Teeny, Tiny, Sweet Kids' Birthday Treats

It’s a given that miniature versions of big things smack of cute. You’d think that crafting in miniature would be somehow easier, but that isn’t always so. It takes much thought and attention to detail to create something tiny. These decadent treats, crafted with care, would make a wonderful, yearly birthday tradition.

Each of these little versions of big treats is made with cereal, lovingly shrunken, but no less yummy and impressive than the originals (scroll to the bottom to see directions for each).

You must have a classic, birthday cake.

Everybody loves doughnuts. These come in powdered, cinnamon sugar and chocolate:

Remember summer with teeny s’mores.

How about a bite-size Kix cereal treat?

To make the doughnuts, you will need:

Cheerios and/or Honey Nut Cheerios cereal
Powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar and/or cocoa powder
Toothpicks
Honey (optional)

Pour powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar and/or cocoa powder in separate bowls. Roll the Cheerios around in each to coat. Honey Nut Cheerios are a bit more sticky, but if you need help adhering the sugar or cocoa to the Cheerio, dab honey on each cereal piece before rolling to coat.

To make the s’mores, you will need:

Golden Grahams cereal
Mini marshmallows
Chocolate chips or a chocolate bar broken into small pieces
Sharp knife

Slice the marshmallows in half and set aside. On a baking tray lined with parchment paper, place Golden Grahams in a single layer. On half of the Golden Grahams, place a marshmallow half. Place a piece of chocolate on each piece of the rest of the cereal. Broil on low for several minutes. Watch closely, and remove from the heat when the marshmallows begin to brown. Let cool a bit to the touch, and sandwich the two halves together.

To make the birthday cakes, you will need:

Cookie Crisp cereal
Betty Crocker Rich and Creamy Vanilla Frosting
Food coloring, any color
Disposable decorating bag
Sprinkles
Red licorice lace
Fruit by the Foot (yellow and/or orange)
Scissors

Snip pieces of licorice lace about ½ to ¾-inch long. Take a small piece of yellow or orange Fruit by the Foot, mush it into a flame shape and wrap around the end of the licorice lace. If needed, use a dab of water to adhere. Make as many candles as you like, and set aside. Tint the frosting any preferred color and scoop about ½ cup into a disposable decorating bag (found at the craft store). Snip ¼-inch from the tip of the bag. Pipe a dot of frosting on a Cookie Crisp cereal piece and top with another cereal piece. Pipe to top the cookie “cake” with frosting and immediately sprinkle with sprinkles. Insert the candle into the frosting.

To make mini cereal treats, you will need:

1 tablespoon butter
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 to 1 ½ cups of Kix cereal
loaf pan

Place the butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about 60 seconds, or until the marshmallows puff up and are almost melted. Stir well until smooth. Immediately stir in the Kix cereal. Press into a greased loaf pan and let set well. When completely cool, cut into tiny squares.

To make chocolate chip cookies, you will need:

Cookie Crisp cereal

That’s it! Instant mini cookies.

Meaghan Mountford, author of Sugarlicious: 50 Cute and Clever Treats for Every Occasion, has been creating crafty sweets for 15 years. She is especially fond of decorating cookies, marshmallows and putting sweets on sticks. See more on her blog, the decorated cookie.