Easy and fun holiday baking 

Cooking with family and friends is a great way to spend time together creatively while connecting meaningfully with loved ones. Food and Child Nutrition Services shared two no-bake cookie recipes that are easy and fun to make with kid-friendly toppings.

Snowman Banana Pops

Ingredients (makes four pops)

• 2 bananas
• 1 cup Greek yogurt (vanilla or plain)
• 1-2 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
• Shredded coconut (optional “snow”)
• Mini chocolate chips (eyes/buttons)
• Tiny pretzel sticks (arms)
• Sliced strawberries or mandarin segments (hats)
• Blueberries or raisins (nose or buttons)
• Popsicle sticks

 

Directions

1. Prep the bananas

• Peel and slice each banana into three thick rounds.
• Slide the rounds onto a popsicle stick to make a snowman shape.

2. Coat the snowmen

• Mix Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey if you want it sweeter.
• Dip or spoon yogurt over each banana snowman.
• Roll lightly in shredded coconut if desired.

3. Decorate

• Add mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons.
• Use a pretzel stick on each side for arms (optional).
• Add a strawberry slice or mandarin wedge on top for a hat.
• Stick a blueberry or raisin on as a nose.

4. Freeze

• Place the pops on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Freeze for 1–2 hours until set.

 

Serve

Eat frozen like a popsicle or allow to soften for two to three minutes for a creamier bite.

 

Chocolate chip cookie snowmen

Ingredients (Makes about 12 snowmen)

• 24 chocolate chip cookies (2 per snowman; can be gluten free or home-made)
• 1 cup vanilla frosting (can be sugar free)
• Mini chocolate chips (for eyes and buttons)
• Orange sprinkles or small orange candies (for noses)
• Pretzel sticks (for arms)
• Red or green gummy strips / licorice (for scarves)
• Optional: festive sprinkles for decoration

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Snowman Base
Spread a thin layer of vanilla frosting on the bottom of one cookie.
Place another cookie on top to make a small “cookie sandwich.”

 

Step 2: Add the Snowman Face
Spread a small circle of frosting on the top cookie.
Then add to the circle:

• 2 mini chocolate chips for eyes
• 1 orange sprinkle/candy for the nose
• 3 mini chocolate chips for buttons

Step 3: Dress Your Snowman
Wrap a gummy strip or licorice piece gently around the middle for a scarf.

Step 4: Add Arms
Break pretzel sticks in half and gently press one into each side of the cookie sandwich.

Step 5: Decorate
Sprinkle a little festive magic (sprinkles!) on top if desired.

Notes:

• Use premade chocolate chip cookies to make this super quick
• Frosting works as the “glue” to attach all decorations safely
• Let the snowmen chill in the fridge for 10–15 minutes to help them set

Once chilled, enjoy your treat!