Five "No Cook" Snacks for Cub Scouts

Here are five recipes for no-cook snacks for Cub Scouts. A few of these have been around so long that no one seems to know who created the original recipe, but hungry Cubs don't care ... they just enjoy them because they can make the treats themselves. When you help your little guys whip up these goodies , don't forget to tell the boys the names of them, because Cubs love innovative titles for their Cub Scout snacks.

Bugs on a Log

Ingredients:
Celery, pre-cut in 4 inch sections (these will be the "logs")
Peanut butter
Peanuts ("bugs")
Raisins ("bugs")
Shredded Coconut ("Bug legs")

Utensils:
A butter knife or 1-inch wide spatula
Paper towels or butcher paper

Place paper towels or butcher paper on the table so it can be easily cleaned afterward. Let the Cubs spread peanut butter on the celery sticks with a butter knife or spatula. Next have the Cubs sprinkle peanuts and raisins on the peanut butter, add bits of shredded coconut for bug "legs", and gently press the "bugs" in so they don't fall off. Have extra paper towels on hand, so the boys can wipe their hands clean before taking their "bugs on a log" with them out the door.

A word of caution: There'll always be one Cub Scout who wants to spread the peanut butter with his hands, so you might have a good answer ready ahead of time if you don't want him to do that.

Pocket Sandwiches

Ingredients:
Slices of wheat or white bread (optional: remove crusts)
Slices of individually wrapped cheese
Lettuce leaves, torn into 2x3 inch strips

Utensils:
Forks

Give each boy a slice of bread, cheese, and a lettuce strip or two. Have them place the cheese on the bread, the lettuce on one-half of the cheese and fold the bread in half. Then have the Cubs press a fork along the open edges to seal the "pocket." If crusts are removed, it's easier for the boys to seal the bread.

Cinnamon Apple Smiles

Ingredients:
Cinnamon and sugar mixed in a shaker
Apple wedges

Utensils:
None

Make these in the outdoors, so the cinnamon-sugar doesn't get all over the floor. Hand each Cub Scout an apple wedge (the "smile") and let him sprinkle on as much cinnamon-sugar as he likes.

Spear-Its

Ingredients:
Thin pretzel sticks
Cheese cubes
Grapes

Utensils:
None

Have the boys spear cheese cubes and grapes on the thin pretzels.

Eat-Em Up Campfires

Ingredients:
Mini-marshmallows
Peanuts
Shredded Coconut
Pretzel sticks (thin)
Pretzel logs (thick)
Candy (red and yellow colors, candy corn is great for this)

Utensils:
Paper towels
Plastic zip bags

This snack is a little more complex and takes longer for the Cubs to make, but they love doing it. Have each boy build his edible campfire on a paper towel. The circle of "rocks" is made by placing marshmallows and peanuts in a circle. Next, the boys add "tinder" by placing a small amount of shredded coconut in the circle. Then they add "kindling" by placing thin pretzel sticks in a criss-cross or tepee fashion over the coconut. That's followed by placing pretzel "logs" on top. Last, they add the "fire" in the form of red and yellow candies.

After everyone has a chance to admire the campfires, the boys can use the paper towels to slide the treats into a plastic bag and enjoy the Eat-Em Up Campfires on their way home or to take on a hike.

Sources:
Cub Scout Program Helps, 2009-2010, Boy Scouts of America.
Cub Scout Bear Handbook, Boy Scouts of America.
Cub Scouts Academics and Sports Program Guide, Boy Scouts of America.
Recipes for Real People
Tiger Cub Recipes for Cub Scouts

Other recipes and food articles by this contributor:
BBQ & Grilling: Easy Marinade for Steak, Chicken or Pork
Salsa: A Review of Cannon's Sweet Hots Salsa
Groundhog Day Recipe: Roast Groundhog