Ingredients:

• 1 roll (18 oz.) Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookies.  (I think that you could use the chocolate chip cookie dough as an alternative.)
• ½ c. creamy peanut butter.  (You could also use regular icing instead of peanut butter.)
• 1 ½ c. assorted candies for toppings.  (No hard candy.)  Try raisins, M&M’s, candy corn, chocolate chips, or mini marshmallows.
• ¼ c. vanilla ready to spread frosting from a 16 oz. can.

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12 inch round pizza pan with foil and grease foil. Cut cookie dough into ¼ inch-thick slices. Arrange in the pan and press to form a crust.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.
• Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Use foil to lift the crust from the pan.  Remove foil and transfer crust to a serving dish.
• Spread peanut butter over the crust.  Sprinkle evenly with candies.
• In a small microwaveable bowl, microwave frosting on high 10 to 15 seconds, until thin and drizzly.  Drizzle over the cookie pizza and cut into wedges.

An alternative: the bakery department at my local supermarket sells chocolate chip cookie cakes that they will decorate however you’d like, including Happy Birthday messages!

When it comes to celebrating children’s birthdays, traditional cupcakes can get pretty boring!  But here are some new ideas for birthday treats that are sure to be a hit with kids and a fun change of pace!

Birthday “Sundaes!”

This clever idea combines a favorite candy, frosted cupcake, bubble gum “cherry” with a licorice “stem,” and trimmings of sprinkles and a colored bendy straw!  Just fill the bottom half of a glass (clear plastic cup if the treat is going into a classroom!) with your child’s favorite candy.  Set a frosted cupcake into the cup and garnish with a “cherry,” sprinkles and a straw.  You can bake your own cupcakes or use store bought, or in my case, I used chocolate chip muffins from the bakery!  Use your cupcake pans for easy transporting!

A Giant Cupcake!

This cake is just too cute for words!  Using a two sided, store bought cake mold, you can bake a gigantic cupcake – large enough for a crowd!  One half of the mold is the “icing” and the other is the “cupcake” and when put together – voila – a stand out cake that can be frosted and decorated however you wish! (Amazon, $19.99)

Triple Tier Brownies!

These decadent brownies were a huge hit with my daughter’s teenage crowd (and maybe a bit rich for little ones)!  Upgrade your regular brownie recipe with some easy additions!

Ingredients:

1. 1 package brownie mix
2. 1 package (11.5 ounces) chocolate chips
3. 1 c. peanut butter
4. 3 c. crisp rice cereal
5. 1 container (16 ounces) cream cheese frosting
6. 1 c. chopped, salted peanuts (optional, be aware of peanut allergies)

Directions:

1. Prepare and bake brownies according to the package directions, using a greased 9″ x 13″ pan.  Cool completely.
2. In a large saucepan, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter.  Cook over low heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in cerreal and set aside.
3. Spread frosting over brownies, sprinkle with nuts if using and spread with peanut butter mixture.
4. Chill for 30 minutes or until set before cutting.  Store in fridge.

I hope you enjoy these fabulous new birthday recipes and for additional suggestions, take a look at Clever Birthday Treats for School!

You may also enjoy:

• Busy Bee’s Halloween Boutique!
• Children’s Birthday Party Menus
• Birthday Party Planning Tips and Ideas
• Halloween Treats For School!
• Halloween Alternative Treats for School!

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