Once a year, we do a little time traveling with some of our besties & celebrate a spirit week inspired by another decade. THIS year, we’re headed back to the ’90s and wanted to kick it off with an after-school snack box full of throwback surprises…
Way back in my kid years, when I was still just experimenting with simple cooking, I was gifted the “Better Homes and Gardens Step-by-Step Kids Cookbook“. It was filled with 2 or 3-step recipes and was where I first discovered the joy of mini snack “hamburger” cookies.
A few years later, my sister and I would get a Mcdonald’s Hamburger Maker (do you remember those?!). Ironically, neither of us have ever eaten much meat – but for whatever reason, those darling little faux hamburgs left a lasting memory.
The OG recipe called for a York Peppermint Patty “patty,” and honestly, it was like WHOA – SO. MUCH. SUGAR. So I made up a mixture of VERY basic ingredients and melded my favorite bits and pieces of those childhood burger-themed treats to create this DIY ’90s-inspired snack – complete with a colorful two-tone DIY snack box!
These hamburger cookie treats are a super fun snack for kids to make themselves, especially at slumber parties, after school, or during kid-friendly cookouts.
They also have some protein, fiber, and less sugar than most cookies or processed snacks. And they pair perfectly with our healthier versions of homemade Ecto-Cooler and DIY Pop Rocks punch (total throwback!). So gather the kiddos and get ready to relive one of my classic ’90s snacks…
“Reader 1, Reader 1 – your ’90s meal is ready…!”
For mini no-bake hamburger cookie treats, you’ll need:
BASIC INGREDIENTS:
- 12 Vanilla wafers
- 1/4 c. Shredded coconut
- 2-3 Drops of green food coloring
- 2 cups Rice Krispies
- 1/2 c. Peanut butter
- 1-2 tsp. Water
- 1 tsp. Cocoa powder (or a hot chocolate packet)
- 1 T. Sesame seeds for sprinkling
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS:
- For the “classic version,” you can use a small tube of red and/or yellow icing for “condiments.”
- 1 T. Protein powder to mix in the patties
No-Bake Hamburger Cookie Treats Recipe Instructions:
Color the shredded coconut “lettuce.”
Prep by making your “lettuce” first so it’s ready to go. Â In a small bowl, combine a 1/4 cup of shredded coconut and 2-3 drops of green food coloring (add more as desired). Once you’ve stirred until evenly green, your “lettuce” is ready to go!
Create your “hamburger” patties.
Start by roughly crushing about 2 cups of Rice Krispies (or similar). You don’t want a powder, just slightly smaller bits. I Â poured the cereal into a baggie and then crushed it with the flat side of a mixing spoon, which worked well.
Pour into a small bowl, and stir in peanut butter until your mixture sticks together and holds form. Add about a 1/2 teaspoon of water, and 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder, stirring until thoroughly combined. If you’d like to add protein, you can mix in a tablespoon of protein powder. Â Form into small patties.
Add sesame seeds to the tops of your vanilla wafer “buns.”
To really give these the royal hamburger treatment, brush half of your wafer “buns” with the tiniest bit of water, then sprinkle a few sesame seeds on the top. Looks just like the top of a real hamburger bun, right??
Build your vanilla wafer burger treats.
It’s time to begin building the hamburgers, so grab a vanilla wafer to use as your base bun and build it just as you would a real hamburger. Starting with a flat-side-up wafer, add a patty, dot with some red and or/yellow icing “ketchup” or “mustard,” sprinkle on some lettuce, and top with a seeded wafer.
Plate, package, and serve to-go or set up a “burger” bar!
If you’re serving these as to-go treats, you can cut a few small 5″x5″ squares of colorful tissue paper, wrap the burgers up and hold them together with a fun sticker! If not, you can save some paper and create a build-your-own-burger bar by serving the individual ingredients in small bowls.
How incredibly cute are these tiny “hamburger” treats?!?
The wrapped burgers served in a two-tone treat box take these right over the edge and make them a memorable to-go party treat or surprise snack. Scroll down for the full instructions!
For the cookie treat DIY snack box, you’ll need:
- Our DIY snack box PDF printable
- Heavy Cardstock (you can use white cardstock, or mix and match different colors)
- Scissors/An X-Acto Knife
- A Glue Stick
- Clear Packing Tape (or similar)
Instructions for the DIY snack box:
DIY Snack Box – Step 1: Download and print out our ’90s Meal DIY Snack Box Template, then cut out as indicated.
DIY Snack Box – Step 2: Use an X-Acto knife to cut out the insides of the handles as indicated (note: 1 handle isn’t cut all the way around so it can close the box, and a dotted fold line is shown).
DIY Snack Box – Step 3: Once your 2 pieces have been cut out, fold along all fold lines. For super clean, straight fold lines, fold along a metal ruler or similar straight-edge. Once you’ve made your initial folds, you can run the flat end of your X-Acto knife along the folded edge (applying moderate pressure) to give it an extra sharp finish.
DIY Snack Box – Step 4: Add glue on the tabs on the right side of both pieces. Align and join the 2 pieces together to create your box.
DIY Snack Box – Step 5: Fold the bottom of your box by pulling the “barley & birch” tab inward first, fold the 2 short sides on top, then fold down the last tabbed side. Tuck the flap underneath to create the bottom.
To keep the bottom of your treat box from opening, place a strip of strong, clear tape on the inside (you can add a piece to the outside as well for extra reinforcement). You can decorate your box with a little ’90s flair in the form of these free printable DIY slang stickers too!
Hamburger Cookie Treat Side: DIY Apple Slice Fries
“Can I get fries with that….?” Hamburgers and fries go hand-in-hand, right? Pair your mini hamburger treats with these healthy homemade “french fry” snacks:
- Step 1: Cut apple slices into thin strips (about 1/4 inch wide and 2-3 inches long).
- Step 2: Sprinkle the apple slices with lemon juice to keep the apples from browning.
- Step 3: Cut the bottom off of a paper bag, fold it in half, tape along the side, and fill it with apple slice “fries”!
For a warm fall treat, brush these with a bit of melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Mmm…so good, and they have a hint of brown, just like the real thing!
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
Thanks for the great informational article about custom snack boxes.