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These Red Velvet Cake Truffles take the classic Southern cake and turn it into a bite-sized, gift-worthy candy that’s perfect for Christmas! The holidays are all about tradition, and in the South, one dessert that stands out year after year is red velvet cake. Each year I try to include a red velvet confection in […] LEGGI TUTTO
Sweet and Salty Nut Bars will be the latest and greatest addition to your holiday sweets menu. Made with a buttery shortbread crust, soft chocolate-peanut butter center, and topped with salty mixed nuts – they hold something for everyone!
No doubt about it, these Sweet and Salty Nut Bars are perfect for the holidays! A cross between a cookie bar and a candy bar, they’re sure to be welcome on either cookie or candy tray. A crumbly shortbread crust is the base for a nutty chocolate-peanut butter fudge center. Then, it’s topped with more roasted, salted, mixed nut goodness. It’s the best of salty and sweet together.
Make the Shortbread Crust
Begin the crust with 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar and flour. It’s such a simple combination of ingredients that make magic when mixed together. Start with a wooden spoon, and when the mixture clumps, use your hands to knead the mixture together.
After everything is combined and crumbly, pour the mixture into the bottom of a parchment-lined 8×8 inch square baking pan. Tamp the crust down into the pan with your palms or with the bottom of a flat measuring cup. Bake it for 12 minutes in a preheated 350F oven, and then cool completely.
Make the Smooth Peanut Butter-Chocolate Filling
Next, prepare the filling. It’s such an easy fix! Combine sweetened condensed milk, semisweet chips, and peanut butter. Heat on the stove top and stir until smooth.
When the mixture is smooth, add in mini marshmallows. Stir while cooking over medium heat. It will take a few minutes for the marshmallows to melt and incorporate. Just keep stirring!
Add Salty Mixed Nuts
Stir in a cup of roasted, salted mixed nuts. Don’t go for ‘lightly salted’, we’re looking for well-seasoned mixed nuts with roasty flavor. The Planter’s mix I used has peanuts, almonds, cashews, and pistachios (similar here).
Pour the chocolaty mixture over the prepared, cooled shortbread crust. It will begin to set up quickly, so smooth the top as best you can and then…
Sprinkle the nuts evenly over the surface of the fudgy filling.
Even the Top
Using flat palms, or the bottom of a flat measuring cup, tamp the nuts down into the chocolate filling. Allow the candy to set until completely cool and firm. You can also refrigerate the pan to speed setting.
Remove the slab from the pan by lifting it out by the parchment paper. Then cut it into squares. I portioned generous slices (16 total), however, these are rich. You could easily cut them smaller to double the yield.
Salty-sweet-crunchy-nutty – what’s not to love? These travel well, and can be easily be packaged for gift giving. While they’re not exactly cookies, I think they’d be welcome at any cookie swap!
Related recipe: Easy Toffee Walnut Bars
Sweet and Salty Nut Bars
Heather Baird
These bars are a harmonious blend of sweet and salty, featuring a buttery shortbread base, luscious chocolate-peanut butter filling, and a generous sprinkle of roasted, salted mixed nuts on top. With their dual personality as both a cookie and a candy, they’re the ideal treat for holiday dessert gifts or gatherings. Please note that salted butter is used in the shortbread crust. Unsalted butter can be used in its place. If you do this, add a pinch of fine grain salt to the flour mixture.
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Prep Time 29 minutes minsCook Time 12 minutes mins1 hour setting time. 1 hour hrTotal Time 1 hour hr 41 minutes mins
Course DessertCuisine American
Servings 16 pieces
Equipment8×8 inch baking pan
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup brown sugar lightly packed1/2 cup salted butter room temperature1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk2 cups semisweet chocolate chips½ cup creamy peanut butter2 cups mini marshmallows2 1/4 cups roasted salted mixed nuts such as almonds, cashews, pistachios, and peanuts
Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper so paper hangs over all four sides.Combine flour, brown sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir, using wooden spoon, until large clumps form and then use hands to knead mixture together. Press dough into bottom of prepared pan; bake 12 minutes. Remove pan from oven and place on cooling rack to cool completely.In medium saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, semisweet chocolate chips and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Add marshmallows and stir well. Cook until marshmallows melt and can be stirred into the chocolate- peanut butter mixture. Add 1 cup of mixed nuts; stir to incorporate. Pour mixture over crust and spread evenly using spatula.Sprinkle remaining 1 1/4 cup mixed nuts on top of the filling while still warm. Gently press the peanuts into filling using fingertips. Refrigerate bars 1 hour or more before cutting. Bring to room temperature before serving.Store bars at room temperature in air-tight container or covered in plastic wrap.
Keyword brown sugar, christmas candy, Christmas cookies, fudge filling, mini marshmallows, salted mixed nuts, shortbread crust, sweet and salty nut bars, sweetened condensed milk
You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO
This Candy Easter Egg holds a sweet surprise inside! Crack open its edible shell to find more candy to share and enjoy!
