As a kid, is there anything you look forward to more on the Fourth of July than fireworks and food? While you may be leaving the fireworks to the professionals, you can be ready to rock your child’s socks with some simple and satisfying kid-friendly recipes! Not only will these sweet treats be a delight to eat up, but the kids can be your little kitchen assistants with each of these easy recipes being a perfect fit for little hands to help with, before the festivities begin!
Here are four kid-friendly Fourth of July recipes that are sure to win the hearts of your littlest guests, so take notes on what you’ll need or snap a pic of the recipes below before heading to the grocery store!
Patriotic Party Mix
(Perfect for little kids and big ones, too!)
What You’ll Need:
- Popcorn, 2 Bags (microwavable works just fine!)
- Chex Cereal
- Mini-Pretzels
- M&Ms (Blue and Red)
- White Chocolate Chips
- Vanilla Almond Bark, 1 (20-ounce) package
- Sprinkles (Red, White and Blue)
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Silicone Spatula/Large Spoon
- Airtight container
Get to Work:
In a large bowl, combine your popped popcorn, Chex cereal and pretzels into a large mixing bowl. (All ingredients can be added in amounts according to your taste preference—let the kiddos go a little crazy with their favorites.) Using a microwave-safe bowl, melt the almond bark following the package’s instructions, making sure to stir until fully melted and smooth. Next, pour the melted mixture over the ingredients in your mixing bowl, tossing with a large silicone spatula. Once cooled, pour in your M&Ms and sprinkles to get the sugary color combo desired and then store in an airtight container to enjoy!
Firework Fruit Kabobs
(Best for toddlers and young children)
What You’ll Need:
- Kabob Skewers, wooden or reusable metal
- Star Cookie Cutters
- Cutting Board
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Watermelon
- Cool Whip
Get to Work:
Wash and dry all of your produce first and set aside. Start by cutting your watermelon into large circle slices about 1 to 1 ½” thick. Lay each of these slices down flat on your cutting board and, using your cookie cutters, cut out watermelon stars. Next, you’ll slide 2-3 raspberries down your skewer, followed by your blueberries, leaving room to stick the end through a single watermelon star at the top! (Be sure to carefully supervise when loading the skewers as these can be sharp at the end.) Next, you can place your skewers along a festive tray with a small bowl in the center filled with Cool Whip for dipping!
American Flag Pretzel Sticks
(Perfect for little kids and big ones, too)
What You’ll Need:
- Pretzel Rods
- Chocolate Candy Melts (Red, White and Blue)
- Decorative Sprinkles (optional)
- Icing Decorating Bag
- Parchment Paper
Get to Work:
Start by melting your white and blue colored candy melts in separate bowls. Starting with your white melted candy, dip your pretzel rods into each about halfway down. Next, you’ll dip your pretzel rod into the blue bowl halfway up the white on the pretzel. You can then add sprinkles to the blue area, creating a little nod to the stars on the American flag! After that, you will melt your white candy melts in a bowl, carefully pouring the melted candy into your decorating bag. (Quick tip: if you don’t have a decorating bag for icing, you can simply use a large Zip-Loc bag and cut a small hole at the bottom!) You can then decorate the white portion of each pretzel rod with red swirls, imitating the stripes on the flag. Lay each down on your parchment paper to cool and harden. Then, serve flat on a platter or standing up in a Mason jar to add a little decoration to the table.
Red, White & Blue Tye-Dye Smores
(Best for older kids and tweens)
What You’ll Need:
- 8 × 8″ Baking Pan
- Graham Crackers
- Milk Chocolate Bars
- Jumbo Marshmallows
- Red Food Coloring
- Blue Food Coloring
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
Get to Work:
- Preheat your oven to 350° and spray your baking pan with your nonstick cooking spray. Using a microwave-safe bowl, melt marshmallows completely. Divide melted marshmallow into three bowls. Next, set aside one bowl, leaving the other two to dye; one red and one blue. Starting with your red mixture, carefully pour and evenly spread into pan, followed by the blue mixture and then the white. To achieve a tie-dye effect, spray your nonstick spray on a knife and run it through all three layers of marshmallow to mix them up. As your marshmallows cool, set up your s’mores on a cookie sheet with one side of the graham cracker squares on the bottom, stacking chocolate on top. Place into the oven, baking about 5 minutes until chocolate is melted. Cut marshmallows out into squares smaller than your graham crackers and complete your s’mores stacking. Serve immediately and prepare to wipe down sticky fingers!
Cooking with children can be extra messy and definitely requires a little added patience at times, but the memories are precious. Ask your kids which recipe they want to tackle this Fourth of July and make it extra special by making it together and having a festive treat to share as you watch the fireworks.
