Edible Firecrackers
These patriotic desserts are simple to make and more fun to eat!
Ingredients:
– 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
– Two 10 oz. bags of marshmallows
– 10 cups Rice Krispies cereal
– 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
– 3/4 cup blue candy melts
– 1/2 cup red candy melts
– 6 jumbo marshmallows
– 1 black licorice wheel
– White cake frosting with star tip
– Red, white and blue sprinkles
Directions for Rice Krispies:
1. Spray a 9 x 9 pan with a non-stick spray and set aside.
2. In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over low heat.
3. Add the marshmallows to the butter, stirring constantly until melted.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the cereal and salt (optional) until well coated.
5. Transfer the cereal mixture to the prepared pan and press down firmly.
6. Cool for 30 minutes and cut into 6 large bars.
Directions for decorating:
1. Line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper and set aside.
2. Melt the blue candy melts in a double boiler or in 15 second increments in the microwave, stirring occasionally.
3. Dip the bottom of each Rice Krispies bar into the melted blue candy. Set on one cookie sheet to harden.
4. Melt the red candy melts, stirring occasionally.
5. Roll each jumbo marshmallow in the melted red candy, covering each one entirely. Place on the other cookie sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes to speed the hardening process. Set aside the remaining red candy melts for later.
6. Cut 6 two inch pieces from the black licorice wheel.
7. After 10 minutes, remove the marshmallows from the refrigerator and poke a hole into the top of each marshmallow.
8. Insert the licorice pieces into the tops of the marshmallows to resemble the fuse.
9. Reheat the leftover red candy melts. Dip the bottom of each marshmallow into the red candy melts and place on top of the Rice Krispies bars, squared in the middle.
10. Use the white cake frosting and sprinkles to decorate.
Source: https://www.survivingateacherssalary.com/4th-july-edible-firecrackers-recipe/
4th of July Hot Dogs
A simple and fun way to spruce up your hot dogs!
Ingredients:
– 1 can refrigerated breadstick dough
– 2 packages of hot dogs (16 hot dogs)
– 16 thick slices of Colby cheese
– 16 skewers
Directions:
1. Take your skewers and stick them all the way through your hot dogs leaving about an inch and a half exposed at the top of each hot dog.
2. Wrap a piece of the breadstick dough around the hot dog.
3. Place the wrapped hot dogs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake according to the package directions for the dough.
4. While the hot dogs are cooking, cut stars out of your cheese slices with a knife or star shaped cookie cutter.
5. After your hot dogs have cooled 2-3 minutes, stick the star through the skewer at the top.
Source: https://www.handmadeintheheartland.com/4th-of-july-firecracker-dogs/
Bird Nests
Adorable little nests for your Peeps!
Ingredients:
– 2 packages (10 to 12 ounces each) white baking chips
– 1 package (10 ounces) pretzel sticks
– 24 yellow chicks Peeps candy
– 1 package (12 ounces) M&M’s eggs or other egg-shaped candy
Directions:
1. In a large metal bowl over simmering water, melt the baking chips and stir until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup melted chips for decorations, keep warm.
2. Add pretzel sticks to remaining melted chips, stir to coat evenly.
3. Drop mixture into 24 mounds on waxed paper, shape into bird nests using 2 forks.
4. Dip bottoms of Peeps into reserved melted chips, place in nests.
5. Attach eggs with remaining melted chips.
6. Let stand until set.
Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/bird-nests/
Bite-Size Apple Pies
Quick and easy apple pies – watch them disappear!
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
– 2 sheets refrigerated pie crust
– 3 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
– 2 medium tart apples
– Caramel sauce, optional
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; reserve 1 tablespoon. On a lightly floured surface, unroll pie crusts; roll and trim each to an 8-in. square. Brush with 2 tablespoons butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture. Cut each square into eight 1-in. strips.
2. Cut each apple into 8 wedges; wrap 1 strip of pastry around each wedge, placing sugared side of pastry against the apple.
3. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush tops with remaining butter; sprinkle with reserved sugar mixture. Bake 13-15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Serve warm, with caramel sauce if desired.
Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/bite-sized-apple-pies/
Valentine’s House
If you love making Gingerbread Houses for Christmas (or even if you don’t!), here is a tasty treat for Valentine’s Day to make with your favorite patching Valentine! Not only will this be a fun activity, it will also help with vision training during patching time.
TIP: If you are making your house with younger children, make the house structure in advance so the melted chocolate or icing can set. Many younger kids are just too excited to wait during this step, and you want to be sure their house doesn’t come apart during decorating.
Ingredients:
– 4 full graham crackers
– Melted white chocolate chips or royal icing
– Valentine’s candy
Directions:
1. Carefully cut one of the graham crackers so it has a triangle shape on top (a gentle sawing motion works best). Repeat with a second cracker.