It’s been a while since I’ve made something just for fun, and what could be more fun than a giant speckled Candy Easter Egg? With the holiday coming up, I wanted to make something super cute that I could share with my family after our Easter dinner. Kids will adore this, but adults love it too.
This breakable candy Easter egg (also called a Piñata Egg or Bash Egg) is just as fun as opening an Easter basket. Fill it with small candies and little toys. It’s easy to customize to the recipient.
Silicone mold
You can’t make a giant Easter egg without an egg shell mold! This 3D Silicone Egg Mold is what I used. It creates an egg a little more than 7″ tall. And it even comes with a little wooden mallet for breaking the assembled egg (which I misplaced immediately after opening the package and never found again, le sigh). Each shell mold has a foot on the underside so they don’t wobble around and become misshapen as the candy sets.
For the speckle.
Grab a stiff bristle paint brush (new, unused, and kitchen-dedicated) 1 tablespoon of mini semisweet chips and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. I used sunflower oil because it’s what I prefer nowadays in all my baking and sweets. Melt the semisweet chips with the oil in the microwave. The oil loosens the chocolate’s texture to become more fluid. This is the perfect consistency for creating speckles and splatters.
Next, dip the paint brush in the chocolate and use a finger to flick the end of the brush towards the molds. This creates speckling. Then, dip the paint brush in the chocolate again, loading it well, and fling the chocolate onto the molds. This creates a paint splatter effect. Whisk the molds away to the freezer to chill for about 10 minutes, or until totally set.
For the shells.
One 12 oz. bag of meltable candy wafers is a little more than you’ll need to make one assembled egg. However, I recommend melting the entire bag in case you need a little extra for spackling thin spots in the shells. Melt the candy in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave at 30 second to 1 minute intervals.
Stir well between heating intervals, and use the residual heat from the bowl to do most of the melting of the wafers as you stir. This is key to not overheat the candy. Let the candy cool a little before you pour it into the molds. It should be warm to the touch (not hot!) yet still pourable.
Gently spread the candy into the mold using a small spatula. Whisk the molds away, once again, to the freezer to set about 20 minutes or until the candy is completely hardened.
Test results.
I made three different eggs which turned out to be like snowflakes – no two alike! Ha. It was a learning process, but I really love how each one turned out.
Attempt 1: For a marbled look pour hot melted candy into the molds and turn them to swirl the candy over the cavity surfaces (see video for action). I did this with the blue shells, and the chocolate speckling was not preserved. Instead, it created marbling – which I like! But it wasn’t exactly what I was going for.
Attempt 2: For a marbled and speckled appearance, use a mini spatula to partially spread warm candy into the mold, then use the swirl technique to finish covering the cavity. The result is speckling and marbling – which I also like! However, I wanted to try again.
Attempt 3: For a strictly speckled appearance, use a mini spatula to gently spread warm candy into the mold. Again, you can see this action in the video at the end of this blog post. It preserves all the semisweet chocolate speckling and spatter marks. Now this is what I was going for!
Unmold the egg shells.
This is the fun part! Gently peel away the silicone molds to reveal the beautiful speckled candy eggshells. If you’re looking to simplify things, you can skip the speckling and mold the candy without it. This will give you the appearance of a giant dyed Easter egg – still very cute! (Although I am partial to the speckling.)
Candy!
Easter candy is the prettiest of all candies, I think. Gather your favorite and most colorful small candies for filling the egg shell. Include little toys, foil-wrapped chocolates, sprinkles, malted milk eggs, jelly beans – whatever will comfortably fit inside. Pile the candy up in the center.
Join the shells.
In a small nonstick pan, over low heat, gently melt the edges of an egg shell (see the video for action). The melted candy will join the shells together. Let this stand at room temperature until set. This won’t take long at all, if your room temperature stays around 69-72F. Otherwise you can transfer the egg to the refrigerator to speed setting.
Add some brightly colored grosgrain ribbon to make the eggs egg-stra cute! (Haha. I couldn’t help myself.)
As I mentioned before, the silicone mold comes with a little wooden mallet which you can give with the egg if you’re giving it as a gift. I lost mine immediately upon opening the package. And I’m having my own Easter egg hunt looking for it (note: I have a puppy that likes to carry things away). However, I used a wooden dough tamper (as seen in the video) that worked just fine.
Of course, if you don’t have time to make your own Piñata Egg at home, you can purchase one online, complete with wooden mallet, although they can get pretty pricey.
This is such a fun interactive treat with real piñata appeal! Except this one is totally edible with its candy shell. This was so fun to make, I’ll probably put a few more together for gifts. It’s an easy edible craft that requires little kitchen time.
Happy Spring!
Related recipe: Edible Paper Mache Easter Egg Piñata
Candy Easter Egg (Breakable Bash Candy Egg)
Crack open this Candy Easter Egg for a surprise inside! This breakable/bash egg is more fun than opening an Easter basket (if you ask me). The shells are easily made using a silicone mold and your color choice of candy melting wafers. Use my chocolate spatter technique for speckling the egg shells, or you can skip that step for simpler plain egg shells.
