In today’s activity we are going to make snowflake snacks using only three ingredients! Crafting these salty and sweet treats is extremely simple while still being fun and tasty. Because of its diversity and flexibility, this activity can entertain children of all ages. Making these snowflakes will allow kids to hone their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creativity. The snacking at the end is a great bonus too!
You Will Need:
Pretzel sticks
Mini marshmallows
Regular marshmallows
Cutting board, optional
Activity Steps:
Before starting the activity, remember to wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. You need to have your hands nice and clean because you will be handling food!
Step 1: First, place the ingredients on a large cutting board. If you do not have a cutting board, any covered flat surface will do. You can use wax or parchment paper on a table or countertop!
Step 2: Next, we are going to create the snow crystal details you usually see on a snowflake. To do this, gently push three mini marshmallows onto a pretzel stick. Repeat this on two more pretzel sticks for a total of three marshmallow pretzels.
Take three more pretzel sticks and add two mini marshmallows to each of them. Sometimes pushing the marshmallows onto the pretzel can change their shape, but that’s okay! It gives the snowflake character!
Set three more pretzel sticks to the side. We will not add any marshmallows to these yet.
The reason we have a few different combinations of marshmallows and pretzels is to create an uneven look because all snowflakes are unique.
Step 3: Once the individual snow crystals are created, we can start building the snowflake! Start with a plain pretzel stick. Stick it into the flat side of a regular sized marshmallow. Stick another plain pretzel stick into the opposite flat side.
The regular sized marshmallow is going to be the center of your snowflake, so you can use it as a guide!
Step 4: Next, press a pretzel stick with three mini marshmallows on it into the long side of the regular sized marshmallow. Add another pretzel with three marshmallows on it to the opposite side. The two pretzels just added should be directly across from each other.
Step 5: Now, stick the pretzel with two mini marshmallows on it into the top right corner of the regular sized marshmallow. Add another to the bottom left corner.
Step 6: Now you can freestyle which pretzels you want to add to the empty spots of the regular sized marshmallow. I added a pretzel with three mini marshmallows on it to the top left corner and another one with two mini marshmallows to the bottom right.
I used a total of eight pretzel sticks, but you can use more or less than that if you want. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same because all snowflakes are naturally different and that’s what makes them so cool!
Step 7: Add a mini marshmallow to the end of each plain pretzel stick you stuck into the regular sized marshmallow.
Now your pretzel snowflake is complete! How many different snowflakes can you make?