Peeps are a traditional Easter candy in my family — we must have them every year, or it isn’t really Easter. I am always excited to see them at my local dollar store when I start shopping for Easter basket supplies and goodies. This year I picked up a few boxes of Peeps so we could get creative with them — I put the boxes on our table and we started brainstorming what fun things we could make with them! Our top project: a Peeps Terrarium Easter Dessert.

I have seen so many other Peeps crafts, like these Peep Brothers tell us:

I’m excited that they didn’t mention our project in their list — maybe we came up with a new way to use Peeps!

Peeps Terrarium Easter Dessert Recipe

Project Materials:

• Peeps Bunnies, $1
• Clear plastic tumblers, $1
• Pudding cups, $1
• Chocolate sandwich cookies, $1
• Flaked coconut, $1
• Green food coloring, on hand or $1
• Assorted Easter candies (eggs, carrot), $1 each

Total: $7 for 8 terrariums

Save money by using things you already have on hand, like pudding, coconut, food coloring. You can bring the cost down to about 50 cents per serving if you use what you already have on hand.

How to make Peeps Terrariums:

1. Spoon half of a pudding cup (or about 1/4 cup) of chocolate pudding into a clear plastic tumbler.

2. Crumble up chocolate sandwich cookies until they resemble dirt. Spoon on top of chocolate pudding to resemble dirt.

3. Tint flaked coconut with a few drops of green food coloring. Stir until all the coconut is colored. Spread on top of cookie crumb layer.

4. Insert a Peeps bunny, a carrot candy, and a few easter egg candies to embellish your terrarium.

Alternately, create your desserts inside mason jars:

We made mason jar Peeps terrariums too, and they were super cute. If you are transporting these desserts to a party, the jar is a great way to go because you can seal it up and keep it fresh and safe while you travel. Plus, you can reuse the jar after you’re done with dessert! This will add about $1 to each serving.

To find out more about your Peepsonality, visit Peeps online, or become a fan of Peeps on Facebook!

*This post was sponsored by Peeps, but project and opinions are my own!*

The post Tutorial: Peeps Terrarium Easter Dessert appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

One of the things that fascinates me most about the State Fair is all that yummy fair food! Some state fairs boast over 50 items that are served on a stick. Over at eBay, I shared instructions for making three simple and yummy foods on a stick: S’mores on a Stick, Choco-Bananas on a Stick, and Chocolate-Covered Oreos on a Stick. Find out how to make them all: [Make Foods on a Stick – Recipes]

The post Make Easy Treats on a Stick inspired by the State Fair appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Bored kids? Here’s a fun and delicious project! Use two simple ingredients to make this edible play dough from Justine at The Typical Mom and watch the boredom melt away. Then spend the afternoon creating – and subsequently eating – all kinds of creations! [how to make two ingredient edible play dough]

Project estimate:

• Marshmallows, on hand or $1
• Powdered sugar, on hand or $1 and up
• Food coloring (optional), on hand or $1 and up
• Non-stick spray, on hand or $1 and up
• Wax paper or parchment paper, on hand or $1 and up

Total: Free and up!

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Spring in Atlanta is overwhelmingly beautiful and painfully short. We’re already seeing temperatures in the high 80s and even the 90s, and that calls for popsicles. These popsicles put the artificially flavored, store-bought versions to shame. And some of them even have booze in them! Happy summer, y’all.

1. Bubble Tea Pops – This recipe starts with homemade nut milks as the base for these super cool pops.

2. Pineapple Jalapeno – Sweet and spicy flavors are so refreshing when temperatures spike.

3. Watermelon Margarita Pops – Summer is margarita season, and what’s better than a frozen ‘rita? A margarita pop!

4. Celery Basil – This one might sound a little bit dicey, but it’s surprisingly refreshing!

5. Fresh Fruit and Herb Coconut Pops – These healthy popsicles with big pieces of fresh fruit and whole herbs are as beautiful as they are delish.