You’ll need about 1 1/2 – 2 cups of small candies to fill the egg. I used foil-wrapped eggs, malted milk eggs, jelly beans, marshmallows, gummy bunnies, sprinkles, small Lindt hollow Easter chicks and lambs, sprinkles and other small hard candies. Choosing the candies is half the fun!
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Prep Time 30 minsCook Time 3 mins1 hour resting/setting time 1 hrTotal Time 1 hr 33 mins
Course DessertCuisine American
Servings 1 egg
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips1 teaspoon vegetable oil I use sunflower oil12 oz. candy melting wafers your color choice2 cups assorted small candies such as jellybeans or malted milk eggs
Instructions In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the semisweet chips and oil. Heat at 100% power in the microwave at 30 second intervals, until the mixture is melted and can be stirred smooth. (About 45 seconds to 1 minute total.) Set aside to let cool slightly.Place the silicone molds on a large baking sheet. Make room in your freezer to accommodate the sheet with molds on it.Dip the stiff bristle paint brush into the chocolate and flick the bristles of the brush with a finger into the cavities of the shell molds. Do this repeatedly for speckling. For spattering, load the paint brush with the chocolate mixture and use flinging motions to splatter the shell cavities with the chocolate. Place the molds in the freezer to set the chocolate.Meanwhile, melt the candy wafers in a large microwave-safe bowl at 100% power in the microwave. Heat in 30 second to 1-minute increments, stirring the candy well between heating intervals. Be sure to stir well using the residual heat from the bowl to do most of the melting. This will help avoid overheating the candy. When the candy is smooth, let it cool slightly. It should not be hot to the touch, rather it should be warm yet still pourable.Remove the molds from the freezer and immediately divide about 3/4 of the candy between the two spattered shells. Use the mini spatula to gently spread the candy up the sides of the mold. Be sure to spread the candy all the way to the top edges where the two shells with meet to form the whole egg.Transfer the molds to the freezer to set, about 20 minutes, or until the candy is extremely firm/hard to touch. Examine the set candy in the molds to make sure there are not weak or thin spots in the shells. If you see this, re-heat the remaining candy until smooth and gently spatula melted candy over the thin areas. Freeze again until solid.When the shells are solid, peel away the silicone mold away from the candy to reveal beautiful speckled egg shell halves.Have the assorted candies ready to hand. Also have some paper towels at the ready.Place a nonstick pan over low heat. Place an egg shell half edges-down in the pan for 1-3 seconds, or until the edges melt evenly. Remove quickly and place on a serving plate. Wipe the pan clean with a paper towel. Add the assorted candies, sprinkles, toys, etc, and pile them high in the center of the egg shell, avoiding the melted edges. Melt the edges of the second shell in the same way as the first, then top the filled shell with the second shell, meeting the melted edges together. Hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute until firm. Allow the egg to stand until the candy is well set.Wrap the egg with a ribbon and bow using the grosgrain ribbon. Present to a lucky recipient along with a small wooden mallet for breaking, or include cracking instructions.
NotesConsider including some confetti sprinkles and jimmies in your egg. They don’t take up a lot of room and they provide an edible confetti effect when the egg is broken!
The inclusions are only limited to your imagination, and the size of the egg of course. Little toys, Easter figurines, small plastic eggs, and other non-edibles can also be included.
Keyword bash egg, breakable candy egg, candy easter egg, candy melting wafers, easter basket candy, easter dessert, pinata egg, semisweet chips, silicone egg mold
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This recipe for Honey Lollipops uses honey dippers in place of ordinary lollipop sticks. They work double duty as sweet treats and a keepsake favors for weddings, baby showers, and more!
I first had the idea for these honey wand lollipops last Christmas, but months later, I’m just getting around to making them. I’d planned to give them as stocking stuffers, but I think they’re even more appropriate for spring. And especially summer when honey is abundantly flowing.
DIY brides (or perhaps a crafty member of their entourage) may find this an easy and inexpensive wedding favor. They’d also be so cute for a bee-themed baby shower (see my Bee-licious party for HGTV.com right here). I will most likely use this batch on my dining room table, to spruce up place settings and to give dinner guests a take-home treat.
Choose your honey.
Start with your favorite honey. Clover honey, wildflower honey, orange blossom honey – the options are endless! If you ask me, the best honey is the free kind, and the honey I’m using was gifted from a bee keeper friend of the family. You’ll need just 1/2 cup for a batch.
How to cook honey into hard candy.
Stir together the honey, light corn syrup, granulated sugar, and water in a large saucepan. To those who recoiled at the mention of corn syrup in this recipe – I am aware that everyone is supposed to detest the stuff. However, it is not high fructose corn syrup. It’s just regular corn syrup that confectioners and pastry chefs use in moderation. (If you’re interested, read Food52’s article Why Corn Syrup Isn’t Evil.) In this recipe it prevents crystallization of the candy as it cooks and gives the lollipops a long shelf life.
Insert a candy thermometer into the pot, and keep the ingredients on a steady bubble.
Make an ice bath.
