Valentine’s Day is almost here and for those of us with kids in school, that means classroom parties, classroom gifts, and sweet treats for all those treat bags. We have gathered a few recipes and gift ideas to help you make the holiday special for your child and their classmates this year.
Colorful Valentine stickers are an economical and cute way to boost the fun of Valentine’s Day for your child’s school chums. Choose smiling hearts, Peanuts characters, multicolored paw prints, or cute little kitty cats. Add some dark pink or dark red Valentine’s pencils, a Valentine Bingo card, some heart mini magnets, and a Heart Lights necklace, and you’ve got a cool treat bag full of holiday goodies that are sure to please. Don’t forget to pick up a special Valentine’s treat for the teacher, too!
Is it your job to provide the classroom snacks this Valentine’s Day? We’ve got you covered with some scrumptious, easy to prepare, affordable holiday treats that everyone will love. First up, a super simple sweet saltine surprise! We found more than one version of this very special treat online; this one comes from Kylee Cooks.
Caramel Saltine Cracker Treats
Ingredients:
- 40 saltine crackers
- 1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 12 oz mini chocolate chips (dark or milk – you choose)
- 6 oz candy melts (pink)
- 1/2 cup sprinkles of your choice
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 325F. Arrange the crackers on a rimmed baking sheet, breaking them wherever you need to, to make them fit. In a heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add the vanilla and stir. Boil the mixture for 1-2 minutes, until it thickens slightly. Pour toffee (carefully – it’s very hot) over the crackers and use a spatula to spread it out evenly.
Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. The toffee should be bubbling. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spread the chocolate chips evenly over the surface. Place back in the oven for one minute. Remove from the oven and spread the chocolate out evenly.
Melt the pink candy melts in the microwave at 50% power for one minute. Remove from the microwave and stir. Pour the pink candy melts into a plastic bag with the corner cut out, or a cake decorating bag and drizzle over the top of the chocolate. Add sprinkles and let cool in the refrigerator or freezer until very firm. Transfer the entire treat from the baking sheet on to a cutting board. Break or cut into pieces. Share with the ones you love!
Next up, an easy peasy pink popcorn recipe that’s also super simple to whip up in no time. If you have leftover melted chocolate or want to make another pink Valentine’s Day treat, you can use these same ingredients to coat pretzels, pretzel rods, or any salty treat.
Pink Popcorn Treat
Ingredients:
- 1 to 2 cups popped popcorn
- 12 ounces of white chocolate chips or white chocolate candy melts
- 2 to 4 drops of red food coloring (or more if deeper color is desired)
Instructions:
Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe container or measuring cup. Heat for no more than 30 seconds, stir, and heat for another 30 seconds if not completely melted. Drop food coloring in melted chocolate and stir until desired shade of pink is reached. Combine popcorn and half of melted chocolate mixture in a large mixing bowl and toss gently by hand. Pour remaining chocolate over popcorn and toss again to coat.
Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave safe container or measuring cup. Heat for no more than 30 seconds, stir, and heat for another 30 seconds if not completely melted. Drop food coloring in melted chocolate and stir until desired shade of pink is reached. Combine popcorn and half of melted chocolate mixture in a large mixing bowl and toss gently by hand. Pour remaining chocolate over popcorn and toss again to coat.
For a twist on the Christmas crunch we all know and love, here’s a Valentines Day version of puppy chow, muddy buddy mix, Cupid’s crunch, or red velvet crunch. No matter what you call it, it’s absolutely delicious and sure to be a big hit!
Crunchy Valentine’s Chex Mix Treat
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of peanuts, plain or honey roasted
- 1 cup of Valentine’s M&Ms
- 1 cup mini pretzels, pretzel sticks, or pretzel rods (broken into small pieces)
- 4 cups Chex cereal or Chex mix
- 2 cups white chocolate chips, candy melts, or bark (you can also use red candy melts)
- 1 teaspoon solid oil (coconut) or shortening
- 1 box of cherry cake mix, strawberry cake mix, or red velvet cake mix
Instructions:
Mix all dry ingredients together except cake mix, then split into two large bowls. Melt chocolate chips, bark, or candy melts in a microwave safe dish for 15 to 30 second intervals at 50% power, stirring until fully melted. Add oil to ensure easy spreading. Pour the melted chocolate over dry mixture and fold together. Quickly spread mixture out onto a wax paper or parchment lined baking sheet to set. Wait at least one hour, then break into chunks and place in treat bags.
