A simple and adorable apple “food craft” to share with all the littles in your life

I’m a big fan of baking and crafting with littles. No matter the recipe or project, there’s always an age-appropriate job to do, and it warms my heart to see children engaged and feeling special and proud.

One of my favorite activities is a food craft, like these mini apple cream puffs. They’re just so adorable and so very fancy. We got them from the freezer section of the grocery store and elevated their cuteness by dipping the puffs into red candy melts. Topped with a pretzel “stem” and pepita seed “leaf,” mini apple cream puffs make the sweetest “handmade” dessert for Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot too.

Using store bought baked goods is perfect for food crafts, especially since the thought behind this activity is to not be the best cream puff baker (although I like this idea for myself), but to share a Jewish holiday “baking” experience with someone I love.

There are at least TEN ways littles can help with this craft, and bonus, it’s also wonderful for the development of fine motor skills, vocabluary and patience too! Here’s my little helper list:

Take the mini cream puffs out of the package and put them on a plate.
Break pretzel sticks into little stems.
Put candy melts into a small shallow bowl.
Stir the the candy melts until creamy when they come out of the microwave.
Dip a mini cream puff into the melted candy.
Poke a pretzel stem into the puff.
Top with a pepita seed leaf.
Add a candy bee.
Place them on a serving plate after the candy hardens.
Set up a Rosh Hashanah tea for a special friend.

I’m sure there are more ways too (let me know if you have any to add in the comments too)! Ready to try? Let’s go make this adorable food craft with your favorite little helper!

Mini Apple Cream Puffs for Rosh Hashanah

Here’s what you’ll need to make 30 mini apple cream puffs:

Defrosted Belgian Mini Cream Puffs (we used frozen Delizza Patisserie)
Red candy melts
Pretzel sticks (broken into small stems)
Pepita seeds
Candy bumblebee decoration (optional)

Here’s how to make them:

1. Ask your little to help by getting all your supplies ready and by setting up a child-friendly work space. When you’re all prepped and organized, it’s time to melt the candy according to the package instructions. By the way, as you’re working, let your little know that they are the very best helper!

2. When your candy is melted and stirred smooth, turn your puff upside down and dip!

You can help your little by showing them how to gently hold the cream puff, and carefully dip it into the melted candy. I like to give it a small turn clockwise and counterclockwise to coat the sides. Once its covered, carefully place it on your work surface.

3. Now it’s time for the apple “stem!” Have your little place a broken pretzel piece in the center on top. You can gently press it into the puff too.

3. Now it’s time for a pepita seed “leaf.” Gently place it next to the stem.

Repeat with the other cream puffs!

It’s fun to watch your work surface become completely covered in apple cream puffs!

4. If you’d like, you can also put a honey bee on top of the apple puff too. We had some leftover from our apple buns, so we decided to use them here too.

It’s best to place the bee on top of apple puff before the melted coating hardens.

We love the apples both with and without the bees. What do you think?

When we purposefully take the extra time and create a welcoming space to allow a child to help us with an activity, we are experiencing the Jewish value Chesed - acts of kindness for both the adult and child to experience together. I think we can sometimes be in a such a hurry, that we forget to slow down, take stock and share in the joy of something little - like breaking pretzels sticks into apple stems. This might seem like a little thing to an adult, but to your child, it will be something special. You’ll probably even see happy proud smiles along with a generous spirit of them wanting to share their apple puffs with a friend (maybe even a teddy bear or two for a Rosh Hashanah or Sukkot tea). I don’t know about you, but I think this is a lovely way to begin a new Jewish year.

Do you have any special activities you’re doing with very young children this Rosh Hashanah? Share with us in the comments below, and let us know if you make the apple cream puffs! If you’re looking for more creative DIYs, recipes and family outings, visit our Rosh Hashanah Round-up!

And for more baking and food crafts, you can make:

These mini apple cream puffs were made with a lot of love and care, and we hope they bring some sweetness and smiles to your Jewish New Year celebrations!

“Shana Tova um'tukah” - Have a good and sweet new year!

~Jennifer