As the candy bubbles its way to hard crack stage (around 302°F in this recipe) make a big bowl of ice water. If you don’t have a large enough heat-proof bowl, a metal 13×9-inch cake pan will work, too. At the moment the candy reaches temperature, remove it from the heat and plunge the bottom of the pan into the ice bath. This stops the cooking of the candy mixture.
Use an ice cube tray for a candy mold.
I found this 2-pack of hexagonal ice cube trays that I thought looked just like a honeycomb. Which is perfect to use for molding honey lollipops! It worked well and held all of the cooked candy. Just give the cavities a spritz of cooking spray before you pour.
Use a double thickness of heavy-gauge aluminum foil to cover the tray tightly. Press it down flat so you can see each little hexagonal shape. Make little X shapes with the tip of a paring knife in the centers of each shape.
Next – time for the honey wands! Use 6-inch honey dippers and insert the ends into each X shaped hole. (You can find the wands online right here, 20 pieces for around $10.)
Now, here’s the tricky part. These wands are top heavy, so they will want to wobble to-and fro. Use a strip of painter’s tape across the dipper ends to hold them in place. Carefully steady them all upright and leave them alone to set. You can also use ordinary lollipop sticks, which will fare better standing upright on their own.
Unmold the honey lollipops.
Remove the foil by tearing it away from the lollipop sticks. Just a little wiggle will free these from their molds.
Honey lollipops Q&A.
You may ask “why not just use regular lollipop molds instead of an ice cube tray?” Well. They don’t work with the wands and here’s why. The honey wand sticks are too thick to lay flat in the stick groove in regular lollipop molds. I tested various sizes of wands, 3-inch to 6-inch, and they all have the same stick thickness. Of course, you can use regular lollipop molds with standard size paper sticks with success.
You may also wonder, “why not mold the candy on the ‘dipper end’ of the wand?” You could, but there’s not enough room for much candy after the dipper is inserted. You could try it with a larger ice cube tray, but it’s a bit bulky for enjoying as a lollipop.
These are really pretty on ordinary lollipop sticks, too! These are smaller than the wands, so I recommend packaging them 2 to a bag for gifting.
Keep the pops in a cool dry place and they will last for a long time! As long as they are kept away from humidity, they’ll have a long shelf life.
There’s no wrong way to enjoy these lollipops. Have one for a sweet treat, give them as gifts, or just stir one in your hot tea.
Related recipe: Homemade Hot Honey
Honey Lollipops
Heather Baird
Honey Lollipops can be made ahead and used as gifts, wedding favors, or just for enjoying. Stir one in a cup of hot tea for a little extra sweetness.
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Prep Time 10 minsCook Time 20 mins1 hour setting time 1 hrTotal Time 1 hr 30 mins
Course DessertCuisine American
Servings 25
EquipmentCandy thermometer25 wooden honey wands 6 inches each, or lollipop sticks1 silicone hexagonal ice cube trayHeavy gauge aluminum foilPainter’s tape
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Cooking spray for the ice cube tray1/2 cup honey1/3 cup light corn syrup1/2 cup granulated sugar2 tablespoons water
Instructions Prepare an ice bath with ice cubes and water in a big stainless steel bowl or metal 9×13-inch pan (something your saucepan will fit into).Spray the silicone ice cube tray with cooking spray.In a medium saucepan stir together the honey, corn syrup, sugar, and water. Stir together until well incorporated. Attach the candy thermometer to the pan.Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium so that the mixture stays at a rolling boil that is steady and not too vigorous.Cook to 302°F, which is hard crack stage for candy. The moment the candy reaches temperature, plunge the bottom of the pan into the ice bath. Let the bubbling subside for 1-2 minutes.Pour the candy into 25 cavities of the silicone tray, filling each about 3/4 full. Let stand 1-2 minutes, then cover with double thickness of aluminum foil.Flatten the foil evenly so you can see the hexagonal impressions. Use a fine-tipped paring knife to cut a small x into the aluminum foil in the centers of each hexagonal shape.Insert the stick ends of the honey wands into each of the X shapes. The wands will wobble a bit. Stand them upright (you may need an extra pair of hands to help) and use strips of painters tape across the top of the dipper ends to secure them together upright. After they are balanced, leave them alone to firm, about 2 hours.Remove the painter’s tape and tear away the foil. Wiggle each wand end a little to loosen the honey pop from the mold. Transfer to a parchment or wax paper-lined baking sheet. Let stand 20 minutes to air dry.Package each in cellophane and tie with ribbon, or store them in an airtight container in a cool dry place. If stored away from humidity, they will last two weeks or longer. These can be made up to a week ahead.
NotesDo not store these in the refrigerator. Keep them away from all forms of humidity.
Keyword black sanding sugar, honey lollipops, honey stirrers, honey tea stirrers, honey wedding favors, light corn syrup, wildflower honey
You may also enjoy: LEGGI TUTTO
These Easy Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters are deliciously salty-sweet and packed with peanuts. This recipe makes more than 6 dozen, so there’s plenty to share for the holidays.
Easy Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
This post was originally published 10/30/2009.
