Whenever I raise my voice and ask the question, “Does anyone want to help me in the kitchen?” my kids go crazy. When I mention chocolate, crackers, and sprinkles, it practically blows their minds.
At 10, 7, and 4, the cooking skills and recipe comprehension abilities vary, but the enthusiasm is pretty high across the board. They get uninterrupted time with me and as long as I ignore the sticky floor and have a separate step stool for everyone who needs one (because asking them to share a stool can only end in bloodshed), then everyone has a blast. We make a few memories, the kids learn some valuable life skills, and we get to enjoy cute little Valentine treats for the next several days. Its a winner all around.
You know whats great? The fact that no matter what the end result looks like, these will still taste great. And when treats are made with love, does it really matter if there are fingerprint marks in the chocolate and half a bottle of sprinkles in one bite?! No. It doesn’t. I daresay it adds to the charm. Like the extra gobs of glue that drip from the construction paper of a homemade card or a pasta necklace. Charm!
If you have visited this site before, you know we are BIG supporters of kids in the kitchen. If you need a little convincing, you can read this post and if you want to try another Valentine’s Day recipe with your kids, make these Crunchy Chocolate Clusters! Or brainstorm something YOU used to make with YOUR parents when you were a kid.
Because quality time with your munchkins is a Valentines gift that lasts longer than these cookies will.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cracker Cookies
These little gems are popular around the holidays, but they are SO much fun to make year round! These are fantastic to give to family and friends as a Valentine treat!
1/2 c creamy peanut butter
1/2 c marshmallow cream
1 (14 oz) box round butter crackers, such as Ritz
2 bags good quality chocolate chips
2 T coconut, canola, or vegetable oil
sprinkles of choice
Combine the first two ingredients in a small bowl. Carefully spread a small glob (about a teaspoon) of the mixture onto a cracker and gently top with another cracker. Carefully press them together just TINY bit so that the filling spreads evenly and they won’t come apart. Continue until all the filling and crackers are used up. Carefully melt the chocolate and oil together in a large bowl. Dip the sandwich cookies into the chocolate-a fork work best) letting excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Gently set on wax or parchment paper. Continue dipping the rest of the cookies. Decorate with sprinkles before the chocolate has a chance to set completely. You can even top the cooled cookies with a tiny dollop of frosting! Stack in a sealable container and store in the fridge for best results.