KidsPrimary School
Double the fun: No-bake treats your toddler will love!
Getting your little ones started in the kitchen at a young age is a great way to get them interested in food and to pick up important skills.
Most toddlers and preschoolers love creating delicious treats in the kitchen with mom or dad. Little ones particularly enjoy stirring, kneading, and putting the batter into pans. If you’re looking for something fun to do with your child today, why not try your hand at making these two fun treats? All you need are a few ingredients and, best of all – they require no baking and a flop-proof!
Gluten-free turtle treats
*Makes about 20
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp coconut flour
- ½ cup smooth almond or peanut butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 100g whole shelled almonds
- Black food colouring
Method
- Beat together the flour, nut butter, and syrup until combined. Shape into small balls and place on a tray lined with baking paper. Cover with plastic wrap while working to prevent the balls from drying out. Using a fork, press the balls down, creating a crisscross pattern.
- Insert 5 almonds (sharp points in) into each patty for legs and a head. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Use a toothpick to apply the black food colouring to the head of the turtle to create eyes. Store in a single layer in a cool place for up to 3 weeks.
Top Tips:
- If you’re following a vegan diet, ensure you’re using plant-based food colouring. Alternatively, mix activated charcoal powder (available from health stores) with a little water until it forms a paste.
- Golden syrup or honey can be used instead of maple syrup.
Penguin patties
*Makes about 30
Ingredients
- 115g cream cheese
- 2 tbsp soft butter
- 500g icing sugar, sifted
- Vanilla essence
- Mint extract
- Blue, yellow, and black food colouring
- 100g chopped white chocolate
- 10ml sunflower oil
Method
- Heat the cream cheese and butter on low until combined. Stir in the sugar.
- Take out 1/3 of the dough, mix through a drop of vanilla and roll into a 20cm log. Mix a drop of mint through the remaining dough, colour light blue, and roll into a 20cm rectangle on baking paper.
- Wrap the vanilla log in the blue dough and cover the entire log in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least an hour, until firm.
- Unwrap the log and cut into 3mm slices. Gently press into oval shapes. Place on a tray lined with baking paper and set aside for about 2 days, or until dry.
- Melt the chocolate and oil in the microwave for about 1½ minutes. Spoon into a piping bag with a small, round nozzle and pipe wings onto the sides of each patty.
- Squeeze out the remaining chocolate, remelt and colour yellow. Spoon into a clean piping bag and pipe a triangular beak and 2 feet onto each patty.
- Squeeze out the remaining chocolate, remelt and colour black. Spoon into a clean piping bag and pipe 2 dollops for eyes onto each patty. Set aside to harden.
