January marks the beginning of the year.
Even after the New Year’s holiday, we still feel celebratory and refreshed, and many of us feel motivated to try new things.
With that in mind, I’ve put together snack activity recipes and ideas that are perfect for the New Year and for January.
From treats that let you savor that New Year atmosphere or a slightly different vibe than usual, to snacks made with ingredients that are especially delicious in winter.
These are basically easy to make and use as little heat as possible, so they should be simple for everyone to prepare.
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January Treat Activities for Seniors to Enjoy (1–10)
Snowball Cookies
To boost the festive New Year mood, here’s an easy snowball cookie recipe that even seniors can enjoy making.
Mix cake flour and sugar in a plastic bag, then add vegetable oil to create a moist dough.
Next, shape the dough with your palms, microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds, and finish by dusting with powdered sugar—done! They’re delicately sweet with a pleasant crunch.
It’s simple enough for seniors to make together, making for a fun way to spend New Year’s time.
Milk mochi
Milk mochi, prized for its soft, mochi-like texture, is great because you can make it easily in the microwave without using actual mochi.
You only need three ingredients—potato starch, sugar, and milk.
Mix them together in order, then simply heat in the microwave and it’s done.
You can adjust the firmness by changing the heating time, so warm it little by little while keeping a good balance between softness and ease of eating.
Since it has a simple white appearance, adding toppings like kinako (roasted soybean flour) or kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup) for color and flavor is also recommended.
ohagi (sweet rice balls coated with red bean paste)
Ohagi is a classic Japanese sweet beloved by people of all ages.
The ingredients are simple, making it an easy treat for participants to help make.
All you need to prepare are sweet red bean paste (anko) and rice cakes (mochi); adding kinako (roasted soybean flour) lets you create more variety.
You can freely adjust the sizes of the anko and mochi—decide on the size of the ohagi you want and keep that image in mind as you make them.
Arranging them on a plate in a colorful way can make them feel fun even before the first bite.
Gâteau Kinako
How about making a “gâteau kinako” using kinako—low in carbs yet highly nutritious—instead of a classic gâteau chocolat? This healthy sweet is perfect as a snack for older adults, too! It’s also great for a fun group activity.
All you do is whisk the ingredients together, microwave, and then chill in the fridge.
It’s incredibly easy to make, yet you can enjoy the rich, intense flavor of kinako.
Even if you’ve overindulged during New Year’s, a gâteau kinako lets you treat yourself without the guilt.
strawberry jelly
When it comes to winter fruits, strawberries are a classic.
Their vibrant red color evokes the traditional red-and-white of New Year’s decorations.
This simple strawberry jelly captures that cozy warmth found in the cold of winter.
With strawberries layered inside a clear jelly, their vivid color really stands out.
It’s easy to make: remove the stems, place the strawberries in a jar, then pour in a mixture of water, granulated sugar, gelatin, and lemon juice, and let it set.
For an even more striking look, we recommend paying attention to how you arrange the strawberries.
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.
Amazake Soy Milk Pudding
If you want seniors to feel a bit of New Year’s spirit, amazake soy milk pudding is a great recommendation! It’s a pudding where you can enjoy the gentle sweetness of amazake and the richness of eggs.
You only need three ingredients: eggs, amazake soy milk, and sugar.
Because the ingredients are simple, it could be perfect for a day-service snack activity as well.
To make it, mix granulated sugar into the amazake soy milk, add beaten eggs, strain through a tea strainer, pour into cups, and steam.
It’s delicious served warm or chilled!