2. Cut the other two crackers in half, so you have four halves and two with triangle shapes.
3. Lay one triangle shape cracker in between two halves. Pipe a line of melted chocolate or royal icing down the sides of each half. Press against the sides of the triangle shape cracker. Hold for about a minute, then carefully lift it to a standing position and insert the other triangle shaped cracker.
4. When all four walls are put together, pipe the white chocolate or royal icing along the top edges of all four crackers and place the two remaining cracker halves on as the roof, adding additional white chocolate or icing along the peak of the roof.
5. Let stand for at least 10 minutes for the chocolate or icing to harden, then decorate with candy as desired.
Source: https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/valentines-day-gingerbread-houses.html
Santa Banana Pops
Christmas fruit kabobs made to look just like Santa!
Ingredients:
– 6 bananas
– 6 lollipop sticks
– 6 strawberries
– 4 large marshmallows
– 12 mini marshmallows
– 24 mini chocolate chips
– 2 tablespoons melted chocolate chips
– 12 red M&M’s
Directions:
1. Peel the bananas and cut them in half and place them on the sticks.
2. Cut the marshmallows into thirds and place one on top of each banana.
3. Slice the tops off the strawberries, and place one on top of each marshmallow.
4. Top each strawberry with a mini marshmallow.
5. Stick two mini chocolate chips into each banana for the eyes.
6. Add a dot of melted chocolate to the banana just under the eyes. Place an M&M into the chocolate and allow the chocolate to dry.
Source: https://www.midgetmomma.com/santa-banana-pops/
Reindeer Crackers
Super easy to make, even for little hands!
Ingredients:
– Round crackers of any variety
– Peanut butter (or your favorite seed butter if allergic)
– Red candies (like M&M’s)
– Mini pretzel twists
– Mini chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Spread each cracker with the peanut or seed butter.
2. Press two pretzels into the peanut butter to make antlers.
3. Add one red candy for the nose and push into place.
4. Carefully add in two mini chocolate chips for the eyes and press those into place.
Source: https://www.bentolunch.net/2014/12/make-reindeer-cracker-snacks.html
Witch’s Broomsticks
These are an easy Halloween treat that both kids and adults are sure to gobble up!
Ingredients:
– 8 string cheese sticks
– 24 pretzel sticks
– Fresh chives
Directions:
1. Cut each string cheese stick into thirds (about 1-1/2″ each).
2. Make lengthwise cuts around the cheese stick to about half way up.
3. In the uncut end of the cheese, insert a pretzel stick.
4. Bind with a piece of chive. Cut off excess chive.
Source: https://momfoodie.com/witches-broomstick-snacks-easy-halloween-party-snacks/
Green Apple Monsters
These adorable apple monster faces are super simple to make and perfect for the whole family – especially if you like peanut butter and apples!
Ingredients:
– 3 green apples
– 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
– 2 ounces of sliced cheese
– 2 tablespoons of pumpkin or sunflower seeds
– A package of candy eyes
Directions:
1. Quarter the green apples and slice off the core and seeds. Carefully cut out a v-shape into the center of the apple quarter to create the mouth of the monster.
2. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter in the mouths.
3. Press several pumpkin or sunflower seeds onto the top of the mouth along the edge to form teeth.
4. Place a triangular slice of cheese into the mouth.
5. Spread a small amount of peanut butter onto the back of the candy eyes and place them on top of the apple slices.
Source: https://thishealthytable.com/blog/apple-monsters/
Spider Crackers
A fun and easy Halloween or everyday snack!
Ingredients:
– Round crackers such as Ritz
– Pretzel sticks
– Cream cheese, unsalted peanut butter, or any spreadable nut butter
– Small dried fruit such as raisins, blueberries, cranberries or even mini chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Spread the cream cheese or nut butter on two crackers thick enough to hold the pretzels. Make sure it is not runny otherwise it will not hold.
2. Break 4 pretzel sticks in half.
3. Place the broken pretzel sticks around one cracker to look like spider legs.
4. Take the second cracker and sandwich the pretzel sticks in between the two crackers, without them moving.
5. Dip two raisins in cream cheese or nut butter and stick to the top of one of the crackers for eyes.
Source: https://lajollamom.com/halloween-snacks-for-kids-spider-crackers/
Snack-o’-Lantern Fruit Cups
A healthy fun snack for Halloween!
Ingredients:
– Oranges
– Other fruit options of your choice
Directions:
1. Slice the top off of the orange. Run a knife around its interior to hollow it out.
2. Scoop out the orange segments and reserve for filling. Carve pumpkin face on one side of the orange.
3. Use a paper towel to gently soak up any remaining juice inside the orange.
4. Dice up desired fruit, including the reserved orange segments and fill each cup.
5. Set the lid back on top and serve.