the kitchen — mainly with a mess of flour.
Let Them Make a Mess
My son used to keep his distance from flour, happy to watch from across the table while I baked — it’s a sensory thing.
Over time, curiosity did what encouragement couldn’t. One finger turned into two, and eventually the flour stopped feeling so scary and icky. The kitchen got a lot messier after that — and somehow, more fun too.
A few gentle reminders for parents:
Watching counts as participation.
Curiosity can’t be rushed.
Small touches are big steps.
Messes mean something felt safe enough to try.
Books really do inspire — not just reading, but doing.
Where the Learning Happens
When it came time to make the donuts, the recipe was a winner from the start. Nutmeg and chestnuts filled the kitchen with that warm, fall smell the moment the batter came together.
I blended everything into a fluffy batter, and my son helped pour, mix, and taste along the way. There were questions, small spills, and a little impatience while we waited for them to bake.
This is where food learning happens — not at the table, but in the making.
And sometimes, those messy kitchen moments send us looking a little closer at where food comes from in the first place.
For that, we can turn to nature … where squirrels really do find interesting ways to get their food.
We stumbled upon a squirrel with his head inside a pumpkin this fall, eating his own pumpkin pie? My guess!
Lessons to Take Away
There are a few simple but meaningful lessons woven into this experience:
Books inspire creativity — stories turn ideas into action
We even used ours later to make blueberry donuts — another unexpected creation by my son, the little chef. Once kids see the kitchen as a place for creativity rather than rules, everything shifts.
If you want to help your kids feel more invested in cooking and trying new foods, try using one of the Messy Little Eaters Memory Cards during your kitchen adventures.
Kids can:
Write or draw what they made
Describe how it smelled
Share what they liked
Give feedback on what they might change next time
These cards turn food experiences into keepsakes — little snapshots of learning and growth you’ll both look back on.
Donut Feed the Squirrels is chaotic in the best way. It’s about impulse, excitement, and what happens when one small decision snowballs into absolute nonsense.
Chestnut-flavored donuts match that energy — cozy, a little unexpected, and very much a “why not?” bake. Not everyday food. Special food. The kind you make when the plan is already a little off the rails.
Best For: All ages are welcome, but it’s typically best suited for ages 4–9, especially children who love humor, chaos, and pushing boundaries.
Read Along Focus: Lean into the silliness. This is not a “sit still” book. Expect laughing, interrupting, and strong opinions.
Things to Point Out While Reading:
Communication can happen in many different ways — not just with words
Some of the best things come from happy accidents
Quick thinking can lead to creative solutions
Simple Lessons:
Practicing impulse control (not every idea has to happen right now)
Understanding cause and effect
Thinking ahead—or learning to laugh when you don’t
Kitchen Tie-In: Making donuts works because it mirrors the story: things get messy fast. Let kids help with the messiest ingredients (if they want to), help scoop the batter into the donut pan, and/or add toppings. Always talk about what might happen next — in the book and in real life.
The Moment You’re Creating
This is not a calm baking experience — and that’s the point. This experience is for mixing dough, talking about squirrels, donuts, and bad ideas, maybe even debating whether we would feed donuts to squirrels (or maybe some fresh pumpkin to keep things healthy) …
Flour on the counter, laughter when things don’t look right, and donuts that may or may not turn out looking perfectly.
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