Tuesday Tutorial – Christmas Trains

On Fridays, I teach Enrichment Club, Kids In The Kitchen, at one of our local schools. Since we can’t really cook, it’s more like Fun Ways To Play With Food. But I didn’t think that title would go over so well with parents.

Last week, we had some serious holiday fun making Christmas Trains. Adapted from My Baking Addiction’s version, these no-bake treats are perfect for those of you (and by you, I mean us) who are over the intimidation of gingerbread house making and too old for making them from graham crackers.

They make a fun party centerpiece; have each child create a freight car and set the scene on a piece of foamcore.  You can add on as many cars as you like.

Here’s what you need:

Rice Krispies Treats (.78 oz packages) (2 for the locomotive, and 1 for each freight car)
Twinkie
your choice of frosting
peppermints for the wheels
gumdrop for the smoke stake
various candies for decoration

For the locomotive:

• You will need 2 Rice Krispies Treats, one for the base and one for the the cab.
• Using frosting, attach 3 peppermint wheels on each side of the base.
• Cut a Rice Krispies Treat in half, then cut one of the halves in half.
• Using frosting, stand up and attach one of the cute treat halves to the back of the base and attach one of the smaller pieces (the half you cut in half) to the top of the cab.
• Cut a Twinkie in half and attach to the top of the base.
• Add a gumdrop for the smokestack

For the freight car(s):

• You will need one Rice Krispies Treat for the base.
• Using frosting, attach 2 peppermint wheels on each side of the base.
• Attach licorice and other candies with frosting.
• Use a mini marshmallow and attach with frosting to couple your cars together.