5 No-Bake Recipes You and Your Kids Will Love to Make

If there are two things kids love it’s getting their hands dirty and trying to “help” their parents or babysitters. Getting them in the kitchen with you will give them the satisfaction of both of these, while also allowing you to whip up some yummy desserts and spend some quality hands-on time with them. These recipes are quick, easy, and require no time in the oven!

Puppy Chow – An easy way to get kids away from the TV and into the kitchen is with Puppy Chow. They will have a blast shaking the bag to coat everything with powdered sugar!

Ingredients:
9 cups crispy rice cereal squares
½ cup peanut butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 ½ cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Melt chocolate on stovetop over low heat
2. Add in peanut butter and mix until smooth
3. Remove from heat and add in cereal until well-coated
4. Pour powdered sugar into a paper or plastic bag and add coated cereal
5. Shake bag until everything is well covered

Makes 36 servings

Cantaloupe Popsicles – Homemade popsicles are a sneaky way to add in an unexpected serving of fruit in the form of a cold treat.

Ingredients:
6 oz. can of your favorite fruit juice concentrate
3 cups cubed cantaloupe (or your favorite melon)
¾ cup water
10 paper drink cups
10 Popsicle sticks

Directions:
1. In a blender or food processor, combine fruit juice and melon and blend until smooth
2. Fill each drink cup with 1/3 cup of mixture
3. Place in freezer for one hour
4. Insert Popsicle sticks and replace in freezer until firm
5. When ready to serve, peel away paper cups

Makes 10 Servings

Dipped Rice Krispie Treats – A childhood staple, the Rice Krispie treat reigns supreme when it comes to an easy recipe that everyone can have fun making. However, add in chocolate and sprinkles and you can take this classic to the next level!

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons butter
1 (10 oz.) pkg. marshmallows
1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups Rice Krispies
Sprinkles

Directions:
1. Melt butter on stovetop over low heat
2. Add in marshmallows and stir until completely melted
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add Rice Krispies cereal to melted marshmallow mixture and stir until completely coated
5. Using spatula, press Rice Krispie mixture into a square pan and let cool
6. While cooling, melt chocolate chips over low heat
7. Cut Rice Krispie treats into squares and then dip half into melted chocolate
8. Immediately sprinkle with your favorite kind of sprinkles

Chocolate peanut butter bars – These bars will put a homemade spin on the age-old favorite peanut butter and chocolate combination.

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
¾ cup peanut butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Melt butter and peanut butter on stovetop over low heat and stir until blended
2. Add in graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar
3. Mix well and press evenly into a square baking pan that has been filled with wax paper
4. Melt chocolate chips on stovetop over low heat until smooth
5. Pour melted chocolate over peanut butter mixture and smooth over the top
6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes
7. Take bars out of refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes
8. Cut into bars and serve

Makes 30 bars

Vanilla snow balls – This is a combination your kids will love, giving them the chance to have “snowballs” year round!

Ingredients:
12 oz. package white chocolate chips
4 cups popped popcorn
2 cups of your kids’ favorite fruit-flavored cereal
12 cupcake liners

Directions:
1. Microwave the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 ½ minutes
2. Put popcorn and cereal in a large bowl and mix together
3. Pour melted chocolate over popcorn-cereal mixture and stir until evenly coated
4. Pour 1/3 cup mixture into each cupcake liner
5. Let stand for 30 minutes until mixture has hardened, then serve

Serves 12

So next time you want to get your kid away from the TV and spend some quality time with them, break out the mixing bowls and get in the kitchen. Your kids will love spending time with you and you’ll get to teach them a little about cooking. And really, who doesn’t love licking the bowl clean?