[Snack Activity] Easy and Delicious: Snack Ideas to Make Together with Seniors
The time it takes to chill and set yokan in the refrigerator, the moment you add toppings like fruit, the aroma of steam rising from the steamer.
Making snacks together with older adults lets you share a sense of excitement and create warm memories that go beyond the recipe itself.
Traditional Japanese sweets are familiar to many seniors and are sure to delight them.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy everything while staying seated! When the sweet scent of the finished wagashi fills the room, it will surely bring back fond memories as well.
As hands stay busy, conversation flows, and the joy of savoring the finished treat is truly special.
- [For Seniors] Making Snacks in Nursing Homes: A Collection of Easy Recommended Recipes
- [For Seniors] Snack Recipes We Want to Make in the October Recreation Activity
- For Seniors: Easy and Delicious! November Snack Activity
- [Elderly] Feel the Arrival of Spring with Snack Activities! Recommended Menus for March
- [For Seniors] Easy and Delicious! Snack Activity Roundup
- For seniors: Easy homemade snack activity using a hot plate
- [For Seniors] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy, Large-Batch Recipes
- [For Seniors] Recommended February Snack Activities: Easy, Enjoyable Sweet Treat Ideas
- For Seniors: Delicious and Fun! Christmas Snack Activity Ideas
- [For Seniors] Easy Snack Activity Perfect for September
- Snacks and activity ideas for seniors to enjoy in January
- [For Seniors] Snack Recipe Collection Rich in Calcium
- Menu ideas to enjoy for a June snack activity (for seniors)
Easy microwave sweets making (1–10)
Strawberry shortcake in a cup
A cup shortcake made with pancake mix and ice cream.
You don’t need to prepare eggs or milk—just mix the ingredients and heat them in the microwave, making it a dessert that seniors can make with confidence.
First, melt the ice cream in the microwave, then add the pancake mix and stir well.
Pour the batter into a container lined with parchment paper, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave.
Once the cake has cooled thoroughly, cut it, pack it into a container, and add whipped cream and strawberries.
Spread more whipped cream over the surface of the cake, top with powdered sugar and strawberries, and it’s ready to serve.
Sweet Potato in 5 Minutes (Microwave)
Let’s make sweet potato cakes with a moist and chewy texture.
Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them into rounds about 1 centimeter thick.
Put the sweet potatoes in a microwave-safe container, cover with plastic wrap, and heat them in the microwave.
Add eggs, sugar, and other ingredients to the heated sweet potatoes and mix well.
Pour the mixture into a container and microwave again.
Once heated, it’s done.
It’s delicious as is, but chilling it will enhance the chewiness.
Enjoy with toppings like sesame seeds or caramel sauce if you like.
Since it’s made in the microwave, it seems safe and easy for older adults to prepare as well.
Easy Hydrangea Jelly
Here’s a simple hydrangea jelly you can make by heating it in the microwave.
It’s perfect for a June snack activity.
Soften gelatin in milk with sugar or in water, then heat it in the microwave along with grape juice.
Pour the milk-based jelly mixture into containers and chill until set.
The key for the grape jelly mixture made with grape juice is to prepare it in a storage bag.
Lay it flat to chill and set, then tear it into pieces with a fork and place them on top of the milk jelly.
The grape jelly pieces, which look like dice cuts, resemble hydrangea petals.
Since you can make this without using a stove or knives, try making it together with older adults.
Fruit Daifuku
Fruit daifuku has become a big trend in recent years.
Do you think making it by hand is too difficult? Believe it or not, you can easily make it using a microwave! The colorful cross-sections when cut are sure to delight seniors as well.
First, wrap your favorite fruit with store-bought smooth red bean paste (koshian).
Next, mix the mochi ingredients with water and heat them in the microwave.
Finally, wrap the fruit with the mochi and you’re done! Try choosing seasonal fruits like strawberries, mandarins, or kiwis to enjoy a sense of the season.
Apple cake
Making an apple cake as a recreational activity for seniors is simple, easy to prepare, and gives a great sense of accomplishment when it’s finished.
Prepare pancake mix, eggs, milk, apples, and a large plastic storage container.
Gently mix the eggs into the pancake mix, taking care to avoid lumps.
Place thinly sliced apples into the plastic container, then pour in the batter you made, spreading it evenly.
Microwave at 600W for 5 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator to finish.
Depending on how they’re feeling that day, have participants help with making the batter or slicing the apples.
bread pudding
Here’s a simple microwave bread pudding.
First, make the custard mixture.
Combine eggs, sugar, and milk, and mix well to break up the egg strands.
Prepare your favorite bread and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Line a tray with the bread, then pour the custard over it.
Cover with plastic wrap and heat it in the microwave—ready in no time.
It’s a snack that checks all the boxes: no stovetop needed, easy steps, and easy to eat, making it perfect for recreational activities at senior care facilities as well.
Koinobori Crepe
Here’s an introduction to cute koinobori-themed crepes.
Instead of using a frying pan or griddle, you’ll make the crepe batter in the microwave.
Since no open flame is involved, these crepes are easy for older adults to prepare.
Use wheat flour or rice flour to make the batter.
Line a heatproof plate with parchment paper and pour the batter onto it.
Cover with plastic wrap and heat in the microwave.
Fill the finished crepe with your choice of fruit and whipped cream, then wrap it to resemble a koinobori carp streamer.
Top with cut fruit to create the scales and face, and you’re done.
These adorable and delicious koinobori crepes are sure to satisfy older adults as well.