20 Valentine’s Day Snacks That Make Sweet Lunchbox Treats (2024)

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• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy

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. We like a mix of strawberry and raspberry for the holiday spirit, but you can use any kind you like.

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

For a cutout cookie that looks super impressive but is simple enough for beginner bakers, try swirling food coloring into a simple icing, then dipping heart-shaped cookies for a tie-dye effect. Groovy, right?

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, kid-friendly

Normally we’re all for shortcuts, like frozen 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.

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

Roses are red, violets are blue. These cookies are cute, and so easy…too. Use a seedless jam for the easiest, cleanest filling. This beats conversation hearts, no?

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

FYI, these layered bars are surprisingly stackable for lunchbox treats. Just let the frosting set for a few hours before you pack them up.

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

You’ll swoon over the short ingredients list and bake time (hello, 35 minutes), while your kids will go gaga over the pink and white cookies they already know and love. Rainbow sprinkles are optional, if you want to go all out.

• Time Commitment: 4 hours, 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

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

Sally’s Baking Recipes

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

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

A Cookie Named Desire

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

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: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy

When February rolls around, we’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 classic chocolate and vanilla treat (also known as a black and white or half-and-half cookie), and come Valentine’s Day, no one will miss the chocolate.

Spend with Pennies

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <15 minutes

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

Oh Sweet Basil

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why We Love It: <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

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.

Fork and Beans

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

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

A Pretty Life In the Suburbs

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: no cook, <15 minutes, beginner-friendly

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 too cute.

Pinch of Yum

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser

These gooey brownies are entirely homemade, but if you need to save time, start with a boxed mix. Not sure which one is the best? Check out our guide.

Foodie Crush

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

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

Fork and Beans

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

Even non-bakers can get in on the holiday love with a handful of googly eyes and some pipe cleaners. Lunchtime has never been cuter.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

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 We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

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.

Gimme Some Oven

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <15 minutes

Sweet and salty are the key 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. XOXO.

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...