My daughter insisted on a Magical Fairy Garden Tea Party for her 4th Birthday… what a mouthful.

Even though I knew it would be a challenge, I was up to it! And I think it’s safe to say that I SCORED BIG on this one.

While planning, preparing, sweating, crying (ok, maybe not crying) over this party I came up with, what I thought was, a genius idea.

My brainstorm was raining down, I was thinking… “Hmmm, what would you have at a Fairy Garden Party? Mushrooms… yes. Frogs… Yes. Pixie Dust… Double Yes. Snails… YES!”

I don’t know about you, but I love, love, LOVE snails. There’s something about those sluggish, squishy, swirly little mollusc’s that is just so endearing and cute. As a kid, I even used to put them in jars.

But the question lingered… how do I make an edible yet easy snail. I don’t want to bake anything extra… I’m already making a cake. I don’t want to have to collect multiple ingredients. What is round and easy to eat? Well… Marshmallows of course. Kids love Marshmallows.

But how can I create them into snails. What can I “swirl,” them in. Then, as if I’d reached up and pulled that chain above my head, the light bulb came on.

FRUIT ROLL UPS OF COURSE, (Please imagine I’m saying that much like Lucy does to Charlie Brown.)

Hense, the Sweet, Squishy, Edible snail was born.

first, I bought Marshmallows. I let my daughter pick them out. Of course she picked the pink ones. Not my favorite, but this was her party.

Then we bought  box on fruit roll ups. Each roll makes about 3 snails. I found that each child wanted at least 2 snails! Knowing that, you can probably average out how many you will need.

I then made sure I had a food coloring pen, as to draw on little faces.

And that’s all we needed… just those 3 things.

First, I opened the pack of marshmallows. Then I unrolled a Fruit Roll up. I then rolled it around the Mallow until it had gone around a few times.

When I felt I had achieved the “needed rollage,” I cut the strip with a knife… I found a butter knife was sufficient.

I left a “tail,” on the fruit roll up that would soon become the “head,” of the Snail.

I then rolled the extra “tail,” back to create the “head.” It looked much like a tab you’d find on clothing of the rolled tag you aren’t supposed to cut off a throw pillow, but that everyone does.

After the head was formed, I took my black Food Color Marker and drew simple, cute faces on the snails.

 

Like I said, these squishy little cuties were soon being held in little hands and then making their slippery journey down into little tummies.

Simple! Sweet! A one of a kind treat!

The best part… the skies the limit with these snails! You can do any flavor or color of Mallow, any flavor and color of fruit roll up and any face you could possibly imagine. You could do Emoji faces, colorful fruit rolls, draw swirls on the side… etc!

I hope you and your littles enjoy this tasty treat from Lemonade Brain.

Bon Apetite!