6. Vegan Fudgsicles – Oh nothing. Just a two-ingredient fudgsicle that’s totally dairy free!

7. Whiskey Sour – Fresh cherry and apple make this boozy pop sweet, sour, and refreshing.

8. Spa Pops – This cucumber and lemon combo is like a spa day on a stick.

9. Banana Pop – You can make these as healthy or unhealthy as you want, depending on the spreads and toppings you choose.

10. All Fruit – These four-ingredient popsicles feature the best of summer’s fruit bounty.

The post 10 Popsicles to Make this Weekend appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Are you planning a Halloween party this year? You don’t want to spend all of that time making a costume and decorations, then just stick a jar of salsa and bag of chips out for snacking, right? Here are lots of sweet – and a few savory – ideas for your ghoulish spread.

1. Frankenstein Rice Crispy Treats – How cute are these bright green treats?

2. Caramel-Apple Milkshake – Your guests will love making their own Halloween-themed shakes.

3. Vampire Cupcakes – You can use any cupcake recipe you like for these spooooky cupcakes.

4. Apple Bites – These spooky monster mouths use only three ingredients.

5. Mint Chocolate Bars – Sneak something healthy onto the table with a batch of bright green chocolatey treats that contain no artificial colors.

6. Ghost, Pumpkin and Mummy Pizzas – Who says all Halloween treats have to be sweet? These spooky mini pizzas are definitely in the Halloween spirit.

7. Spooky Hummus – I know, hummus isn’t very scary. But add a little spiderweb food art, and you can transform black bean hummus into an on-theme savory snack.

8. Homemade Candy Corn – Store-bought candy corn is delicious, but does it come in adorable heart shapes?

9. DIY Candy Bracelets – Remember candy bracelets? This homemade version looks like such a fun Halloween activity!

10. “Ghoul”-camole with Homemade Ghost-Shaped Chips – Make your own spooky corn chips from stale corn tortillas for this savory Halloween treat.

The post 10 Halloween Party Treats to Make at Home appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love a hot drink as much as Carrie Poppy, but those fancy coffee and tea drinks are crazy expensive. You can save a lot of money this fall and winter by making your own hot drinks at home. Bonus: since you’re cooking from scratch, you can control the ingredients. That means you can make your hot drinks healthier than the coffee shop variety, too!

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte – A homemade pumpkin spice latte is cheaper and healthier than the coffee shop variety.

2. Mexican Hot Chocolate – Cocoa, schmocoa. Mexican hot chocolate is like cocoa on deliciousness steroids. Deliciousness steroids are a thing, right?

3. Salted Caramel Frappuccino – Don’t spend $5 or $6 at the coffee shop on a sugar drink when you can make a healthier, less pricey version at home that’s arguably more delicious! x

4. Turkish Coffee – You normally need a special pot to brew Turkish coffee, but you can do it at home in a saucepan with this technique.

5. Hot Buttered Rum – Okay, so this isn’t a coffee drink. But what’s better than a cozy mug of booze on a chilly fall evening?

6. Homemade Chai Tea – Make spicy, sweet chai at home with this hand-mixed chai recipe. Just steep it until it’s nice and strong, then add your milk and sweetener of choice.

7. Peppermint Drinking Chocolate – Is it too soon for pepperminty hot drinks? I say never!

8. Homemade Pour-Over – A Chemex is a bit of an up-front investment, but if you think about how many expensive pour-overs you’d have to buy to break even, you end up saving money in the end.

9. Homemade Frothed Milk – Whether you choose soy, almond, cow, or coconut milk, a little frothing elevates a regular cup of coffee to fancy coffee level. And you can froth your own in the microwave! What! Shake some cinnamon on top, and call it an Americano.

10. Mulled Cider – Are you tempted by pricey mugs of mulled cider? Here’s how to mull your own with made-from-scratch mulling spices.

The post 10 Homemade Hot Drink Recipes for Fall appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

We like to kick off the new school year with a sweet and special treat for the teachers and staff to say welcome back, we missed you! This Dark Chocolate Fudgy Brownie recipe will surely score points galore making you the number one mom at school, plus it tastes great with a morning cup of coffee. (Doesn’t everyone eat chocolate for breakfast?)