This recipe is our family favorite that I’ve been making for more than a decade. I first posted it here in October 2009, just one month into my first year of blogging. It comes from our family friend, Ms. Bobbie Ivey. She was a special lady who was well known for her confections in our home town. She would sell them during Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays.
These peanut clusters were one of her most popular sweets. They appeal to all ages. In fact, my mom just made batch this week for the children’s program at her church. They are old-fashioned and hearty – so simple to whip up for a big gathering, and one batch makes 150 small clusters, or 75 large.
Candy-coated.
Confectioners’ coating goes by many names: almond bark, candy coating, or you may recognize name brands like Candiquik. You can usually find it in 24 oz. blocks at the grocery store in the baking aisle next to the chocolate chips. You’ll need two packages of chocolate, and two of vanilla.
Break up the blocks of candy and place them in a large slow cooker. Turn the crockpot to low and cover with the lid. Stir occasionally until the candy is completely melted and smooth.
You may be asking – why not use real chocolate bars? I asked this same question before I made my first batch so long ago. So, I tried a batch with semisweet chocolate and the end result was just too rich and very expensive. The cocoa powder in the chocolate candy coating is just enough flavor without being aggressive. And the vanilla coating adds a creaminess. The creamy flavor is a big part of what draws you in, contrasting the salty peanuts.
The peanuts.
When the candy is melted add the peanuts. You’ll need two 16 oz. containers of roasted, salted peanuts, and two roasted, unsalted. Now, sometimes I’ll just use what I have on hand. Which may be 3/4 salted peanuts and 1/4 unsalted. Or any ratio thereof. Do try to use at least 1/4 unsalted peanuts give these clusters balanced flavor. Some brands of roasted peanuts are very salty, indeed.
Stir until all the peanuts are coated and turn the slow cooker to WARM. Setting the temp to warm ensures the candy stays melted while you dip.
You’ll notice when you stir everything together, that the candy coating is more like a dressing for the peanuts. It’s just enough melted candy to hold all those peanuts together.
Cover a large work surface with parchment paper (or waxed paper) and – get to dippin! These days I use a cookie scoop to make uniform clusters. Two dips with this scoop make one large cluster. A standard trigger ice cream scoop makes them a little too large, unless you’re aiming for jumbo clusters.
Candy coating sets up more quickly than chocolate at room temperature (about 70F). When the clusters lose their shine and become matte, peel them off the paper and store airtight. If storing them in Tupperware, separate layers with waxed paper.
I always love revisiting this recipe. It’s easy and inexpensive considering the high yield, and everybody loves them. I hope you will too.
(Check out another of our friend Bobbie’s recipes here: Strawberry Delight)
Easy Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
Heather Baird
This high yield recipe is quick and easy, perfect when you need a crowd-pleasing candy – it’s thrifty too! We always have a batch on the dessert buffet next to the fudge and bourbon balls at Christmastime. Two or four large clusters, packaged in cellophane and tied with festive ribbon makes a lovely homespun gift.
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Prep Time 30 minsCook Time 35 mins1 hour setting time 1 hrTotal Time 2 hrs 5 mins
Course DessertCuisine American
Servings 75
Equipmentslow cooker largeparchment papercookie scoop optional
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 24 oz. package chocolate candy coating (chocolate almond bark)24 oz. package vanilla candy coating (white almond bark)32 oz. dry roasted salted peanuts two 16 oz. containers32 oz. dry roasted unsalted peanuts two 16 oz. containers
Instructions Place both chocolate and vanilla candy coating in a large slow cooker and turn to low setting. Cover with the lid.Stir occasionally to encourage even melting of the candies. Stir mixture until both candies are combined with no white streaks of candy remaining.Pour peanuts over the mixture and stir until peanuts are coated. Turn slow cooker to WARM setting.Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment or wax paper. Scoop heaping tablespoons for 150 small clusters, or two heaping tablespoons for 75 large. Allow to set completely, approximately 1 hour.Store candies air-tight in Tupperware between sheets of waxed paper, or package in cellophane bags with twist ties or ribbon for gifting.Candy will keep well airtight for up to 2 weeks, or longer if refrigerated.
NotesUse a cookie scoop (4 teaspoon capacity) and scoop two level scoops for the perfect size large cluster.
I think these clusters are perfect as-is, but if you’d like to boost the chocolate flavor, add 1 cup of semisweet chips to the melted candy coating. Mix until melted, then pour in peanuts. This will help temper the semisweet chocolate, and avoid any clouding (fat bloom).
You could make these with real chocolate bars; however, the end result will be very rich, and you’d need 21 bars (4 oz. each) for the required 84 oz. Very expensive these days.
Keyword candiquik, candy coating, christmas candy, confectioners’ coating, dry roasted salted peanuts, millionaire candy, old fashioned peanut clusters, roasted unsalted peanuts, slow cooker peanut clusters
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What’s better than a chocolate chip cookie? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles! No holiday candy tray is complete without them.
