31 Valentine’s Day Snacks That Make Sweet Lunchbox Treats

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 24

Instead of food coloring, the cookies get their pink hue (and flavor) from freeze-dried berries, which you can find online and in stores like Trader Joe’s or Target. "I like a mix of strawberry and raspberry for the holiday spirit, but you can use any kind you like," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen says.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
• Serves: 24

For a cut-out cookie that looks super impressive but is easy enough for beginner bakers, try swirling food coloring into a simple icing, then dipping heart-shaped cookies for a tie-dye effect. Groovy, no? "More mixing will have a softer, more marbled effect; less mixing will yield bright streaks of color," Gillen explains.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Normally I’m all for shortcuts, like store-bought pie crust. But here, homemade is worth the extra effort, since you’ll incorporate sprinkles for a festive touch. Fill them with store-bought jam and you won’t lose any time. "The recipe is easily doubled to make more pies, and you can swap the raspberry for any flavor you like," Gillen writes.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 16

"These pink and white animal cookie blondies are so easy to make—less than ten ingredients [in] 35 minutes," Gillen says. Your kids will go gaga over the tiny cookies they already know and love. Rainbow sprinkles are optional, but if you want to go all out...

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

Once February rolls around, I’ll take any excuse to transform a recipe into a fever dream of pink and red, hence these strawberry sweeties. They’re a fruity take on the O.G. black and white cookie, also known as a half-and-half cookie. "Come Valentine’s Day, no one will miss the chocolate," Gillen promises.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

Roses are red, violets are blue. These cookies are cute, and so easy, too. (And they definitely beat conversation hearts.) "It’s best to use a seedless jam or jelly so the cookies are easy to fill and the hearts don’t look gloppy," recipe developer Erin McDowell advises.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 16

"This starts with a very simple press-in brown sugar shortbread, followed by thin layers of seedless jam and frosting," McDowell says. "On their own, all of those items are delicious, but together, they’re extra special." These layered cookie bars are surprisingly stackable for lunchbox treats; just let the frosting set for a few hours before packing them.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

Even if it's not your kid's birthday, they'll be overjoyed to dig in. "They’re festive and fun, but way easier to make than a triple-tiered masterpiece," Gillen asserts. "Plus, they’re easy to slip in a lunchbox or send with your kid for a class celebration." Replace the rainbow sprinkles with red and pink ones to add some V-Day flair.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

Sure, it travels well to school and work...but this Valentine's Day snack also has date night written all over it. "The striking pink topping is just a dusting of freeze-dried raspberries that have been powdered in a food processor," Gillen explains. "A smattering of fresh berries or a touch of lemon zest would be equally delicious and elegant."

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 2

It's never too cold out for a festive sipper, if you ask me. "You can make it a boozy milkshake by adding cherry vodka or chocolate liqueur to the mix, but the virgin version is sure to set the mood," Gillen suggests. "Use the leftover cherry sauce for waffles, pancakes, ice cream sundaes and cocktails."

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 16

Nothing says "I love you" like a bite-sized pizza. "[They] look fancy but take all of ten minutes to put together," Gillen claims. Serve them with a side of marinara, ranch dressing or pesto for dipping.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus setting time)
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 25 to 30

Using marshmallow creme to make cheater's fudge is an age-old shortcut—but why limit yourself to chocolate? "This is a play on the peanut butter-marshmallow sandwiches we looked forward to most in our grade-school, packed-lunch days," Gillen explains. "It’s beyond foolproof to make (in 15 minutes)!"

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Equal parts sweet and spicy, this is one Valentine's Day snack that won't make it to the 15th. "It has just enough heat, and a stick-to-your-teeth coating to keep you coming back for another handful, and another and another," Gillen warns.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

Football Sunday and holidays do not have dibs on this fan-favorite party appetizer. "I serve this ever-so-slightly sophisticated recipe with a side of cheater’s aioli for dipping, but I wouldn’t turn up my nose at ketchup, mustard or a little bit of both," Gillen says.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

This teeny-tiny, portable riff on a Southern dessert certainly fits the bill. "I went with a cornstarch-thickened pudding instead of an egg-based custard," Gillen explains. "You could swap the classic vanilla cookies for graham crackers, speculoos or even Oreos, if you want to go wild."

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 36

Give the berries a break in favor of clementines or mandarins, both tasty homages to citrus season. "The 'meltaway' texture is thanks to cornstarch in the dough," Gillen says. "It keeps the cookies tender and lends that signature melt-in-your-mouth quality. Feel free to swap the clementine for another type of citrus—like Meyer lemon or blood orange—if you prefer."

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 18

"They’re moist, packed with fruit and just sweet enough—worlds away from the dry, sad muffins sold at that coffee chain down the street," Gillen asserts. Serve them for breakfast, dessert or as a Valentine's Day snack after school.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

When in doubt (or when serving picky eaters), you can never go wrong with an old-school chocolate chipper—especially a miniature one. Even better? "This is a one-bowl situation, because I’m far more interested in eating cookies than doing dishes," Gillen writes.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
• Serves: 30

Sure, chocolate truffles might sound too fancy for a Valentine’s Day snack, but hear me out. These come together with just three ingredients (and very little skill), so basically anyone can make them.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, no cook
• Serves: 1 pound

For a more low-brow (but no less delicious) treat, swirl together this chocolate bark and top it with seasonal candies. Last-minute classroom parties have met their match.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 24

If you’ve never tasted a homemade marshmallow, you’re in for a treat. They’re fluffier, softer and less cloying than the bagged kind—one bite and you’ll never go back. Bonus points for heart-shaped sprinkles.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
• Serves: 35 pieces

With four ingredients and almost no cooking time, even little hands can help put together this Valentine’s Day snack. I like the mix of white and milk chocolate, but regular Hershey's Kisses would work too.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 10

See ya later, peanuts and raisins. This snack mix is all about sweet, salty and festive mix-ins, like pink and white chocolates, cinnamon-flavored candies, X and O pretzels and cereal for good measure.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: varies

What kid wouldn't want to eat their veggies when they're cut into flower-like shapes? This bouquet won't get traded for a store-bought cupcake in the cafeteria, trust. (OK, it might...but at least someone's kid will love it.)

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24

If you’re already maxed out on sweets, channel your inner Cupid with these sweet skewers instead. Older kids will love the tomato-mozz-basil flavor profile, and the heart shapes are simply too cute.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 9

These gooey brownies are entirely homemade, but if you need to save time, I won't tell if you start with a boxed mix. Not sure which one is the best? Check out our boxed brownie mix taste test and ranking for advice.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: varies

Valentine’s Day sprinkles make these holiday-ready, but you could also swap in toasted coconut, chopped nuts or a chocolate dip instead. The red food coloring is optional, but adds a festive touch.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Lunchtime has never been cuter. Even non-bakers can get in on the holiday love with a handful of googly eyes and some pipe cleaners. It's more a craft than a recipe, TBH.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 12

For an after-school Valentine’s Day snack, quickly bake up a batch of these fluffy cupcakes. What’s that? You don’t think it’ll be quick? The frosting is whipped cream, and the cakes can be made up to three days ahead.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 20

The combination of milk chocolate and coconut oil means you can make these treats without having to temper the chocolate. The filling does require a stand mixer, but you could use jarred marshmallow fluff instead to cut corners.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 8 to 10 cups

Sweet and salty are the keys to your kid’s heart. Toss this white chocolate-coated popcorn in pink and white sprinkles, or go the extra mile and add conversation hearts to the mix. XOXO.