Getting kids involved in the kitchen can be a delightful mix of playtime and snack time! Whether it’s a rainy afternoon or a weekend activity, creating cute, easy-to-make foods helps children develop cooking skills, confidence, and creativity. Here are some adorable (and tasty) food ideas that kids will love making just as much as they love eating.
1. Bunny Sandwiches
This adorable bunny sandwich is perfect for Easter lunches, spring parties, or just a fun surprise in your kiddo’s lunchbox!
What you need:
- Bread (white or whole wheat)
- Heart shaped cookie cutter
- Cheese
- Carrots
- Olives
How to make it:
Start with soft sandwich bread and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make the bunny’s face. For the ears, simply cut another heart in half and place the two halves above the head, points outward. Use sliced cheese for the inner ears and a more under the face. Add candy eyes, a black olive or candy nose, and thin carrot sticks for the whiskers.
2. Fruity Flower Power
A fruity flower platter is not only super cute but also a fun, hands-on way for kids to learn about healthy snacking and creativity!
What you need:
- Strawberries (sliced)
- Banana (sliced)
- Kiwi (sliced)
- Cheese sticks
How to make it:
- Arrange strawberry slices in a circle to form flower petals, then place a banana slice in the center as the flower’s heart.
- Use a cheese stick for the stem, and sliced kiwi for the leaves or grass at the base.
- Kids can customize their “garden” however they want!
3. Ladybug Tomato Crackers
These savory little ladybug bites are perfect for spring picnics, garden parties, or themed snacks. Made with cherry tomatoes, olives, and a creamy spread on buttery crackers — they’re as tasty as they are cute!
Ingredients:
- Round crackers (like Ritz)
- Cream cheese or herbed cheese spread
- Cherry tomatoes
- Black olives
- Chives (for antennae)
- Black sesame seeds or poppy seeds (for the spots)
Instructions:
- Spread cream cheese onto each cracker as the base.
- Slice cherry tomatoes in half and place two halves side by side to form wings.
- Cut black olives in half and place one half in front of the tomatoes as the ladybug’s head.
- Use black sesame or poppy seeds to create the ladybug’s spots.
- Insert small chive pieces behind the olive to look like antennae.
- Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving.
4. Silly Apple Frogs with Strawberry Tongues
Make these quirky apple frog snacks which are sure to make kids giggle — and eat more fruit! Made with green apples, strawberries, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips, they’re a fun, no-bake treat perfect for parties or snack time.
Ingredients:
- Green apples
- Strawberries
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Toothpicks
Instructions:
- Slice apples into quarters and remove the core. Make a small horizontal cut into each quarter to create a mouth-like opening.
- Insert a strawberry slice inside each apple “mouth” to look like a long tongue.For the eyes, skewer a mini marshmallow with a toothpick and press a chocolate chip into the center.
- Stick the toothpicks into the top of the apple, creating funny bulging frog eyes.
