Acorn Project

Earlier this month, I wrote about a festival our church had to raise money for some Filipino missionaries recently. A couple of young girls from our church named Kiersten and Cassidy made these cute little acorns for the bake sale that I thought were adorable:

Seeing the girls' project gave me an idea to use with my women's Bible study group. I had planned to host a a fellowship activity for the ladies but had no idea what kind of craft to do that everyone would enjoy until Kiersten and Cassidy's mom posted this picture on Facebook. When I saw these little donut acorns, I thought they'd be perfect to try. I sent the girls' mom (Dawn) a quick Facebook message to ask how they made them. She told me to simply melt a some Nutella, dip the top of a glazed donut hole in it, roll the dipped part in some toffee bits, and stick in half a pretzel stick. She also gave me this website with similar instructions that suggests using peanut butter or chocolate frosting versus Nutella. Dave tasted tested them after my group made them and said the Nutella and toffee bits made for the perfect mix. 

Since the whole project was quick and easy, I had the idea that it might be something that Caleb and his twin cousins could try. They had planned to paint pumpkins together before Halloween but sickness upset those plans, so we decided to get together and try this idea instead.

In case you were wondering, the toddlers had a little more trouble dipping donuts in a pot full of melted Nutella and a container of toffee bits than my Bible study group did. I demonstrated how to make the acorns before anyone got started and then let the kids get try. Things started out okay at first, but, once one of them started munching, the others followed suite and the rest of the activity was a lost cause. There was hazelnut spread and bits of toffee all over the floor, half the donut holes didn't even make it from the plate to the Nutella before they were half eaten, and you can forget about the pretzel sticks. Really, how could I expect two-year-olds to wait to eat the donut holes until they made it into something pretty? What was I thinking?

The first attempts

First the Nutella...

Then the toffee bits...

Forget the pretzel stick! Time to taste test!

I'm not sure Dan's first donut hole ever touched 

the Nutella before he took a bite. 

 Maybe the big kid in the green shirt can handle the task?

The acorns didn't quite turn out like the ones the kids at church made. They made me smile anyway. :)

Toddler creations

My acorn

The look isn't nearly as import as the taste though, right? There was definitely lots of tasting going on. (Maybe that is why none of the kids went down for a nap at Granny's....)

What do you think, Anabella?

  Anyone else want a bite?

Most importantly, the kids enjoyed it. I think we needed more adult hands and one-on-one guidance, plus a separate photographer. Live and learn and then make some more acorn donuts!