Edible Mud Pie

[40 Minutes]

When your child tires of making outdoor mud pies, serve a slice of this homemade chocolate mud dessert!

You'll need:

• 1 cup crushed chocolate cookies or chocolate graham crackers • 1/4 cup melted butter • 9-inch pie plate • rolling pin or wooden meat mallet • wooden spoon • mixing bowl • pint of chocolate ice cream • whipped cream (optional) • gummy worms (optional) • zipper-lock bag

What to do:

1. Place chocolate cookies or graham crackers in a plastic zipper-lock bag. Invite your child to crush them with a small rolling pin or meat mallet.
2. Empty the crumbs into a bowl and stir the melted butter inside.
3. Encourage your little baker to use her fingers and press the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate to form a shell. Freeze for 20 minutes.
4. In a mixing bowl, slightly soften a pint of ice cream by stirring it with a wooden spoon. Your child might drop in a few gummy worms for fun. Spoon this concoction into the pie shell.
5. Top with a layer of whipped cream if you wish.
6. Freeze the pie for at least an hour or so before serving.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• What did you put in this pie that looks like mud?
• Does it look and feel like mud outside? How?
• How does this mud pie taste?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, your child is developing the senses, small muscle skills and an introduction to food construction.