It’s candy making season, and I’ve been taking full advantage of some easy, classic additions for making the holidays extra happy. I almost can’t believe that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles haven’t made it to the blog, until just now. It’s such a fun, indulgent treat and a real crowd-pleaser! Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookie dough?
Toast your flour.
Since I’m extremely partial to my own Gourmet Edible Cookie Dough, I used it for these truffles. It’s a great little recipe that yields an authentic buttery, brown sugar crunch, and it’s safe to eat because the flour is toasted. Flour is a raw ingredient, but it takes just 10 minutes to toast in the oven and you’re ready to safely eat all the cookie dough you can stand. Whip up a batch and check the consistency by squeezing a handful. It should pack under the pressure of your hand.
A cookie scoop makes evenly portioned dough balls, so I always use (and recommend!) one. After they’re all rolled up, give them a chill.
Chocolate confectioners’ coating (also known as chocolate almond bark) is mild tasting and really lets the cookie dough be the star of the show – and that’s what we want! You can find packages of confectioners’ coating in the baking aisle with the chocolate chips.
When the truffles are set, give them an extra drizzle of chocolate. You’ll have some chocolate coating left over, so put it in a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner shipped. This extra touch makes them pretty and totally gift-worthy!
These truffles hold lots of brown sugar crunch, which is just the sensation you’d get eating a bowlful of cookie dough destined for baking. Mini chocolate chips disperse best in a small ball, so use those instead of the standard sized ones.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles are so indulgent. And they are loved by kids and grown-ups alike. Place them in mini cupcake papers for cute packaging. They keep well in a decorative tin, which is also the perfect way to gift them.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
Heather Baird
Chocolate chip cookie dough is wrapped in a chocolate shell for a fun holiday treat. Use a cookie scoop to make all the truffles uniform. These are a wonderful addition to a holiday candy assortment tray, and they also make a sweet homespun gift.
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Prep Time 40 minsCook Time 12 minsTotal Time 52 mins
Course DessertCuisine American
Servings 6
Equipmentcookie scoop (4 teaspoon capacity)
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup light brown sugar packed1/2 cup granulated sugar1/2 cup unsalted butter melted1 tsp. vanilla extract2/3 cup mini chocolate chips2 to 4 tablespoons whole milk16 oz. chocolate confectioners’ coating chocolate almond bark
Instructions Place the flour on a baking sheet and toast at 300F for 10 minutes. You can also heat it in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until an instant read thermometer reads 160F. Let cool completely before using.In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, stir together cooled flour, salt, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Pour in butter and vanilla extract. Mix until a dry dough forms. Add chocolate chips and mix on lowest speed.When chocolate chips are evenly dispersed, add whole milk 1 tablespoon at a time with the machine on low speed. The mixture should be unsticky and pack easily in your hand when squeezed.Scoop the cookie dough using a cookie scoop (4 teaspoon capacity). Roll into balls between your palms. Refrigerate 15 minutes.Break the confectioners’ coating into pieces at the score marks. Heat the it in a microwave-safe bowl at 100% power at 30 second increments until melted and smooth. This may take up to 2 minutes. Stir well between heating and let the residual heat from the bowl do some of the melting. This prevents overheating.Using a fork, roll a chocolate chip cookie ball into the chocolate coating. Lift and tap off excess coating. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, using another fork to scoot the truffle from the dipping fork.Repeat the process with the remaining truffles. Re-heat the candy coating in the microwave as needed, at 30 second increments. Allow the truffles to set until firm, about 10 minutes.Transfer the remaining melted chocolate coating to a piping bag with a small hole snipped in the end, or a zip-top bag with a tiny hold snipped in one corner. Drizzle chocolate coating over the truffles to create a decorative zigzag.Store truffles in the refrigerator for longevity.
NotesAn equal amount of chopped chocolate bars or chocolate chips can be used in place of the confectioners’ coating. Chocolate will bloom if overheated, which means a white chalky finish may occur as the truffles set. To avoid this, add 2 tablespoons of white vegetable shortening to the chocolate as you melt it.
Keyword brown sugar, mini chocolate chips, unsalted butter
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Crunchy, peanut-buttery Butterfinger Truffles are easy to whip up and they make a wonderful edible gift. Just four ingredients!
Here’s something sweet and delicious for your candy tin! These candy bar-inspired truffles come together in a hurry with only four ingredients for you grocery list. Soft silky chocolate ganache holds crunchy chunks of candy bars inside. The outside is covered in more Butterfinger candy bars that have been ground fine for a tasty truffle coating.
Use good quality chocolate for the truffle mixture. Baker’s bars are a good choice. Semisweet chocolate is my to-to for truffles. But milk chocolate could also be used for a milder truffle, and to match the candy bar’s milk chocolate coating.
Use the magic truffle ratio of 2:1, chopped chocolate to hot cream. Whisk it up and then add 3 whole chopped up Butterfinger candy bars. Fold all that peanut-buttery goodness into the ganache mixture and chill to set.
Roll ’em up!
Scoop and roll the set ganache by the level 1 tablespoons. Then roll the truffles in finely ground Butterfinger bars. The crumbs stick to the truffles well and it gives the candy a uniform appearance.
