Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids: Edible Valentine Cards

Many children enjoy making valentines for their friends. There are many ways to do so. Here you will learn how to help your children create valentines that will not only be personal, but can be eaten as well. These can be made for a class party, for school, a home school get-together, a gathering among family and friends, or more. Since many students or friends will likely be opting for paper valentine cards, these edible valentine cards are sure to be a hit.

Materials

sugar cookie dough/heart-shaped cookie cutters/rolling pin (or pre-made heart-shaped cookies)

fine-tipped red and pink icing pens/tubes (thin-tipped or with tip options)

round red or pink candies, such as M&M's or Red Hots

small cellophane treat bags

red and white ribbon

peel and stick labels

red or pink Sharpie marker

Make or Purchase Heart-Shaped Cookies

The first step to making your child's edible valentines is to either purchase some heart-shaped cookies or make them with the recipe below.

Sugar Cookies - Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix 1 ½ cups sugar, 1 egg, 1 cup butter, 2 tsp 100% natural vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. When blended, add ½ tsp baking soda and 2 ½ cups flour. Stir. Then, knead until dough is the consistency of play dough. Prepare a floured surface (kitchen table is fine). Roll the cookie dough flat to ¼ inch over the flour. Use the cookie cutters to press the heart shapes out. Place the cookies 1 inch apart on a non-stick cookie sheet and bake 7 - 10 minutes (until browned). This recipe will make about 2 dozen cookies with a traditional-sized cookie cutter.

Extra Tips - If you need more, I have doubled the recipe before with no problems. I always make more than is needed in case a new student is added last minute or the child wants to give a treat to a few people in other classes. Also, allow your child to make enough so he or she can have one to enjoy as well. Making some for at home or to enjoy with your child's grandparents can be fun as well.

Personalizing The Cookies

Be sure that the cookies are cooled before beginning this step. Your child likely wants to add a message to the valentine card cookie for each friend or classmate. Show your child how to use the icing pen. Having the child practice on a piece of scrap paper may be necessary. Allow your child to choose a special message for each person. If your child does not want to think up his own messages or runs out of ideas, there's some fun suggestions below. Be sure the message stays away from the outside edges of the cookie, as decorating the edge will come next.

Message Suggestions

Some children may want to place their own messages on the cookie valentines, but for those who want or need suggestions, here are some fun ones to put on the cookies.

1. "Be Mine, Valentine"

2. "Let's Be Friends"

3. "You're A Superstar!"

4. "Best Friends Forever"

5. "Love You, BFF" (BFF=best friends forever)

Finishing Touches

Now that your child has created the edible valentine card cookie and customized each message, now it is time to trim the edges with the preferred candy treat. Line the edge of the cookie with the icing pen. Be sure to make it thick. Next stick your red candy of choice all along the icing outline. This will stick the candies to the cookies. Now you are done with the cookies. Be sure your child knows which cookies are for whom. To make this easier, have your child write all names on the labels. Then, your child can tear the labels away if they're connected, being careful not to peel away the label sticker from the paper backing. Then, your child can put the un-peeled label under the correct cookie until they are packaged.

Packaging

Now that the cookies are finished, they will need to be packaged and labeled. Be sure you have enough cellophane treat bags for each child. Cellophane treat bags can be found in the seasonal aisle of grocery stores, the cake decorating aisle in many stores, or at a craft store (like Hobby Lobby) or cake decorating store. First, have your child put a finished cookie in the first bag and affix the correct label. Next, have your child cut a small strip of ribbon and tie it to close the top of the bag. Putting a bow in it or curling it (if it is curling ribbon) can make the packaging more appealing to the eye. Mixing more than one color is also attractive at times. Both plastic and fabric ribbon can be used for this. Even a small strip of scrap fabric can be a great accent when tied like you would the ribbon.

Distribution

Make sure your child has a valentine card/cookie for every child in the class. If this is for a party not in school, be sure your child has enough for all guests attending the party. Each valentine should be labeled with a name at this point, so checking this will be fairly simple. If you have a list of names, this step will be easy. Try to have one before you get to this point and be sure to ask your child if there are any kids in the class. This is your child's project, so if any names are missing, allow your child to label a cookie package for those.

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