Seasonal Snacks for the Preschool Classroom: Holiday Snack Recipes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, Easter & Independence Day

Seasonal Snacks for the Preschool Classroom: Holiday Snack Recipes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, Easter & Independence Day
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Halloween Spiders

Halloween preschool snacks will be a big hit if they combine a little “trick” with the “treat.” These Spooky Spiders are a perfect combination of both:

Materials

  • Chocolate crème-filled sandwich cookies (one per child)
  • Pieces of black string licorice cut into 5” lengths (4 pieces per child)
  • Mini candy-coated chocolate pieces (2 of the same color per child)
  • Halloween-themed paper plates (enough for each child to have one)

Before beginning any of the classroom party ideas mentioned in this article, have all of the ingredients assembled on a plate for each child. Show students how to gently twist their chocolate crème-filled sandwich cookie until the top and bottom of the cookie are no longer separated. You may wish to have extra cookies on hand in case of breakage. Using the half of the cookie with the white crème still attached, have the children lay the four pieces of black string licorice across the white crème. Strings should be spaced apart and not all lumped together. Replace the top of the cookie. Use the two mini candy-coated chocolate pieces to create eyes for your spider creation.

Your Spooky Spiders will surely be a hit this Halloween! Snacks made by the kids may then be eaten as part of your classroom celebration, or taken home to share with the family.

Thanksgiving Turkeys

Looking for Thanksgiving treats that are sure to be “gobbled” up? This preschool Thanksgiving Day treat is just the ticket!

Materials

  • Round sugar cookies (one per child)
  • 1 can of chocolate frosting
  • Mini candy-coated chocolate pieces (2 of the same color per child)
  • Candy corn (enough so that each child may have 10 pieces)
  • Mini pretzel sticks (enough so that each child may have 2)
  • Plastic knife
  • Thanksgiving-themed paper plates (one for each child)

On each paper plate, place 1 cookie, 2 mini candy-coated chocolate pieces, 10 pieces of candy corn, two mini pretzel sticks, a plastic knife and one large dollop of chocolate frosting.

Have the children use the plastic knife to spread a thin line of chocolate frosting across the top part of the cookie – in an arc. Place 7 of the candy corn pieces onto the cookie, following the chocolate frosting line. These will serve as the turkey’s feathers.

Dip the two candy-coated chocolate pieces into the remaining dollop of frosting, and place on the cookie so that they become the turkey’s eyes.

Take the 8th piece of candy corn. Break off the white tip. This will be the turkey’s beak. Dip into the chocolate frosting dollop and place on the cookie, beneath the eyes.

Use the pretzel sticks as legs and the remaining two pieces of candy corn for the feet, and your Thanksgiving treats are complete!

Christmas Snowman Treat

Materials

  • Marshmallows (enough for 3 per child)
  • Chocolate wafer cookies (enough for 1 per child)
  • Mini Tootsie Rolls (enough for 1 per child)
  • Fruit by the Foot roll (1 per child)
  • Small tubes of black frosting
  • White Frosting
  • Plastic Knives
  • Round sugar cookie (enough for 1 per child)
  • Christmas-themed paper plates (enough for 1 per child)

For these Christmas holiday snacks, give each child a plate filled with 3 marshmallows, 1 chocolate wafer cookie, 1 Tootsie Roll, a large dollop of white frosting, 1 sugar cookie and a plastic knife.

Ask the children to use the frosting to first frost the cookie. Have the children place one of the marshmallows in the center of the cookie, so that it adheres to the frosting. Using the frosting left on the plate, dip the bottoms of the remaining marshmallows. Use these to build the 3 sections of the snowman.

Use the knife to spread a small amount of frosting in the center of the bottom of the chocolate wafer. Attach this to the top of the marshmallow stack. This will be the brim of the snowman’s hat.

Unwrap the Tootsie Roll. Use a finger and a thumb to squish the Tootsie Roll a bit…so that it is short and fat. Dip in frosting and attach to the center top of the chocolate wafer. This will be the top of the hat.

