5 Sweet and Simple Daniel and the Lions Den Snacks for Kids to Make at Home

Every little one has something that feels a bit scary. The dark hallway at bedtime, the big dog next door, the first morning somewhere brand new.

So Daniel’s story sits close to them right away. A man who kept praying to God, even when it meant a whole night shut in a den full of lions, and God kept him safe until morning.

And a snack is a sweet little way to help the story stick. Whether you’re a parent at the kitchen table, a grandparent with the grandkids over, a Sunday school teacher, or a homeschool mama planning a lesson, these five snacks are easy to put together and easy to tie right back to the story.

Five friendly little lions and a cozy den, right there at the table.

“My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions, so that they have not hurt me.” — Daniel 6:22

5 sweet and simple daniel and the lions den snacks for kids

Here are five easy snacks to make together, starting with the simplest and working toward the ones that take a little more time. So pick one for a quiet afternoon, or work through several as you tell the story.

1. Lion face crackers

This is the one to start with, since little hands can do nearly all of it themselves. There is a sweet teaching moment tucked in here too, you leave the mouth off because God shut the lions’ mouths. If your little ones love making creatures like this, our cute animal crafts for kids has plenty more to reach for.

1. First, spread a little nut butter or cream cheese over a round graham cracker to hold everything in place.
2. Then press on two blueberries for the eyes and half a strawberry for the nose.
3. Next, lay a few thin licorice pieces on each side for the whiskers.
4. From there, line matchstick carrots all the way around the edge for the lion’s mane.
5. Finally, leave the mouth off, and let the little ones tell you why.

2. Lion cupcakes

These are the showstopper of the bunch, and they turn out cuter than you would expect for how simple they are. They are lovely for a class party or a Sunday school celebration.

1. First, frost a cooled cupcake with orange frosting, then add a small circle of lighter orange in the middle for the muzzle.
2. Then press caramel corn all the way around the edge for a big, shaggy mane.
3. Next, add two brown baking bits for the eyes, up above the muzzle.
4. From there, break a few pretzel sticks into short pieces and tuck them in beside the muzzle for whiskers.
5. Finally, set two little cereal pieces up top for the ears.

3. Lion’s den snack cups

The cup is the one that tells the whole story in a single serving, with Daniel kept safe right in the middle of the den. Every child gets their own, and it travels well for a co-op table. It is a gentle picture of God keeping His people safe, the same kind you will find in our jonah and the whale crafts.

1. First, spoon a layer of vanilla pudding or yogurt into the bottom of a clear cup.
2. Then stand pretzel sticks up around the inside like the bars of the den.
3. Next, tuck a few lion-shaped grahams or animal crackers down inside among the bars.
4. From there, set a teddy-bear graham right in the middle for Daniel, kept safe among the lions.
5. Finally, sprinkle a little crushed graham on top for the sandy floor of the den.

4. Daniel and the lions trail mix

This one could not be easier, and it is the perfect job for the youngest helpers, since all they do is pour and shake. It fills a bag for the car, the classroom, or a snack to carry home.

1. First, pour some golden cereal, like Chex or Golden Grahams, into a big bowl or a zip-top bag.
2. Then add a good handful of pretzel sticks for a little crunch.
3. Next, toss in some yellow and orange candies to bring in the lion colors.
4. From there, add a scoop of lion-shaped animal crackers and a handful of golden raisins.
5. Finally, seal the bag and let the little ones shake it up, then scoop it into cups to share.

5. Lion fruit pancake

This is the one to save for a slow Saturday morning, since it makes a whole breakfast into part of the lesson. The lion is a good reminder that Jesus is called the Lion of Judah, and you can carry that thread right into our sweet jesus crafts.

1. First, set a round pancake in the middle of the plate for the lion’s face.
2. Then arrange mandarin orange segments all the way around it for the mane.
3. Next, place two blueberries for the eyes and half a strawberry for the nose.
4. From there, drizzle a little melted chocolate on for the mouth, or leave it off the way you do with the crackers.
5. Finally, add a few thin chocolate lines out to the sides for whiskers.

the story behind these snacks

Daniel lived far from home, in a land that did not know his God. But he stayed faithful all the same, and he prayed to God three times a day, every day, right by his open window.

Now some of the other men were jealous of Daniel. So they talked the king into making a new law, that for thirty days no one could pray to anyone but the king. Anyone who broke it would be thrown into the den of lions.