See also: Dark Chocolate Toasted Marshmallow S’more Ice Cream Recipe

Brownies are inexpensive and easy to make, and are the perfect gift idea for individuals and groups alike. You can serve a batch of brownies to a large group on a colorful serving platter from your favorite discount store, or wrap individual brownies in a plastic candy bag with a personalized gift tag created a homemade gift everyone will love.

Dark Chocolate Fudgy Brownie Recipe

This smooth and fudgy brownie recipe is quick and easy to make. To enhance the deep, rich flavor or dark chocolate, add a touch of instant espresso powder and taste what a difference it makes – your chocolate will sing!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter a 9×13-inch baking pan.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
3. Place butter and chopped chocolate in a double broiler over simmering water. Stir until chocolate and butter are completely melted. Lets mixture sit for a few minutes.
4. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and optional instant espresso powder until combined.
5. Pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and whisk until completely incorporated.
6. Add the flour mixture and whisk to incorporate.
7. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

The post Recipe: Dark Chocolate Fudgy Brownie appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Have you ever made your own ice cream?  It turns out you don’t need a fancy machine to do it – you just need a couple of coffee cans!  Megan at Coffee Cups ans Crayons demonstrates how surprisingly quick, simple, and fun it is to use this method.  She also has a great post about how to make ice cream in a plastic bag!  Who knew there were so many thrifty ways to DIY a frosty summer treat?  [how to make coffee can ice cream]

Project estimate:

• Small coffee can, on hand
• Large coffee can, on hand
• Duct tape, on hand
• Ice, on hand
• Rock salt, on hand or about $5 and up
• Ice cream ingredients (see link above), on hand or $1 and up

Total:  Free and up!

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Have you noticed that Dollar Tree often carries the little single-serving packets of Hawaiian Punch and other drink mixes?  While I’m not a fan of drinking the sugary results, I do enjoy a good, sugary cookie – so I imagine that this Hawaiian Punch cookie recipe from Kelly at Smart School House would be a much more favorable way for me to consume those packets!  They would make a fun addition to a party spread, as well as a great way to add a little color to everyday occasions.  [how to make Hawaiian Punch cookies]

Project estimate: 

• Hawaiian punch packets, $1
• Sugar, on hand
• Eggs, on hand
• Vanilla extract, on hand
• Flour, on hand
• Butter, on hand
• Food coloring (optional), on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Hawaiian Punch Cookies appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Bursting with flavor, these delicious no-bake dark chocolate Sunbutter cookies take just minutes to whip up and don’t require any oven time. Best of all they are made with healthy Sunbutter instead of peanut butter, so they are packed with protein and the healthy fat every body needs.

One of our favorite ways to package cookies is with these colorful, single serve lock-top snack containers from the Dollar Store. They’re perfect for packing a quick snack on the go whether you’re at the beach, on a picnic, or hiking in the mountains.

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Sunbutter Cookies

This sumptuous summery no-bake cookie recipe takes minutes to make, and the cookies will disappear just as fast. Replacing the peanut butter with Sunbutter not only cuts unhealthy fat from this recipe, but makes these cookies safe to eat for anyone with nut allergy.

No-bake cookies make a great summer picnic treat. You don’t have to heat up your house with an oven and children love them.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk (whole milk if possible)
• 3 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup creamy Sunbutter
• 1/4 salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla
• 10 ounces dark chocolate chunks (frozen)

Note: Dark chocolate chips can be used, but they will melt into the warm cookie mixture. Either way, they are still oh so delicious!

Directions:

1. Line two cookie sheets with waxed paper. Set aside.
2. Measure the milk and sugar in separate bowls and set aside.
3. Measure oats, Sunbutter, and salt in one container and set aside.
4. Melt butter in a large pot set over medium-high heat. Stir in sugar and milk and bring to a rolling boil. Continue stirring as mixture boils for exactly 1 1/2 minutes.
5. Remove pot from heat. Stir in vanilla. Add oat mixture and stir until combined.
6. Add frozen dark chocolate chunks and stir just a few times so that chocolate is incorporated but does not melt completely.
7. Drop oatmeal mixture by tablespoonfuls into little mounds onto prepared cookie sheets. Allow cookies to set and cool.
8. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for a more firm and chilled cookie.

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