Young children will love helping create valentine treats.
Valentine's Day is not just for adults; kids enjoy the holiday, too. They, of course, are not planning flower purchases or fancy dinners, but will get a kick out of sharing homemade valentines and cooking up treats fit for Cupid himself. Show your tot how much you care by having him help bake and decorate goodies that scream, "I love you."
Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are easy and festive.
Make sugar cookies for pre-school-aged children to cut out and decorate. Choose cookie mix from the baking aisle in the grocery store, or purchase tubes of dough from the refrigerator section. Follow the mixing instructions on the package, and roll out the dough. Let the children use festive cookie cutters to form the cookies. Select Valentine's Day-themed shapes, such as hearts and arrows. Bake the cookies according to the instructions on the package. Once you remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool, have the children decorate them. Set up an assembly line with tubs of frosting, sprinkles and decorating gels.
Double-Layer Fudge
Decorate this easy fudge recipe with conversation hearts.
Cook easy double-layer fudge in the microwave. Combine 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips, 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk and a dash of salt in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the mixture on high at 30-second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Make sure to have the children help out by stirring after each interval. Use a spatula to spread the smooth, dark chocolate mixture into an 8-inch square pan that's been lined with aluminum foil. Create a white chocolate layer by replacing the semisweet chocolate chips with white chocolate chips. Repeat the entire sequence, spreading the white layer over the dark chocolate layer. While the fudge is warm, score it into 1-inch squares. Instruct the children to place a conversation heart on each square. Cool the fudge until it is firm, and then cut it into squares along the score lines. Have the children place each square into a mini muffin cup. Use cellophane and curling ribbon to wrap up each piece of candy.
Heart-Shaped Pizza Pie
Shape your pizza like a heart for unique Valentine's Day flair.
Purchase fresh pizza dough from the local grocery store or bakery. Flour a cutting board or counter top, and have the children roll out the dough. Help them shape it into a heart. Roll the edges inward to create a crust. Put out a dish of sauce, shredded mozzarella and other pizza toppings. Place the heart-shaped pie on a cookie sheet, and bake in a 425 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 15 minutes. Check to see that the crust is golden brown and that the toppings are bubbling. Let it stand for five minutes before cutting.
Crispy Cut-Out Treats
Use cookie cutters to shape these sweet and crispy treats.
Melt 3 tbsp. of butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add in a 10-oz. package of marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Stir in a couple drops of red food coloring. Add 6 cups of crisp rice cereal, and stir until the cereal is completely coated. Use wax paper to press the mixture into a 15-by-10-by-1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Allow the kids to use heart-shaped cookie cutters coated with cookie spray to cut out the treats. Decorate with frosting, sprinkles and assorted candies.
Tags: chocolate chips, cookie cutters, children decorate, children place, chocolate layer