But Daniel kept right on praying to God, just as he always had. He did not hide it, and he did not stop. So the men caught him, and the king, who actually liked Daniel very much, had no choice under his own law but to send him to the lions.

That night the king could not sleep at all. And at first light he hurried to the den and called out to see if Daniel’s God had saved him. Daniel called back that he was fine, that God had sent an angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and not a scratch was on him. Daniel was not the first person God carried through an impossible night, either, and if your little ones love these Old Testament accounts, our samson crafts for sunday school tell another one worth sitting down with.

It is a story about staying faithful when it is hard. And that is the truth these snacks are really about. Not that Daniel was brave, but that God stays right beside His people, even in the scariest den.

why kids love a good daniel and the lions den snack

Children know what it is to be afraid of something bigger than they are. To lie awake a little, or to wish someone would keep them safe. So Daniel’s night in the den speaks right to them.

There is real comfort in it too. God did not leave Daniel alone with the lions. He was there in the dark the whole night through. Little ones need to know God stays that close to them, the same reason they love our armor of god crafts, all about standing strong because God is with us.

And lions are simply exciting to a little imagination, all that mane and those big paws. A snack is just a small doorway into a story that brave.

simple supplies to keep on hand

You don’t need much for any of these. A box of graham crackers covers the lion faces, the den cups, and the pancakes, and a little nut butter or cream cheese works as the glue that holds the small pieces on. Keep some blueberries and strawberries on hand for eyes and noses, a bag of matchstick carrots for the manes, and a bit of licorice for whiskers.

For the cupcakes, a box of mix and a tub of orange frosting will do the job, with caramel corn for the mane and a few pretzels and cereal pieces for the whiskers and ears. The den cups need only pudding or yogurt, pretzel sticks, and some lion-shaped grahams, and the trail mix comes together from golden cereal, pretzels, a handful of candies, animal crackers, and golden raisins.

Most of it is probably already sitting in your kitchen, and whatever’s missing is a quick grab on the next grocery run.

tips for making these with little ones

A little prep goes a long way here. So if you can wash the berries, cut the licorice, and set out small bowls of each topping ahead of time, the little hands can get right to the fun part without much waiting.

Keep an eye on allergies too, since these often go out to Sunday school tables and classrooms. Sunflower butter stands in nicely for nut butter, cream cheese works as a spread, and a quick look at your cracker, cereal, and candy labels covers the rest.

And don’t fuss over how they look. A lopsided mane or a crooked little lion is part of the charm, and it is the making and the talking the little ones remember anyway. If you want to send the story home with them, pair the snack with the week’s memory verse, the way our bible verse crafts do, so the words have something sweet to hang onto.

pick one snack to make this week

You don’t need to make all five. Just one good snack and a handful of carrots for a mane is plenty to open up the story.

So pick the one that fits your supplies and the ages around your table, and let the little ones make something with their hands while you tell them about Daniel and the lions. The snack is fun on its own, but that bit of truth you plant while they’re busy tends to stay with them far longer than the treat does. Remind them that the same God who shut the lions’ mouths for Daniel is watching over them the very same way.

And one more thing before you go. If you make any of these with your little ones, I’d love to see how they turned out. Leave a photo in the comments when you get a chance, or send one our way, and with your okay it may even be featured here on the site to encourage other families doing the same. There’s no pressure at all, just a friendly little invitation to share. So glad you are here.

Warmly,
Betty

frequently asked questions

what age are these daniel and the lions den snacks best for?

They work well for toddlers on up through early elementary. The lion face crackers and the trail mix are easy for the very youngest, while the cupcakes and the den cups are a nice fit for children who can handle a few small pieces.

what is the main lesson of daniel and the lions den?

That God stays faithful to us, and keeps us safe, when we stay faithful to Him. Daniel kept praying even when it was against the law, and God shut the lions’ mouths. It is a gentle way to talk with children about being brave and trusting God.

which bible verse goes with these snacks?

We used Daniel 6:22, about God sending His angel to shut the lions’ mouths. It ties right to the lion crackers with no mouths, which is a sweet way to help the verse stick.

can i make these nut-free or allergy-friendly?

Yes, and it is easy. Use cream cheese or sunflower butter instead of nut butter, and check your cracker, cereal, candy, and cupcake labels for the rest. Most of these come together fine in a nut-free room with a simple swap.

how long do these snacks take to make?

Most take just a few minutes to put together. The cupcakes take longer since they bake and cool, so plan around half an hour to an hour if you are baking from scratch.