What a fun way to celebrate this special day.  Every February the Groundhog comes out of his house to let us know if there will be an early spring or more weeks of winter.  We have three treats to share and make for the kids to make this day fun.  Version one and two take a little more time and use the Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies.  The third version is quick and easy and uses Teddy Graham cookies.  Either way, all of them can be made ahead of time and turn out cute. Have more fun this Groundhog's day and make our Groundhog paper bag puppet. 

 

 

 

 

 (Groundhog Pudding cups - version one)    What you'll need:

• Individual chocolate pudding cup

• Green Sprinkles

• Pepperidge Farms Milano cookie

• Mini marshmallow

• Scissors

• Black jell icing

• Chocolate chips and Quart size Ziploc bag

• Cheerios

• Candy eyeballs (sold in most supermarkets)

How to make it:

1. Groundhog pudding cups:

   • Start by making the muzzle for the groundhog.  Cover the bottom of a sheet tray with parchment or foil.  Use your scissors to cut a mini marshmallow in half.  Place the two pieces cut side down side by side on the sheet tray.  Make several.  Place the sheet tray under the broiler and broil until just puffed and golden.  Watch them carefully because they should only take a minute.  Remove them from the oven and let cool completely.

   • To make the teeth take a marshmallow between your fingers and flatten.  Use scissors to cut out a rectangular shape and place it in the upper center of one side of the Milano cookie.  It is easier to do all of one step at a time.  Use your black gel to draw a line down the center of the marshmallow teeth.

   • Carefully remove one set of marshmallows and place it sticky side down on the cookie covering up the tops of the teeth.  Repeat this with all the cookies.  If some of the marshmallows fall apart, simply toast a few more and add them.

   • For the ears using your fingers or a pair of scissors to cut Cheerios in half.  Each ½ Cheerio will be an ear.

   • To attach the ears and eyes you will need to make some melted chocolate “glue”.  Place half of a cup of chocolate chips into the corner of a quart size bag and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until the chocolate is just melted.  Use your scissors to snip a tiny piece off the corner of the bag so that you can apply the chocolate as glue to hold the ears. 

   • Dab a bit of chocolate just above the cheeks and attach the eyes to each of your groundhogs.  Next, squirt out a little between the eyes to make the nose.  Do not worry if you get a little chocolate on the eyes – you can clean that up later. 

   • One at a time dab a bit of chocolate onto the cut ends of the Cheerios and attach them to the groundhog to form the ears.

   • Set each groundhog down until the chocolate has set and dried.  If you got any chocolate on the eyes, take a q-tip and slightly dampen one end with a little water and wipe the chocolate away.

   • Once the groundhogs are dry, submerge the bottom half of them into each pudding cup and sprinkle the tops of the cups with green sprinkles – that’s it.

 

(Groundhog Puffed Rice Treats - version two)    What you'll need:

• Chocolate puffed rice cereal

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1 package Marshmallows

• Green Sprinkles

• Pepperidge Farms Milano cookie

• Mini marshmallow

• Scissors

• Black jell icing

• Chocolate chips and Quart size Ziploc bag

• Cheerios

• Candy eyeballs (sold in most supermarkets)

• Plastic knife

• 2” biscuit cutter

 How to make it:

• Make the groundhogs as in version one and set them aside until fully set and dry.

• To make the groundhog molehills:  In a large pot, melt the butter on medium heat.  Add one package of marshmallows and stir until melted.  Once the marshmallows are melted, take the pot off of the heat and add 8 cups of chocolate puffed rice cereal like Coco Pebbles.    Use a wooden spoon to combine thoroughly.  Pour into a 13 x 9 pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Sprinkle with green sprinkles.

• On a clean flat surface, turn the pan over and dump the crispy treats out.  Use a 2” biscuit cutter to cut out rounds.  Use the plastic knife to make a slit in the center of each crispy round. 

• Place the bottom half of each groundhog cookie in the slit and squish the crispy treats around each cookie.  That’s it.

 

(Groundhog Puffed Rice Treat Minis - version three)    What you'll need:

• Chocolate puffed rice cereal

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1 package Marshmallows

• Green Sprinkles

• Teddy Graham cookies

How to make it:

 Make the Crispy treats as in version 2.

• Scoop out a small ball of crispy treat and insert one Teddy Graham into the center of each ball.  That’s it – now you have a really quick simple groundhog treat.