Build an edible snowman using marshmallows, pretzels, candies, and frosting; assemble decorations, practice fine motor skills, and learn simple kitchen safety.



Step-by-step guide to make an edible snowman
Step 1
Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them so everything stays clean.
Step 2
Place your plate on the table and put all your materials on the plate within reach.
Step 3
Squeeze a small dot of frosting onto the plate to use as edible glue.
Step 4
Put one marshmallow in the center of the plate to be the snowman’s base.
Step 5
Push a toothpick halfway into the top of the base marshmallow with an adult nearby.
Step 6
Press a second marshmallow onto the exposed toothpick so it sits on top of the base.
Step 7
Put a small dab of frosting on top of the middle marshmallow to help the head stick.
Step 8
Press a third marshmallow onto the dab of frosting to make the snowman’s head.
Step 9
Gently push one pretzel stick into each side of the middle marshmallow to make the arms.
Step 10
Press two small round candies onto the head with tiny bits of frosting to make the eyes.
Step 11
Press one small orange candy into the center of the face with frosting to make a carrot nose.
Step 12
Press three small round candies down the front of the middle marshmallow with frosting to make buttons.
Step 13
Wrap a small strip of fruit roll up or licorice around the neck to make a scarf.
Step 14
Take a photo and share your finished edible snowman on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!


Help!?
What can we use if we don't have toothpicks, pretzel sticks, or fruit roll-ups?
If you don't have toothpicks for stacking (the step where you push a toothpick into the base), use a short piece of uncooked spaghetti with adult supervision, swap pretzel stick arms for small breadsticks or thin licorice, and replace the fruit roll-up scarf with a strip of soft cookie or fruit leather.
Why does my snowman keep falling apart, and how can I fix it?
If the marshmallows slide or the head keeps falling (during the toothpick and frosting steps), put a larger dot of frosting as edible glue, press the toothpick more firmly into the base with an adult nearby, or add a tiny candy shim between layers for extra grip.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For toddlers skip the sharp-toothpick step and stack marshmallows using only the frosting glue with close adult help, for school-age kids allow supervised toothpick insertion and more detailed candy placement, and for older kids challenge them to design multiple snowmen or complex faces before photographing for DIY.org.
How can we make the edible snowman more creative or special?
Personalize and extend the project by adding a candy hat, using sprinkles or crushed cookies as a snowy plate base, creating a mini snowman family with varied button patterns, or arranging a winter scene to photograph and share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make an edible snowman
Facts about food crafts for kids
⛄ The world's tallest snowman, "Olympia," was 122 ft 1 in (37.21 m) tall and was built in Bethel, Maine, in 2008.
🤏 Assembling tiny candies and pretzel pieces helps kids practice fine motor skills like the pincer grasp and hand–eye coordination.
🍡 Marshmallows were originally made from the marshmallow plant and were once used as a sweet medicinal treat in ancient Egypt.
🥨 Pretzels date back to medieval Europe and their twisted shape is said to represent arms folded in prayer.
🧼 Washing hands with soap for about 20 seconds is one of the easiest, most effective ways to stop the spread of germs in the kitchen.


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