Make snacks for a 4th of July party

What can I use instead of wooden skewers, a star cookie cutter, or a piping bag if they’re hard to find?

Use sturdy plastic drinking straws or short bamboo skewers for threading strawberries, blueberries and mini marshmallows, press a clean small cup rim or trace a star and have an adult cut the bread instead of a star cookie cutter, and fill a zip-top bag with frosting and snip a corner to mimic a piping bag for the cupcake step.

Why do my strawberries and marshmallows slide off the skewers or my bread tear when cutting stars, and how can I fix that?

After rinsing, dry the strawberries and blueberries, slice large strawberries in half as instructed to make them sit flatter on the skewer, have an adult press the star cutter firmly on a flat bread slice on the cutting board to prevent tearing, and chill cupcakes briefly if the frosting is too runny before spreading.

How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?

For toddlers, have an adult pre-cut berries and assemble unskewered fruit stacks and star sandwiches, for elementary kids supervise them using the butter knife to remove tops and thread fruit, and for older kids let them pipe frosting, decorate cupcakes, and take photos to share on DIY.org.

What are simple ways to enhance or personalize the patriotic snacks?

Add white-chocolate-dipped pretzel rods with red-white-blue sprinkles, cut extra shapes from bread or fruit with other cookie cutters, write names or messages with frosting on cupcakes, and arrange your star sandwiches and skewers on themed plates before photographing and sharing.