Creating 4th of July Traditions and Frozen Graham Cracker Sandwich Recipe

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Honey Maid. All thoughts and experiences shared are our own.

Sparklers, sprinklers, and cool treats were the highlights of my childhood 4th of July gatherings. When I close my eyes I can hear the murmur of family members chatting and laughing at my aunt’s farm. There were card games going and plenty of food.

It also meant staying up past bedtime. My parents would park in the mall parking lot as night fell. We’d listen to music as we waited for the fireworks to start. It was nice watching them from our car. They weren’t too loud to be scary and there wasn’t a crowd of people to walk through.

I want my kids to have wholesome fun and fond memories of family time during holidays. With my children being four and two years old, they don’t fully grasp the significance of most holidays yet, but they know it means time with family.

Growing up, my husband enjoyed watching the 4th of July parade with his family as it went past his house. The kids look forward to visiting Grandma and Grandpa, sitting on the front lawn. I love watching the excitement in their eyes as the firetrucks slowly drive past, blaring their sirens and honking their horns. We watch each float go past, marveling at the creativity and cleverness of many.

Once the final float goes by, we head to the after-parade party at park to grab a bite to eat, listen to music, and let the kids play a couple carnival games. My daughter and son never seem ready to leave Grandma and Grampa’s house, but they know we’ll have a special treat together when we get home. If they stay awake, we’ll sit on the porch to watch for the bright bursts of fireworks high in the sky and through the trees. In a few years we’ll be one of the families sitting together on a blanket in the grassy park, watching the entire fireworks show.

My kids love cool, sweet treats, especially ones they can help make. I’m really excited to share these frozen graham cracker sandwiches with them this year. They are super easy and can be made ahead of time (with or without the kids’ help). Using cinnamon and chocolate Honey Maid graham cracker flavors, I whipped up some with a peanut butter banana filling and others with a banana strawberry filling. Soooo good!

What are your favorite Independence Day family traditions?

Frozen Graham Cracker Sandwich Recipe

Ingredients:

• Honey Maid Cinnamon Graham Crackers (broken into squares)
• Honey Maid Chocolate Graham Crackers (broken into squares)
• 4 ripe bananas
• 2 TBS Peanut butter (heaping spoonfuls so it’s probably more like 3 or 4)
• ½-¾ cup Strawberries
• Sprinkles (I used red, white, and blue ones)

Directions:

Peanut Butter Banana Filling:

1. Mash two bananas in a bowl. The riper they are the easier this part will be (and they taste sweeter as they ripen).
2. Add two heaping tablespoons of peanut butter to the bowl. (You’ll want the peanut butter to at least be room temperature otherwise it doesn’t mix easily. If needed, heat peanut butter up for a few seconds at a time in the microwave until it’s softer.)
3. Mix together.

Banana Strawberry Filling:

1. Mash two bananas in a bowl.
2. Cut strawberries up into small pieces.
3. Stir them together.

Assemble the Sandwiches:

1. Break graham crackers into squares and set aside. (I found making perfect squares to be difficult)
2. Spread filling over one graham cracker and top with another one.
3. Scrape excess filling off sides with a spoon or knife.
4. Dip sides into sprinkles for festive fun. (I found this easier with the peanut butter banana ones)
5. Put in the freezer for at least a few hours. Frozen bananas have a delicious creamy texture.
6. Smile as you and your family enjoy these tasty treats!

This recipe makes about 24 square sandwiches. The amount of filling will vary based on the size of bananas. The number of sandwiches will vary based on the amount of filling in each one. I started out spreading it on pretty thick. I also experimented with making a few using full sheets of graham crackers.

Simple ingredients make this a breeze to put together. Younger kids will love helping you dip the sandwich sides into sprinkles. Older kids can help you create an assembly line. While these are tasty to eat on the spot, trust me, you’ll want to enjoy them after they’ve been in the freezer for awhile.

No matter how things change, what makes us wholesome never will. Honey Maid provides wholesome snacks for every wholesome family.