Help students tear off a portion of the Fruit by the Foot Roll. This will be used as the snowman’s scarf. Wrap it around the snowman’s “neck”, beneath the top marshmallow.

Use the small tubes of black frosting to make dots for the eyes.

Now quick! Eat your snowman before he melts!

Valentine’s Day Post Card

If you are looking for fun and easy Valentine’s Day treats for kids at school or at home, this one is hits the mark! The following materials are just a suggestion. You can use your favorite candy to make the preschool Valentine treat even more special!

Materials

  • Post Alpha-Bits cereal (enough of the letters to spell out “I Love You” for each child)
  • Pink frosting
  • Graham Crackers (1 per child)
  • Skittles (handful per child)
  • Starbursts (1 per child)
  • Plastic Knives (1 per child)
  • Valentine’s Day-themed paper plates (1 per child)

Students will create their own postcard for this preschool classroom party Valentine treat. Give each child a plate with the following items: 1 full sheet of graham cracker, a handful of skittles, 1 wrapped Starburst, 1 plastic knife, and a dollop of pink frosting. Students will also need the cereal letters to spell out “I Love You.”

Have students spread the pink frosting on one side of the full sheet of graham cracker. Take the wrapper off of the Starburst candy. This will serve as the postcard’s “stamp.” The students may then use the handful of Skittles to decorate the border of their postcard.

For the final step, the students will locate the letters which spell out “I Love You,” and place them in the correct order in the center of the post card. You may wish to write the phrase on the board so that children can match the letters.

Students can then enjoy the fruits of these sweet preschool party treats for their holiday snacks! Looking for a craft to accompany your Valentine’s Day treats? For kids at school or at home, making Valentine’s Day cards and a mailbox is the perfect complement to the snack.

Easter Nests

Make your Easter snacks extra special with these adorable nests!

Materials

  • Large pastel-colored cupcake papers (1 for each child)
  • Sugar-free PEEPS Chicks (1 for each child)
  • Small pretzel sticks (broken into halves)
  • Cheerios
  • Butterscotch chips
  • Corn Chex
  • Easter or spring paper plates (1 for each child)
  • Dixie cups
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Spoon for mixing

As with the other classroom party ideas, student participation is key! Let the children help you combine the pretzels, Cheerios, butterscotch chips and Corn Chex into a snack mix using the large mixing bowl. Spoon the holiday snacks mix into individual Dixie cups. Put a Dixie cup full of mix, 1 cupcake paper and 1 PEEP chick onto a paper plate for each child.

Students may then pour the snack mix into the cupcake paper. This will become the chick’s nest. The last step is to add the PEEP chick to the top and enjoy these little snacks together, or add them to an Easter basket.

Easy Treats for the Fourth of July

When it comes to summer fun, the key is finding something mess-free and easy. The 4th of July treats listed below can be made in the classroom with your students, or ahead of time by assigning them to families.

  • Layers of red, white and blue Jell-O in a cup
  • Red Goldfish crackers, white popcorn and blue M&Ms make a tasty mix that is sweet and salty
  • Red Velvet cupcakes with white frosting and blueberries on top
  • Let the children make their own push-up Popsicles:

Materials: Red Kool-Aid, white grape juice, blue Gatorade, small waxed cup, Popsicle stick

Directions: Insert a Popsicle stick into the center of the cup at the bottom. Layer the different liquids one at a time, remembering to freeze in-between each layer. Rest the Popsicles on the racks of the freezer, with the sticks dangling down. If you do not have access to a freezer with racks, simply use a cooling rack in the freezer instead.

When planning your treats, however, do keep any classroom allergies in mind!

Pair your preschool holiday snacks with party games to extend the fun!

Do you have other unique classroom party ideas that you’d like to share? If so, be sure to visit the comments section below.

The ideas offered in this article are based on the author’s extensive experience as a classroom teacher and mom.