These are potent little bites, so one batch will go a long way if you’re gifting them. Package up 4-6 in a little box or bag for a cute gift.
A festive paper cup makes a good container to slip a bag of truffles into. That way they don’t get crushed during transport. I love these bright red metallic striped cups. You can find them for purchase right here.
Candy making is such an enjoyable holiday tradition, and these are so easy to throw together. It could easily be a fun project for the whole family.
Butterfinger Truffles
Heather Baird
What’s better than a Butterfinger candy bar? A Butterfinger truffle! These are highly giftable and so tasty. Semisweet chocolate is lovely in this recipe, but milk chocolate can be used to match the flavor of the candy bar’s coating.These keep for 7 days in the refrigerator. See recipe notes for more tips.
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Prep Time 25 minsCook Time 1 min2 hours chill time 2 hrsTotal Time 2 hrs 26 mins
Course DessertCuisine American
Servings 24 truffles
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 5 full-size Butterfinger candy bars 1.9 oz. each8 oz. semisweet chocolate fine chopped1/2 cup heavy cream1/2 teaspoon butter and nut extract optional
Instructions Break two candy bars in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to fine crumbs. Place in a shallow bowl and set aside.Chop remaining candy bars into pieces with a chef’s knife.Place the semisweet chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. In a glass measuring cup with a pour spout, heat the heavy cream in the microwave for 1 minute, or until steaming but not boiling. Alternatively you can do this on the stove top in a sauce pan.Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let stand 1 minute. Add the butter and nut flavor if using. Whisk slowly until a shiny ganache is formed, this should take about 3 minutes to fully incorporate. Stir in the chopped candy bars. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours or until the ganache is firm and scoopable.Scoop the truffle mixture into level 1 tablespoon balls. Roll quickly between palms to make smooth, evenly shaped truffles. Quickly roll in candy bar crumbs.Store truffles in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.Let the truffles stand at room temperature before serving, as the flavors are more developed.
NotesWhat to expect: Silky chocolate ganache holds chunks of Butterfinger candy bar inside with a fine crumbly coating of Butterfinger bars on the outside. Each truffle is a rich bite, and one batch could be divided into many gifts.
If you have leftover Butterfinger crumbs for rolling, save them. Over time in the fridge the coating on the truffles gets a little sticky. Re-roll the truffles in more crumbs just before serving. (Although they may not last long enough to get sticky!)
Butter and nut flavor is a southern pantry staple that many home bakers use in cakes and banana pudding. It is optional in this recipe but it adds to the buttery flavor of the candy bars. Butter pecan flavoring can also be used. You can find both of these for purchase online.
Keyword butterfinger candy bars, heavy cream, semisweet chocolate
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This Baklava Fudge recipe puts a new spin on a Greek classic. A ribbon of spiced honey-nut filling runs through this salty-sweet candy.
Christmas is the perfect time to indulge in all things sweet and spiced. Like this baklava-inspired fudge. It is truly decadent with a creamy almond butter fudge base. A ribbon of salty-sweet spiced honey-nut filling runs throughout the candy.
First, the honey-nut filling!
Make the nut filling first, because it will need to cool. It’s made with toasted walnuts and roasted, salted pistachios. The formula is from my favorite baklava filling recipe. Honey syrup is boiled on the stovetop and poured over the ground nuts to give it true baklava flavor.
The nut mixture needs to be paste-like to hold its form in the chilled candy. Add a little almond flour and stir until a paste forms. Set aside to cool.
Microwave-friendly.
When the nut mixture is cool, begin cooking the fudge. It only takes three ingredients, and three minutes in the microwave. You’ll need sweetened condensed milk, natural almond butter (no salt or sugar added) and white almond bark or white chocolate. You can also melt the ingredients in a saucepan on the stovetop if you don’t have a microwave.
Heat and stir the fudge to a smooth consistency, then pour half of it in a prepared 8×8 inch pan. Top with half of the nut paste. Spread it out as best as you can. You won’t get it totally even, but that’s alright!
Work quickly!
Top with the remaining fudge. This mixture sets quickly, so if it isn’t spreadable, microwave it for 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
Swirl the remaining nut paste into the top of the fudge. This will look messy and your knife (or skewer) will leave trails, but keep going. When it’s well swirled, pick up and drop the pan several times on the countertop to even the surface. Most of those trails with disappear.
I couldn’t resist a few more roasted pistachios sprinkled on top, and the extra bit of saltiness is ice. Let the fudge firm in the refrigerator. Lift it out by the parchment liner and slice into pieces.
The salted nut mixture is such a nice foil for the sweet fudge candy. I can usually eat only a small piece of fudge and be done, because of its sweetness. But this one is a different story!
I’ve always loved baklava and I continue to be inspired by its flavors (see this Baklava Pull-Apart Bread). I also make the original recipe quite often. Baklava Fudge is perfect for holiday gifts and such a nice addition to any candy tray. Enjoy!
