Busy Bees

Now that we’re into the full buzz and hum of summer, it’s only natural for kids to have some time when they’re looking for a little direction. When next you hear cries about being hungry and bored, here’s a great little kitchen project that can take care of both conditions: peanut butter honey bees. These no-bake treats are simple and healthy, with lots of hands-on decorating that even the youngest chefs can do. Older kitchen helpers may enjoy learning a little about how the bees buzzing through the backyard make the honey that sweetens these treats. And everyone can benefit from eating these candy bees—especially allergy sufferers, as research suggests that eating a little locally produced honey each day can lesson one’s sensitivity to seasonal allergens.

So while those backyard bees are busy fulfilling their vital role as pollinators, you can keep little hands busy making bees to help take the sting out of summer boredom. Soon, you’ll all be buzzing about this honey of a snack.

Peanut Butter Honey Bees

1 cup natural peanut butter

1 cup honey

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1-2 tablespoons butter, softened

½-1 cup chocolate chips, to taste

¼ cup sliced almonds

Heat the honey and peanut butter together in a medium saucepan over moderate heat just up to boiling, stirring to combine. Off the heat, add in the oats and mix well. Allow the mixture to cool.

Meanwhile, line a large baking tray with parchment paper. When the mixture is cool, lightly butter your hands and, working with one tablespoon at a time, form the oat mixture into small logs and place them in rows on the baking tray.* You should end up with about 40 honeybee candies.

Melt the chocolate and pipe or drizzle stripes over the bees. Use four sliced almonds per bee to create the wings, using the chocolate stripes to help them adhere. Refrigerate until firm.

*Alternatively, form the mixture into bars by pressing into a greased square pan and spread the melted chocolate on top.