April Fools' Day "Bowl of Cereal"

For a long time, I didn't like April Fools' Day because I don't like mean-spirited pranks. I am not a fan of tricking someone in order to make them look or feel dumb, to create a giant mess, to get their hopes up and crush them, or to get them to eat something disgusting. None of that is fun to me; it feels a lot more like bullying than an appropriate way to 'celebrate.'

I am, however, a big fan of the creative ways that businesses have celebrated April Fools' Day in the past few years, introducing such novel inventions as the Polite Horn, Beautiful Bond Salon, and Tranquility High Adventure Base. I'm also a huge fan of positive pranks - tricking someone in a way that delights them. That is the spirit behind my April Fools' Day "Bowl of Cereal."

Spoiler: It's not a bowl of cereal. 

There are a lot of not-funny food pranks out there, like serving cream-filled donuts that are actually filled with Miracle Whip or Oreos with the filling replaced with toothpaste. This is the opposite. The kids think they're getting an ordinary bowl of cereal for breakfast, but they get something even better. When they lift the spoon to have some cereal, they'll find yummy chocolate cake inside instead! 

Read on to learn how easy it is to make. Affiliate links below. 

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April Fools' Day "Bowl of Cereal"

Materials:

• microwaveable cereal bowl
• spoon
• chocolate cake mix
• vegetable oil
• Alphabits cereal
• Wilton Candy Melts (bright white)

Steps:

Make a single-serve microwave chocolate cake (Recipe A) in a microwave-safe cereal bowl. Let it cool completely. While it is cooling, sort through the Alphabits to spell out "APRIL FOOLS."

Insert a spoon into the cake so that it sits the way a spoon would sit in a bowl of milky cereal. Follow the package directions to prepare the candy melts, then pour them over the top of the cake so that the surface is completely covered and no chocolate shows through. It should self-level with some gentle jiggling. 

Place the Alphabits onto the melted candy to spell out APRIL FOOLS. 

If you serve it within 15 minutes or so, it will be easy to eat and enjoy. If you let it set much longer, the candy melts can harden to the point that it can be difficult to get the spoon out. If that happens, use a heat gun or hair dryer to warm up the candy melts enough so they soften. Don't put the bowl into the microwave with the spoon still in place!

Encouragement Toast

As parents, we do everything we can to support our children and encourage them to do their best. Next time your kids have a big test, an important interview, or stressful tryouts or auditions, serve them up a delicious breakfast of Encouragement Toast.  

I dreamed up Encouragement Toast in the cereal aisle at the Safeway by my house. I noticed something I hadn't had since early childhood, Alphabits (affiliate link), and my mind was flooded with ideas for edible crafts. What fun! I tossed the box into the cart, excited to get started. 

As an aside, I absolutely love the design of this box. The notebook paper and fonts are perfect for this kid-oriented cereal. I adore the little bee, ice cream, turtle and space designs on the Bits letters. And using the cereal itself for their motto ("a story in every bowl!") is very clever. Good job, anonymous graphic designer!

I washed my hands, poured a cup of Alphabits onto a plate, and started sorting letters. About 10% of the letters were too misshapen or broken to use, so those went into a container for future breakfasts. As I sorted, I started spelling out my message. 

Then it was just a matter of toasting some bread, spreading peanut butter on top, and adding the letters. I surrounded the toast with orange segments and banana slices. Served with a glass of milk, this is the perfect way to fuel kids for that important test or presentation.  

Expect to see an Alphabits-inspired edible craft from me again. I've got a whole box of possibilities!