Quick & Easy Party Snacks

Nut-free snacks needed for one beach party, one birthday celebration party and one end of the year party…all in one week! Sound familiar?
It’s the end of the school year, and this means lots of fun for the kids, but lots of work for mom. Between buying teacher gifts, helping kids make thank-you cards and sorting through the over-flowing grocery bags full of ‘artwork’…there is hardly enough time to come up with creative party snack ideas.

So, whenever I am stuck for a simple party snack idea, I fall back on one of my childhood favourites—cereal squares. Sometimes I make Rice Krispie Squares, other times I get requests for Fruit Loop Squares and if I feel like mixing it up a bit, I throw in a little bit of whatever cereal I have left in the pantry (Cheerios, Bran Flakes, Rice Krispies, Life) and make a mixed cereal square. For the beach party this week, I have chosen to make Fruit Loop Squares; for the birthday celebration, Corn Flake Squares and for the end of year party—fruit kebobs. Kids eat more fruit if you put it on a stick!

Cereal Squares

Makes 24 squares

You’ll Need

• 3 Tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 package regular-sized marshmallows or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups dry cereal

Prep and Cook

1. In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Stir in marshmallows until they have melted.
3. Remove pot from heat and stir in the cereal.
4. While it is still warm, transfer cereal from the pot to a 9” x 13” pan.
5. Press down firmly on the cereal with buttered spatula or hands until it is spread evenly.
6. Cut into whatever size or shape you wish.

Good to know: If you are making your squares for a specific theme, add a few drops of food colouring to the mix or decorate them with coloured sprinkles or icing.