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Drive-by birthday parties, and outdoor celebrations are becoming pretty popular this year! If you were brainstorming outdoor theme ideas, how about a garden party? The kids can decorate the driveway with chalk flowers, butterflies and snails, and you can bring out some darling Swiss roll escargot treats! They are no-bake, and won’t require a lot of time in the kitchen, but the kids will get a huge kick out of snacking on the little snails. I am pretty sure this is the only version of “escargot” that my kids would consider sampling. Me too, if I’m honest!
what you need:
- Swiss cake rolls
- Salt water taffy
- Black nonpareils sprinkles
- White sprinkles
- Toothpick
- Knife
- Wax paper
how-to:
Step 1
Wash your hands thoroughly! Roll a piece of salt water taffy into a ball. Roll the ball into a snake, leaving one end a little bulbous. The taffy softens and becomes easier to work with as it warms in your hands.
Wash your hands thoroughly! Roll a piece of salt water taffy into a ball. Roll the ball into a snake, leaving one end a little bulbous. The taffy softens and becomes easier to work with as it warms in your hands.
Step 2
Use the end of a toothpick to poke small eye sockets in the snail head, and small holes on top for antennae. Place your black Nonpareils sprinkles in the eye sockets, and white sprinkles on top. Reshape the snail head or body if necessary.
Use the end of a toothpick to poke small eye sockets in the snail head, and small holes on top for antennae. Place your black Nonpareils sprinkles in the eye sockets, and white sprinkles on top. Reshape the snail head or body if necessary.
Step 3
You may want to refrigerate your Swiss cake rolls for a bit before cutting. Use a knife to cut a Swiss roll cake into about ½” wide slices. You may discard (or eat!) the ends.
You may want to refrigerate your Swiss cake rolls for a bit before cutting. Use a knife to cut a Swiss roll cake into about ½” wide slices. You may discard (or eat!) the ends.
Step 4
Flatten the bottom of your taffy snake by pushing it down a bit. Set a slice of Swiss cake roll on the taffy near the non-bulbous end, and wrap the bulbous end up around the roll. Push them together until they stick, so the taffy head is standing up a bit. Place the snail in the refrigerator on a piece of wax paper.
Flatten the bottom of your taffy snake by pushing it down a bit. Set a slice of Swiss cake roll on the taffy near the non-bulbous end, and wrap the bulbous end up around the roll. Push them together until they stick, so the taffy head is standing up a bit. Place the snail in the refrigerator on a piece of wax paper.
TIP: Leave the snails in the fridge until party time, as the taffy loses its shape if it warms up too much. Also, be sure to place the snails exactly where you want them once they are off the wax paper. They are more difficult to peel off of certain surfaces, such as napkins and melamine. They do well on paper plates, cupcakes, and wax paper.
Your kid-friendly “escargot” is ready to eat! Enjoy!
