Peanut’s Inspired Valentine’s Chocolate Covered Donut Holes
Can you believe that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner? Gosh, I can’t. Every year we have our traditions like making Valentine’s. Josh is older now, but I’m so glad that he still does it with me! His class has long stopped the traditional Valentine’s Day party (I know, it’s sad), but we like to still make some and drop them off at the retirement center near our house. Spreading love…that’s our plan!
One of our other traditions is watching the Peanuts special! It really doesn’t matter what holiday it is, I’m all about the Peanuts special! I think everyone has some Charlie Brown in them. He’s always there and while we may laugh at him a bit, we are always rooting for him! One day he will kick that football!
[Tweet “Did you know that the Little Red Hair Girl was based on a woman Schulz worked with and even dated? He even proposed! #PeanutsValentine”]
So the other night Joshua and I spent our evening watching A Charlie Brown Valentine and making an easy treat to package up – Chocolate Covered Donut Holes! YUM! They are quick, super simple, totally festive and so sweet you just need one to satisfy your sweet tooth!
You will need:
- Donut Holes or regular donuts if you want to coat the tops of them
- Candy melts – I used red and white
- Valentine’s Day sprinkles
- Valentine’s Day straws (optional)
I cut the straws in half and inserted them into the donut holes. You can either have them as donut pops or just use the straws to make dipping easier for little hands!
Spread out a sheet of parchment paper and melt your candy melts according to the package instructions. Dip your donut holes into the melt. Set them on the parchment paper to harden.
We dipped ours in red and after it hardened (it won’t take long!) we dipped them again in white. You can do a solid color or pipe zig zags or even three colors! Get creative!
When you have enough candy coating on them, sprinkle them with sprinkles. Let them sit until the candy has hardened.
Super simple and super fun!
[Tweet “Valentine’s Day treat idea: Chocolate covered donut holes…with heart sprinkles of course!”]
Aren’t these sweet? (Hahaha. I’m so funny!)
All of these goodies came in my mailbox the other day and I’m so excited I get to give a set away! It’s the perfect prize pack for gifts for your kiddos, great treat holders for holding your Chocolate Covered Donut Holes, and a few goodies for you to keep for yourself!
- Oriental Trading’s treat box to color, crayons and stickers
- Snoopy and Woodstock Pez
- Simon and Schuster’s Happy Valentine’s Day
- A Charlie Brown Valentine from Warner Home Entertainment
- Whitman’s Chocolates featuring a Snoopy Plush
- Valentine card from Hallmark
And don’t forget that there are TWO prime time specials from the Peanuts gang. Be My Valentine Charlie Brown is the 13th special based upon the famous comic strip. It’s been airing since 1975! The second, A Charlie Brown Valentine is the 40th special! Originally aired in 2002, it’s already a loved classic.
Disclaimer: I am a Peanuts Brand Ambassador. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own however I did receive gifts for my honest opinions and ideas. All Charlie Brown love, Woodstock obsessions and Snoopy infatuations are all my own. 🙂
Super Easy, Super Delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes
Usually when I make cupcakes or eat cupcakes for that matter they are vanilla. Every so often I’ll be in the mood for some chocolate. And on the rare occassion, I will see a fantastic looking Red Velevet cupcake.
They are like the Kate Middleton of cupcakes, reserved for occasions and events, like weddings or Valentine’s Day.
But now, this Red Velvet Cupcake recipe makes it so easy to make them, it may seem like you are living the royal life in Buckingham Palace!
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ cup butter, soft, plus 4 tbsp.
- ¼ cup softened shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 TBSP Red Velvet extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp. Red gel food color
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line cupcake tins withpaper liners.
- Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt all together.
- Mix the dry ingredients with a wire whisk for 3 minutes
- In a separate bowl using anelectric mixer, beat the butter, shortening and sugar until it is light and creamy.
- Add the egg, vanilla, red velvet extract, and red gel food coloring.
- Mix well.
- Add flour mix and buttermilk, ½ portion of each at a time, mix until completely combined.
- Spoon the batter into the lined cupcake tins until ⅔’s filled.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes
- Remove from cupcake tins to a wire rack until totally cooled
Red Velvet cupcakes wouldn’t be Red Velvet cupcakes without cream cheese frosting. Cool, creamy and sweet this frosting is super delicious!
- 1 C unsalted butter, softened
- 1 C cream cheese, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 C powdered sugar
- Cream the butter and cream cheese until creamy.
- Mix on low.
- Slowly add powdered sugar until blended.
- Add vanilla and beat until thoroughly combined.
- Scoop the frosting into a pastry bag with a frosting tip.
- Twist the open end of the pastry bag to force the frosting to the tip.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes.
Love cupcakes? Check out some of our favorites!
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Cupcakes
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Super Easy DIY Valentine’s Day Mailbox
Can you believe that Valentine’s Day is only a few days away? Today we are sharing this really adorable Valentine’s Day Mailbox that is a super cinch to put together! When I was in grade school we had Valentine Box contests. I remember it well and how much we looked forward to making fun and creative boxes to take to school for Valentine’s Day. Now my children are making Valentine boxes and enjoying this same experience! Here is a special box we created together.
