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There are so many fun themes for holiday parties, but one of our favorites is to create a magical winter wonderland. It works no matter which winter holiday you celebrate! Think hanging snowflakes, frost-covered branches, fuzzy white sweaters, mugs of hot cocoa, festive gingerbread houses, and lots of wintery treats.
Let’s take a look at some fun and easy winter wonderland party ideas and winter snack ideas to make your gathering extra special.
Try these festive winter snacks and holiday desserts to sweeten up your winter wonderland party!
Nothing says winter party snacks like snowflake sugar cookies. Make or buy sugar cookie dough, roll it out, and use snowflake-shaped cookie cutters to make festive shapes. Once baked and cooled, decorate with royal icing and blue and white sprinkles to make your cookies sparkle like fresh snow. These winter snacks are fun for kids to decorate and can even be hung as edible ornaments!
These charming treats double as a cute edible craft for a winter wonderland party theme. Thread three marshmallows onto a skewer, use melted chocolate to add eyes, buttons, and a mouth, and a small piece of carrot for the nose. Top it off with a mini chocolate hat (like a chocolate wafer or a peanut butter cup) for an adorable, edible snowman. We love to serve these winter wonderland snacks for kids with hot cocoa.
What is the best winter snack to give as a holiday gift? You’ve found it! Peppermint bark is one of our favorite winter snack ideas, and it’s super easy to make at home. Melt a layer of white chocolate and a layer of dark or milk chocolate, sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top, and let it harden in the fridge. Once set, break it into pieces for a delicious, and giftable treat.
One of our go-to winter wonderland party ideas is to make a hot cocoa station. Arrange hot cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, peppermint sticks, caramel squares, and other toppings. Add some festive mugs and serve alongside cozy snacks.
Popcorn snowballs are fun to make and eat. Start with fresh-popped popcorn, melt some white chocolate, and mix the two together. Shape the coated popcorn into balls (similar to snowballs), then roll them in powdered sugar or edible glitter for an extra frosty look. These sweet and crunchy winter snacks are perfect for holiday movie nights or snowy day snacks.
In a realistic world, not all winter snacks and holiday goodies can be Pinterest-worthy creations! Many brands now make “holiday editions” of their regular offerings to add an element of seasonal fun. Here are a few winter party snacks that you can pick up at the grocery store when you’re short on time—or are simply looking for easy, everyday options that kids will love.
Look for bags of pretzels in holiday shapes, like bells and stars. We’ve seen this option for both traditional salty pretzels as well as chocolate-covered versions. White chocolate-covered pretzels are perfect for winter wonderland snacks for kids’ parties.
Crackers shaped like Christmas trees are a fun addition to charcuterie boards. Serve alongside a variety of cheeses, meats, and olives, with a sprig of rosemary for color.
Celebrate the holidays with Welch’s® Fruit Snacks Holiday! Made with real fruit, these festive snacks to buy come shaped like snowmen, snowflakes, and ornaments. Featuring a Good Source of Vitamins A, C, & E, they’re gluten-free and are made with Whole Fruit. Perfect for stocking stuffers, classroom exchanges, holiday parties, or even a Christmas scavenger hunt!
Available Nationwide this holiday season.
Marshmallow squares made with rice cereal tend to be a big hit with kids year-round. During holiday time, you can find them with festively colored sprinkles and wrapped in seasonal packaging.
Popular cookie brands have been known to put out holiday versions of their regular varieties, such as chocolate sandwich cookies filled with red cream, or butter cookies shaped like Santa. Store-bought gingerbread cookies are traditional Christmas snacks that never go out of style.
Speaking of gingerbread, it goes without saying the perfect centerpiece for any winter wonderland gathering is a gingerbread house. While there are many pre-made kits available these days, making one from scratch is one of those indoor winter activities that your kids will never forget. Here’s a simple guide on how to make a gingerbread house with your kiddos:
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a bowl. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy; add molasses, egg, and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients to form a dough. Wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour to keep the dough firm.
Whisk egg whites (or meringue powder + water) until frothy. Gradually add powdered sugar and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Add a little water if too thick; the icing should be able to “glue” pieces together.
Starting with the walls, pipe icing along the edges of each wall piece and press together. Hold for a few seconds to set. Once walls are stable, apply icing along the top edges and press the roof pieces on. Let your structure dry for at least an hour.
Now for the fun part: decorating! Get creative with frosting, mini candy canes, gumdrops, chocolates, peppermints, and more. For a winter wonderland vibe, sprinkle powdered sugar over the roof and add “snowballs” with Welch’s® Fruit ‘n Yogurt™ Snacks around the house. They’re made with real fruit surrounded by creamy yogurt and offer up a delicious and decorative touch.
Elevate your winter themed party food and festive gingerbread displays with Welch’s® Fruit Snacks. Wishing you a wonderful and cozy holiday season!
