Every year as the weather turns cooler, I love to read Animals In the Winter and Gerda Muller's Winter with the children in my care. We learn about how it can be harder for animals to find food in the winter and how people have historically put out birdseed ornaments or treat garlands at this time of year. Then we make our own!
I like to use a no-heat recipe, at first just due to logistics (I was working in a classroom with no access to a stovetop) and mainly because I like to involve children in every stepif possible. This does mean that the finished product is a little more delicate and crumbly, so handle with care! If you would rather make sturdier ornaments, try this recipe.
Ingredients
4 cups birdseed (look for a local seed mix to ensure your neighborhood birds will be happy!)
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water
3 tbsp corn syrup
Utensils:
Cookie cutters or muffin tins
Something to poke a hole (a chopstick or reusable straw works well.
Oil spray
Mixing bowl and spoon
Measuring cups
Parchment paper
Instructions:
Combine the birdseed, flour, water, and corn syrup in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. The mixture will be very sticky and tough! Try to make sure the corn syrup gets fully mixed in, as this is our main binding agent.
Once you have your mixture, or beforehand if you like, lay the cookie cutters out on the parchment paper and spray the insides with cooking spray. If you're using a muffin tin, do the same.
Scoop the seed mixture into your cookie cutters and/or muffin tin and press down (tip - use damp fingers to reduce stickiness!) Poke holes for string. Let dry overnight, flipping cookie cutters partway through to ensure they dry completely.
Once dry, you can string them on a garland individually, or add other treats for outside friends (stale bread, apple slices, raisins, cranberries, plain popcorn, etc.) Hang them by a window and watch to see who comes by (it will probably be a lot of squirrels!)
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