April Fools Hack: 13 Nice Pranks
We love a good April Fools prank but … not the kind that leaves your sister with a head full of maple syrup instead of shampoo and makes her late for work. So we’ve decided to hack the holiday with a list of jokes that are both funny and nice—especially since the punch line is a thoughtful treat.
1. The trick: Leave a “voice activated” sign by the fancy new coffee machine at work.
The treat: After you’ve had enough fun watching them try to command a latte, swoop in and hand them the latte you specially brewed them. Or offer to take them out for coffee at a local cafe (we’re sure they’ll welcome a break from the office kitchen’s tiny plastic chairs and beige walls).
2. The trick: Cover their bedroom door, their car or their desk at work with multicolored Post-it® notes.
The treat: Depending on who you’re pranking, write short and sweet love notes or kind thoughts on every note.
3. The trick: Instead of Post-its, get a little more creative—and silly—and use kitten or puppy pictures or photos of Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber (ironically, of course) or another of their favorite celebs.
The treat: We know what you’re thinking, “who needs a treat when you have a desk crawling with kittens”? However, we’d still leave them a sweet treat like a cookie, cupcake or cake pop.
4. The trick: Stick googly eyes on the milk, apples and all the other food in the fridge.
The treat: You don’t want them to think it’s a not-so-subtle commentary on their eating habits (i.e. you’re not suggesting they go on a diet). So leave a surprise on one of the shelves like a box of truffles.
5. The trick: Make brownies, then cut around a paper letter to create “E” shapes.
The treat: Leave them a note that says “Hope you enjoy these brown Es”. And they will, because as we all know, brownies are delicious.
6. The trick: Adjust all the clocks in the house so they’re a few hours ahead, making everyone get up an hour or so earlier than normal.
The treat: Once they’ve realized what happened (and they’re still speaking to you), take them out to breakfast.
7. The trick: Post a sign on your neighbor’s door that says “you’ve been egged.”
The treat: Leave a basket of chocolate Easter eggs on their front steps with an April Fools note.
8. The trick: Food imposters. This trick from Spoonful is all about appearances. Whip up a batch of faux spaghetti and meatballs or a grilled cheese sandwich that isn’t what it seems.
The treat: It won’t be what they expected, but these imposters are still a treat. The grilled cheese is actually angel food cake filled with orange frosting, while the spaghetti is made with malt balls and strawberry sauce.
9. The trick: It looks like a can of peanuts or jelly beans or candy, but when they unscrew the lid … out jumps the snake. It’s one of the oldest gags around.
The treat: Before you trick them, remove the snake from the can and stash a small gift or treat in the bottom—earrings, movie tickets, their favorite candy bar etc. Then stuff it all back inside until you’re ready to prank them.
10. The trick: When they’re not looking, change the language settings on their iPhone to French or Spanish.
The treat: After they’ve identified you as the saboteur, take them out to dinner at a local French bistro or the Spanish tapas restaurant they’ve been dying to try.
11. The trick: Tape a giant sign on the wall that exclaims “April Fools Suckers!”
The treat: Tape lollipops to the wall around the sign.
12. The trick: We have to thank Brit sitcom The Office for this classic. Swipe a coworker’s stapler, take it home and embed it in a Jell-O mold. The next day, come in early and place it back on their desk with an April Fools note.
The treat: After you’ve admitted your guilt, take them to lunch or giftwrap some chocolates or their favorite afternoon snack and give it to them.
13.The trick: At home or the office, fill their desk drawer or the kitchen silverware drawer with small candies.
The treat: It’s candy. Enough said.
Let the Fun Begin
Did you Aprils Fools someone with one of our nice pranks? Let us know how it went!
