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These 5 Easy No-Bake treats that kids can make have five ingredients or less, so they are a YES in my book! I think that if you can get a child involved in cooking, it gives them so much more than just a treat. It gives them quality time with you, a gift of creativity, a little lesson in math (tablespoons, cups, etc…), a lesson in science (liquids, solids, combining items), reading and phonics (reading the instructions with you)… the list goes on & on. Enjoy these recipes and enjoy the time spent making them with your family.
Making Christmas candies with kids can be a ton of fun and it’s not quite as messy as making Christmas Cookies. Here are some easy recipes kids can make without any baking or stovetop cooking!
5 No-Bake Treats:
1. Homemade Peppermint Patties
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 egg white (meringue powder may be substituted)
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
4 small lids peppermint flavoring (try 1/2-1 tsp. then add more to taste if you need to)
1 pkg. (12 oz.) melting chocolate (wafers or almond bark)
Mix the powdered sugar, egg white or meringue, butter and peppermint flavoring. Make into small balls about the size of a quarter and then flatten on a cookie sheet. Put in the freezer. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler. When the chocolate is melted, take the mints out of the freezer. Put a toothpick through the center of a mint and dip into the chocolate. If the mints on the cookie sheet begin to soften and thaw, refreeze because they are easier to dip when they are frozen. Put the dipped mints back on the cookie sheet and let the chocolate harden in the freezer. Wrap each mint in a piece of 5×5 inch foil. Makes twenty 2-inch mints.
2. Homemade Peanut Butter Balls
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (12 oz.) melting chocolate (candy wafers or almond bark)
Cream the butter. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Shape peanut butter into small 1 1/2 inch balls.
Place in freezer for 10-15 minutes.
Place the chocolate in a microwave safe dish and melt. Microwave until melted, stirring frequently. Dip the peanut butter balls into chocolate and place on wax paper to harden.
Let the chocolate harden before serving. Makes 2 dozen.
3. Marshmallow Bonbons Recipe
38-40 large marshmallows
1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips or melting chocolate
Coconut
Sprinkles
Nuts, chopped
Place marshmallows on a pan that is covered with wax paper and place in the freezer. They will be ready by the time you need to dip them.
Pour coconut, sprinkles and nuts on squares of wax paper. You could use a bowl but wax paper saves time and effort in clean up.
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for a couple of minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted.
Place frozen marshmallows on a skewer or toothpick and dip in chocolate. Then in roll in your choice of ingredients (below).
Use a fork to slide them back on the wax paper. Chill.
4. Peppermint Bark Recipe
1 lb. white almond bark
1 cup crushed peppermint candies*
1/4 tsp. peppermint flavoring (optional)
Melt the almond bark in the microwave according to the directions. Stir in peppermints and flavoring. I like my bark really minty so I add more flavoring. Pour onto waxed paper or silpat on a cookie sheet and let harden. You can put it in the fridge if you prefer. Then break into pieces.
*To crush candy canes, put them in a ziptop bag and smash them with a rolling pin.
Variations: You can put just about anything into almond bark for different flavors!
Almonds
Almonds and Cherries
Peanut Butter Chips
Oreos
M&M’s
Caramel Bits
5. Two-Ingredient Coconut Haystacks
12 oz. chocolate chips
3-4 cups shredded coconut
Melt chocolate. Add desired amount of coconut. Place by spoonfuls on waxed paper or silpat on a cookie sheet. Place in the fridge to harden.I hope that you enjoyed these 5 no-bake treats with 5 ingredients or less!
Find more recipes like this (while saving money on your meals) in Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam’s book, Dining on a Dime Cookbook. I love it because it teaches you to feed your family on a budget. We have a family of six, so this is a must!
You can find out more about the book here.
You can find out more about the book here.
Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit https://www.