Baklava Fudge
Heather Baird
This Baklava Fudge recipe puts a new spin on a Greek classic. A ribbon of spiced honey-nut filling runs through this salty-sweet candy.
This recipe uses sweetened condensed milk, which can be confused with evaporated milk. Be sure you get the right canned milk. Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sweet.
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Prep Time 15 minsCook Time 3 mins2 hours chill time 2 hrsTotal Time 2 hrs 18 mins
Course DessertCuisine American, Greek, Greek-Inspired
Servings 32 pieces
Equipment8×8 inch baking dish
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric Cinnamon-honey syrup1/4 cup granulated sugar1/4 cup water1/4 cup honey I used wildflower honey1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamonNut mixture3 oz. walnut pieces raw3 oz. shelled whole pistachios roasted and salted1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt1 teaspoon cinnamon2 tablespoons almond flour plus 1-2 tablespoons more if neededFudge14 oz. sweetened condensed milk 1 can2/3 cup natural almond butter no salt and no sugar added16 oz. vanilla almond bark 1 package, broken into pieces2 tablespoons chopped pistachios roasted and salted for sprinkling on top
Instructions SyrupStir together the sugar, water, and honey in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and let cook until reduced and syrupy, about 10-15 minutes, or until the yield is a little less than 1/3 cup of syrup. Remove the syrup from heat and stir in cinnamon. Set aside to let cool completely. Nut mixturePreheat oven to 350°F. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 5-8 minutes in the oven. Let cool, then add them, along with the pistachios, to a food processor bowl and process in quick bursts until finely chopped. Transfer the nuts to a medium bowl and add the cooled syrup, the salt, and the cinnamon. Stir together.Add 2 tablespoons of the almond flour and stir well. The mixture should form a paste. If the mixture is still syrupy, stir in another 1-2 tablespoons of almond flour until a pasty consistency forms. See pictures in the blog post for visual of the correct consistency.FudgeLine 8-inch square pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil that overhangs all four edges and spray it with cooking spray.Place the sweetened condensed milk, 2/3 cup almond butter and almond bark in a large microwavable bowl. Heat in the microwave uncovered on high (100% power) in 1-minute increments, stirring well between each heating. Allow the residual heat from the bowl to do most of the work melting the mixture. This will take about 3 minutes. Be careful; the bowl may get hot. Alternatively, you may heat this mixture together in a saucepan on the stovetop over medium heat. Immediately pour half of the mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle half of the nut mixture in clumps on top and spread out as best as you can. Pour in the remaining fudge and top with remaining nuts mixture; swirl using a butter knife. Pick up and drop the pan twice or until the surface becomes level. Sprinkle on the 2 tablespoons of chopped pistachios and transfer to the refrigerator. Let chill until set, about 2 hours.Lift the candy out of the pan by the overhanging foil; cut the candy slab into pieces with a large chef’s knife.The fudge may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
NotesWhat to expect: Roasted, salted pistachios contribute the right amount of salt to balance this sweet confection. Natural almond butter with no salt or sugar added allows for the purest almond flavor. The honey syrup which coats the nuts gives this candy true baklava flavor.
You can usually find natural almond butter with no salt or sugar added in the produce department, or in the bulk nuts section. Shelf-stable creamy almond butter can also be used in this recipe.
Keyword almond butter, baklava filling, chopped pistachios, ground walnuts, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla almond bark
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This dessert “charcuterie” board trades meats and cheeses for sweet treats, and it’s easier to put together than you might think!
I recently created an article for Food Network about one of my new obsessions: Dessert Boards! These bountiful arrangements are inspired by charcuterie boards. Instead of meats, cheeses, and savory fare, these boards offer an array of sweet things. I’ve done my best to demystify the process with ingredients that need little prep work. I’ve also included tips on how to arrange your spread with style.
The Right Stuff.
I’m talking about ingredients! The fillers for your pretty dessert board will begin at the grocery store with some smart shopping. I personally enjoy using striped wafer cookies and cute waffle pretzels. Not only are they tasty, but they’re pretty cool to look at!
Use some of those store-bought items to make low-prep desserts that will truly make for a pretty dessert board. You’ll find instructions for marbled strawberries, dip-dyed marshmallows, frosted brownie bites, and more in the article. All are quick fixes, but if you need more ideas, then 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge and 3 Ingredient Chocolate-Peanut Butter Marshmallow Candy are ideal for saving time. They’ll also make it so easy to fill up a board because both make big batches!
The right arrangement and placement can make ordinary ingredients extraordinary! These yogurt-covered pretzels look kind of plain in the container, but fan them around a bowl and they almost look like flower petals. I’ve laid out all of my tips and tricks using line, shape, and symmetry. My best tip? Tile, tile, tile! Cookies, donuts, graham crackers, chocolate squares – they all lend themselves well to being tiled like dominos and create lovely repeating patterns.
You’ll find every detail covered in this article – from choosing a board, to shopping smart for ready-made items, to composing an eye-pleasing spread. It’s absolutely brimming with the best info I could gather with DIYs, and loads more how-to pictures. Find it at this link on FoodNetwork.com.
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