Parents, looking for ways to fill summertime days? We have you covered with these simple ideas, all based around our signature treat. If you grew up eating Wilbur Buds, think of these activities as a way to share the love with the next generation (and to sneak a few Buds for yourself). Share your results with us on social using #wilburchocolate!
Make animal “Buddies”
Let little imaginations (and hands) play by making miniature animals out of Wilbur Buds. In addition to a bag of Buds, all you need is a few other simple edible components and a microwave.
To make a mouse:
You’ll need:
- 2-3 dozen Wilbur Buds (we recommend Milk Chocolate Buds)
- Slivered almonds
- Twizzlers Pull ’N’ Peel
Make your chocolate paste: Microwave half a dozen Wilbur Buds for around 45 seconds. Stir until smooth and let cool for a few minutes.
Once the chocolate has hardened slightly, spread a small amount of the paste onto the bottom of a Wilbur Bud so it evenly covers the base. Place two slivered almonds on one side of the base to form ears, and then attach another Bud so the bases line up and enclose the ears.
Rotate the Buds so one of the tips turns down (for the face) and the other turns up (for the back). Set aside to let harden while you make the other mouse bodies.
Once the bodies have dried, attach the tails. Cut a Twizzlers Pull ’N’ Peel into roughly three-inch segments and separate the strands. Add a little more chocolate paste to the base of the mouse, attach a strand of the Twizzlers as a tail, and set aside to let harden. Then, eat—or hide for little exterminators to uncover!
To make a bear:
You’ll need:
- 2-3 dozen Wilbur Buds (either Milk or Dark)
- 2-3 dozen miniature pretzels
- M&M’s Minis
- Cheerios
Make your chocolate paste: Microwave half a dozen Wilbur Buds for around 45 seconds. Stir until smooth and let cool for a few minutes.
Take a Wilbur Bud and scrape off the tip of the curl.
Once the chocolate paste has hardened slightly, spread a small amount of it onto the bottom of a Wilbur Bud so it evenly covers the base. Attach the Bud to a pretzel so it covers the bottom loop.
Cover one side of a Cheerio with chocolate paste and place it on top of the flattened Bud curl to create the bear’s muzzle. Take two M&M’s Minis, cover the “M” side with chocolate paste, and attach them to the pretzel right above the Bud as eyes. Let sit until the chocolate has solidified. Roarrrrr!
Play tic-tac-choco
This activity—playing tic-tac-toe with chocolate—doubles as a great exercise in learning to take turns and follow instructions. It’s as simple as it sounds: Draw a tic-tac-toe grid on a piece of paper. Give one player three Milk Buds and the other player three Dark Buds. Then play
tic-tac-toe! Bonus: The winner gets to eat a Wilbur Bud.
Create a chocolate construction site
When it’s raining and your littles can’t play outside in the dirt, create an indoor tabletop “sandbox.” (It’s not as messy as it sounds.)
Find a large sheet cake pan or other large shallow container, and fill the bottom with edible “dirt” (we recommend brown or white sugar). Add small piles of Wilbur Buds and other candy or cereal throughout the scene. Think “logs” (pretzel rods), “tires” (Cheerios), and “blocks” (mini marshmallows).
Set out an array of small construction vehicles, Lego people, or miniature digging tools—whatever your child has in their toy box. Let them get to work!