A Bite of Love: 5 Valentine’s Snacks for Kids to Make

Each Valentine’s Day, people across the U.S. spend billions of dollars on heart-shaped gifts, dinners at fancy restaurants, and loads of chocolate—58 million pounds, to be exact. Why? To show their sweethearts how much they care.

It’s no surprise that many people choose food-based gifts for their valentines. After all, almost everyone enjoys a sweet, delicious snack. But what’s even more meaningful than buying a loved one a box of chocolate? A homemade Valentine’s Day treat!

This year, give your children the gift of quality time. Spend an afternoon together making fun treats for the special people in their lives—and sample a few yourself—with these five Valentine’s snacks for kids.

5 Valentine’s Snacks to Make with Your Kids

Folks all over the world know that enjoying a delicious meal together—or even a snack—can bring them closer. These yummy recipes are simple and fun to whip up for a Valentine’s Day party or as a gift for someone special. Don’t forget the secret ingredient: love.

Strawberry Fools

This fruity dessert is sure to please a sweet tooth. Think strawberry shortcake, minus the shortcake!

Ingredients

• 1 cup chilled heavy cream
• 2 cups strawberries (fresh or frozen), plus extra for garnish
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Kids pour strawberries into a medium bowl, then sprinkle with sugar and vanilla extract. Set aside 10 minutes while the strawberries release some of their juices. 
2. An adult assists kids with mashing the strawberries with a fork, leaving some large chunks. Set aside until ready to use. 
3. Next, an adult pours the heavy cream into a large mixing bowl or a stand mixer. Beat the cream until it is light, fluffy, and holds stiff peaks. 
4. Kids add half of the mashed strawberries to the whipped cream, folding them together with a large silicone spatula.
5. Spoon the cream into a serving glass. Add some of the remaining mashed strawberries, then another spoonful of cream. Top with a few sliced strawberries.
6. Serve immediately, or place in the fridge to chill until dessert.

Valentine’s Day Snack Bites

Want some protein with that sweetness? This cute Valentine’s Day snack is a tasty twist on trail mix.

Ingredients

• 1 cup oats
• ¼ cup peanut butter (or your kids’ favorite nut butter)
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ¼ cup Valentine’s Day mini chocolate candies (or chocolate chips)
• Pink, red, and white sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. Kids add oats, nut butter, honey, sunflower seeds, coconut, and chocolate candies to a large bowl, and stir until thoroughly combined.
2. Refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes. This keeps the mix from being too sticky when forming individual bites.
3. Kids grab two heaping tablespoons of the chilled mixture. Roll and compress the mixture by hand until it forms a packed, round ball about the size of a table tennis ball. Place the ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet and repeat until no mixture is left.
4. To decorate the bites, pour sprinkles into a shallow dish and have kids roll each ball in them. 
5. Store in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or the freezer for 15 minutes, then enjoy.

Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

Salty and sweet, this is the perfect fun snack for watching movies with someone special.

Ingredients

• Pretzel rods (or pretzel twists)
• White, red, or pink chocolate melts
• Your kids’ favorite edible decorations (sprinkles, colored sugar, mini chocolate candies, etc.)

Directions

1. Pour the chocolate melts into a microwave-safe bowl (the dish should be deep enough to dip your pretzel rods into). 
2. An adult warms the chocolate melts in the microwave for 30–60 seconds at 50% power, then stirs. Repeat this step in 30-second intervals until the melts are entirely liquid.
3. Place the decorations into a shallow dish.
4. Kids dip the pretzel rods most of the way into the liquid chocolate melts, leaving just enough room for their fingers to hold one end. If using pretzel twists, dip them halfway into the liquid chocolate melts. Tap the pretzel on the bowl’s edge a few times to shake off excess chocolate. 
5. Kids roll the pretzel in the decorations. An adult can help by piling on decorations with a spoon to ensure even coverage.
6. Lay the pretzels on a parchment-lined baking sheet and leave them at room temperature for 1 hour to harden (or pop them in the refrigerator for 10–20 minutes). Enjoy!

“Pizza My Heart” Bagels

It’s time to get savory. This easy Valentine’s Day treat will add fun to your kids’ next pizza craving.

Ingredients

• 1 white bagel 
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni slices

Directions 

1. An adult preheats the oven broiler on its lowest setting and cuts the bagel into two circular halves.
2. Kids spread pizza sauce on both sides of the bagel, then sprinkle them with as much cheese as they’d like.
3. An adult uses a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the pieces of pepperoni. Kids add the pepperoni to the bagel halves on top of the cheese.
4. An adult broils the bagels for 3–4 minutes until they are golden and the cheese is bubbly. Let sit for 2–3 minutes before serving.

Easy Glazed Sugar Cookies

A cookie can make anyone’s day brighter. Share the love with heart-shaped treats that are sweet and oh-so-pretty. 

Cookie Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup softened unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Colorful sprinkles (optional)

Icing Ingredients

• ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
• 2–3 teaspoons milk
• 1–2 drops food coloring (optional)

Directions

1. Place all cookie ingredients into a bowl. Help kids combine by hand until the mixture forms a dough. (If the dough seems too crumbly, add up to 1 tablespoon of additional milk and continue to mix.)
2. Turn the dough onto a work surface (such as a cutting board or counter) and help kids flatten it into a disk approximately 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) thick. Wrap the disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.
3. While the dough chills, an adult preheats the oven to 375°F (191°C).
4. When the dough is ready, kids roll it out on a floured work surface until it’s ¼ inch (1 centimeter) thick. Help them use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. 
5. Kids place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. An adult puts the cookies into the oven to bake for 7–9 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges.
6. An adult removes the tray from the oven. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Next, kids make the icing by stirring the ingredients together in a small bowl. 
8. Once the cookies are cool enough to handle, help kids dip them in the icing, face down. (They can also use a silicone brush or the back of a spoon to spread the icing on the cookies.) 
9. Top the cookies with sprinkles while the icing is still wet, then set them aside to let the icing harden.

Hearty and Healthy

Looking for festive eats that go beyond desserts? Try some of our easy recipes for kids or these healthy Valentine’s Day snacks that are sure to nourish your loved ones:

• Freeze your kids’ favorite yogurt or applesauce in a heart-shaped silicone mold for a healthy, cool treat with a touch of sweetness.
• Give your kids a Valentine’s-themed bento box, complete with cheese, crackers, veggies, and salami. This is a wonderful Valentine’s Day snack idea they can easily take to school.
• Hungry for a veggie-filled Valentine’s treat? Cut some cucumber slices, pita bread, and cheese into hearts with a small cookie cutter. Then, chop up some sliced baby carrots and celery. Add a little hummus, and you have a heart-shaped veggie tray! 

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