How to Make Marshmallow Snowmen Holiday Table Decorations

Delight your guests by setting your holiday table with a winter theme created by the children in your family. Even children as young as three or four can make these whimsical and delicious marshmallow snowmen using ingredients that you are likely to already have on hand in your cupboard. Not only will the children love being a part of the preparations for the big holiday meal, the experience of making the snowmen is educational because it involves counting, following directions, art and cooking. Read on to learn how to make marshmallow snowmen holiday table decorations.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Each snowman requires:
• 2 large white marshmallows
• Toothpicks
• ½ candied cherry or 1 large gumdrop
• ¼ cup of melted chocolate chips
• Wax paper
• ½ by 1 inch piece of card stock

1. Wash your hands and make sure that they are dry before touching the marshmallows.

2. Seat all the children who will help make the marshmallow snowmen at the kitchen table. Spread out a piece of wax paper in front of each child. Put the ingredients in the middle so that everyone can reach them. Decide how many snowmen you need. Count out the marshmallows. This is a great time to introduce the children to skip counting by twos.

3. Place one marshmallow on top of another one and secure them by piercing a toothpick through the center. Make sure that a small portion of the toothpick sticks out of the top marshmallow and none of the toothpick sticks out of the bottom.

4. Give the snowman a hat by poking the top of the toothpick into the middle of the cherry or the gumdrop. The snowman should be able to stand by itself on the table without leaning over or falling.

5. Use another toothpick dipped in the melted chocolate to paint eyes and a mouth on the top marshmallow. Add chocolate painted buttons to the bottom marshmallow.

6. Write the name of each guest neatly on a piece of card stock. Then, tape the back of the paper to a toothpick. Connect this toothpick to the back side of the top of the bottom marshmallow so that the name of the guest is legible from the front. The finished snowmen are place cards for your festive holiday table.

7. All the helpers can eat the left-overs.

Tips & Warnings

• Do each step for all the snowmen before going on to another step. This will keep the project manageable.
• Document the children as they are making the snowmen and then take a picture of the table after it is set.
• Expand on the experience by reading a book or watching a video about a snowman.
• If there happens to be snow outside, make a real snowman together and take another picture.
• Write a group letter to someone who is unable to join you for the meal. Tell about making the snowmen and include the pictures. Let each child sign the letter.