Supplies:
- Several sheets of scrapbook paper
- Sticker letters
- Empty facial tissue box
- Scissors
- Small heart shaped scrapbooking brad
- Hot glue and glue gun
- Ribbon
Use scissors to remove the top from the tissue box so that the entire top is open. Also cut an opening in the bottom of the box, leaving one edge attached to create a flap. This opening will allow the Valentine cards to be removed without taking the box apart. Cut a small piece of scrap from the box and attach it to the flap for easy opening later.
Measure and cut a piece of scrapbook paper the length of the box. Attach it with hot glue to the sides of the box, creating a domed top like a traditional mailbox.
Add small pieces of scrapbook paper to the sides of the box covering any area that is still exposed.Cut a slit in the paper that is the top of the mailbox for Valentine cards to be deposited.
Turn the box on its end on another piece of scrapbook paper. Trace the shape of the box to create the ends for the mailbox. This part will need to cover the end of the box and meet the dome shaped top.
Cut the ends out and attach them to the box using hot glue. The ends will be difficult to secure to the dome shape. I glue ribbon on to hold the piece of paper together and to cover the corners and seems of the box. I also used ribbon to frame the opening in the top of the mailbox. I added small hearts to the corners for extra detail.
Use letter stickers to add a message on the side of the mailbox that will tell who this pretty little box belongs to. I made up a fun address all about love!
Using scrap pieces of paper I also made a flag for the side of the box. I attached this with a small heart rivet found at the scrapbook store.
To finish the mailbox off, add a pull tab on the end. This will not actually open the mailbox but makes it look more like a real mailbox. I used a pom pom. I also added sticker letter X’s and O’s.
This is a fun and creative box for receiving Valentine cards from special friends! Do you remember making Valentine’s Day boxes as a child?
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9 Awesome Valentine’s Day Ideas – Moms Check In
Are you as excited about Valentine’s Day as I am? I’m not sure if it’s all of the pink or the hearts, but something about it gets me feeling all happy. Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day ideas! #MomsCheckIn
Valentine’s Day is so much fun for us. I mean…chocolate, right? And love. What could be better? One of our favorite homemade Valentine’s are these Rainbow Loom cards. Just print out the free template and attach the bracelets my daughter can make in her sleep. She gave them out last year and the kids loved them. On Valentine’s Day we have to have dessert too (of course)! This Valentine’s Day Pudding Parfait is so easy, pretty, and totally delicious! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!
I LOVE Valentine’s Day. It’s fun to create special memories with Sam including home made crafts and treats. We always have a great time together. I also try to do a special dinner date with Mike each year.
– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!
Valentine’s Day is just the coolest. We love to make our own Valentine’s Day cards for little man’s classroom exchange. They’re just always a bit more unique and fun, I think. Here are some really great Valentine’s Day printables for cards, treat toppers and more. We also make up baggies of these strawberry muddy buddies to pass out in his classroom. That stuff is SERIOUSLY addictive – so beware!! xoxo
– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!
Every year we make homemade Valentines to pass out at school. We try to do something more than candy and super fun. A few years ago I made printable tags to attach to mini boxes of cereal. They were a HUGE hit! This year we are sending in lip balms for the girls and bags of chips for the boys.
– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!
How do you plan on celebrating Valentine’s Day?
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You’re All That and a Bag of Chips Valentine Free Printable
Earlier this week I shared with you our You’re the BALM Valentines. We plan on handing those out to the girls in Josh’s class and while I say that everyone needs lip balm (even boys), Josh wanted to have something else for the boys. So we decided on chips.
Because that’s the next logical choice, right? 🙂
These are really easy to make.
First, just download our free Valentines here. I printed mine at a local office supply store on card stock.
Then just attach. You can use washi tape and tape them on. You can run them through your sticker maker (I told you I love this thing!) Or you can use a hole punch and punch a hole in the top of the bag. Tie a little bakers twine through the top and ta-da.
Valentines complete.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do when Josh grows up and I’m not able to send in really cheesy puns to school anymore!
Do you make Valentines and send them in to your children’s school or do you buy them?
You’re the Balm Valentine! Easy printable DIY valentines
We are big fans of homemade valentines. Each year we create a new valentine and try to attach them to a little something unexpected.
Our cereal box valentines will always be one of my favorites, but this year we have several printable valentines that are just as cute!
These Valentines are beyond easy to make!
All you need is:
Our free You’re The Balm Valentine printable (Save and print it from here!)
Lip Balm of your choice (This is a great deal! Only $10.99 for 24!)
Scissors
Sticker Maker (I have the Xyron and I use it ALL the time. I absolutely LOVE it!! It’s inexpensive and makes DIY projects super easy! You can also use packing tape to attach the labels to the balms if you prefer.)
Your child will want to be sure to sign the valentines before you start. If you plan on using the sticker maker, simply run them through the machine and wrap around the bottle of lip balm. These can stick right on top of any existing labels that are on your lip balms! If you are planning on using tape, I recommend packing tape since the width is pretty spot on with the balms! Place a small piece on one end of the label. (Depending on your lip balm of choice, you may need to trim the labels slightly to fit.)
Line the label on your lip balm. Make sure you leave the area for the lid to come on and off!
Wrap the label around. If you are using tape, secure with another small piece of tape.
Ta-da! That’s it!
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