By Rosemary McMaster
The holidays can be fun no matter how old you are, but there is still something undeniably magical about this time of year for children. I vividly remember the holiday traditions my family and I always enjoyed when I was younger, one of my favorites of which was crafting holiday treats together! Nothing brought me more joy than sitting at the kitchen counter with my brother and sister to see who could make the best-looking creation. And so, from my family’s tradition to yours, here are a few DIY holiday snacks that are easy to do and always kid friendly!
Incorporating traditions such as these makes this time of year fun for everyone, and many of my fondest memories from my childhood involved crafting such treats with my family! Help make every holiday memorable for your children this year!
DIY Turkey Cookies
Oreo Cookies
Candy Corn
Malted Milk Balls
Chocolate Icing
Optional: Mini Reeses Cups, candy eyes
Start by unsticking the two halves of the Oreo. Stick the unfrosted cookie into the frosting on the other half, placing it towards an outer edge of the frosted cookie so that you have a corner-shape between the two; use the chocolate frosting to stick the cookie down if you need to.
Then, place your malted milk ball in the center of the corner to act as the turkey’s head and make sure it sticks using frosting. Frost down candy corns on the unfrosted cookie, framing the malt ball as if they were turkey feathers.
Finally, cut off a white tip from one of the candy corns and frost it to the front of the milk ball to act as a beak. You can even go in with colored icing to give your turkey some eyes or other details if you would like. These sweet treats can also be customized in whatever way your child likes best; use a mini Reese’s Cup underneath the milk ball to act as a body, or frost some candy corns to the side of the milk ball to act as wings! These fun treats help to remind kids there are holidays outside just Christmas!
DIY Santa Claus Cookies
Sugar Cookies of your choice
Vanilla or Chocolate Frosting
Coconut Flakes
Red Sprinkles
M&M’s
Mini Marshmallows
Let your kiddos frost the entire front side of a sugar cookie and then sprinkle coconut flakes on one half of the cookie for Santa’s beard. On the opposite end from the coconut, put the red sprinkles on the upper 1/3rd of the cookie to represent Santa’s red hat, and place a mini marshmallow on the sprinkles for the white puffball on his hat. Finally, put two blue M&M’s in between the sprinkles and the coconut for his eyes, and a red M and M for his nose. These cookies are an easy treat for children of all ages and a delicious one to gobble up when you are done!
White Chocolate Candy Cane Lollipops
Mini Candy Canes
White Chocolate or Candy Melts
Sprinkles
Lollipop Sticks
Start off by melting your chocolate. I always have used white chocolate chips over a double-boiler, but candy melts from your local craft store can be used as well in the microwave.
Arrange two mini candy canes into the shape of a heart on some parchment paper or other nonstick surface, and stick a lollipop stick in the middle of the candy canes so it emerges from the bottom of the heart.
Then, simply scoop some of the melted chocolate in between the two candy canes and spread it out to connect the two.
Decorate your lollipop with sprinkles, crushed up candy canes, or any other candy you’d like while the chocolate is still soft!