Confections & Candies – The Fancy Pants Kitchen

Matzah Crack

Francine — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:57:59 +0000

For the most addictive Passover dessert, try Matzah Crack! I promise you’ll be hooked!

Layers of matzah, toffee, chocolate and pecans make this easy confection a winner. It’s got to be on the dessert rotation during Passover!

Begin by lining a sheet pan with foil and then covering the foil with large pieces of matzah. Cut and piece it together to ensure complete coverage.

Make the toffee by cooking butter and brown sugar in a saucepan until it comes to a boil, whisking constantly. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes and then carefully pour the hot toffee over the matzah. Use an offset spatula to spread into an even layer.

Pop the sheet pan into a preheated oven and bake until the toffee is bubbling all over. That will take 8-10 minutes. Remove it from the oven and scatter chocolate chips all over it. Wait a few minutes and then use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate evenly. Sprinkle with the pecans and sea salt.

Refrigerate for 45 minutes, but not any longer as it will be too hard to cut through the toffee in clean pieces.

Remove sheet pan from the fridge and melt the white chocolate. Place it in a pastry bag fitted with a small tip or a baggy with a small corner cut off. Drizzle the white chocolate over the top of the crack. Refrigerate for another 10 minutes to harden the white chocolate.

Lift the crack to a cutting board and use a sharp large knife to cut into 2-inch squares.

You can refrigerate it and serve it cold right from the fridge or at room temperature.

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Matzah Crack, be sure to leave a review down below at the bottom of this page (stars are also appreciated)! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every review. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Matzah Crack

Makes: 35 2-inch pieces

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes plus chill time 55 minutes

Ingredients

4-5 lightly salted matzah (preferably the Streit’s brand – see note below)
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 (12-ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 heaping cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 tsp sea salt flakes or kosher salt
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil, making sure the foil goes up and over the edges, and top with a sheet of parchment paper.

Cover the baking sheet with the matzos, cutting and piecing them together as necessary to fill the entire pan.

To make the toffee, combine butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the mixture comes to a boil. (If it looks like it’s separating, just keep stirring; it will come together.) Once the mixture comes to a boil, continue cooking and stirring for another 3 minutes until foamy and thickened. (Be extra careful…the toffee will be very hot!) Immediately pour the toffee over the matzos and, using a spatula, spread into an even layer.

Put the pan into the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the toffee topping is crackled and bubbling all over. Remove the pan from the oven and place on wire cooling rack on the counter. Immediately scatter the chocolate chips evenly over top. Wait 3 to 5 minutes for the chips to soften, then use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer. Sprinkle with the pecans and sea salt.

Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, about 45 minutes. Don’t leave it in the fridge too much longer, otherwise it will be hard to cut.

Melt the white chocolate chips in a small bowl in the microwave and pour into a small pastry bag with a small round tip in it (or use a ziplock baggy with a small corner cut off). Drizzle white chocolate over the top of the bark. Refrigerate for another 10 minutes to harden the white chocolate drizzle.

Lift the foil overhang to transfer the matzah crack onto a large cutting board. Using a large sharp knife, cut into 2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and serve cold.

Chef’s Notes:

I love Streit’s lightly salted matzos for this recipe but any brand will work. If you can only find regular salted matzos, cut back or omit the sea salt at the end. If you can’t find matzos, substitute Saltine crackers (not kosher for Passover, however) and omit the salt. You’ll need enough to cover the entire sheet pan.

Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The toffee can be frozen for up to 3 months: Place the toffee in an airtight container. It can be eaten directly from the freezer or, if you’d like, remove the bark from the container and let it come to room temperature.

Recipe by Once Upon a Chef

Peppermint Marshmallows

Francine — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:33:09 +0000

Peppermint Marshmallows on top of a mug of hot chocolate or a chocolate layer cake is my idea of decadence. It’s a sweet and pretty way to say hello to the season. The cooling peppermint flavor combined with a soft homemade marshmallow is too inviting to pass up!

And, this is another recipe where people think that it’s just too hard to make. Just stop! If you can use a mixer, you can make marshmallows!

Begin by sprinkling unflavored gelatin over water and giving it a few minutes to soak. Meanwhile, bring water, corn syrup and sugar to a boil in a saucepan.

Then carefully pour the hot sugar mixture over the gelatin mixture and beat on high for 12 minutes. The mixture will become fluffy and stiff peaks will form.

Add vanilla, peppermint extract and crushed candy canes and then pour the mixture into a baking dish.

Squeeze drops of food coloring over the top and use an oiled knife to swirl the coloring into the marshmallows. Let the marshmallow candy rest for at least 4 hours.

Mix corn starch and confectioners’ sugar together in a small bowl.

Use an oiled knife to cut the slab into small cubes. Dip each marshmallow in the corn starch-sugar mixture. This will keep the marshmallows from sticking together when you store them.

The marshmallows are amazing atop hot chocolate, on a chocolate layer cake or on their own. So, enjoy, indulge and have a delicious holiday season!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Peppermint Marshmallows, be sure to leave a review down below at the bottom of this page (stars are also appreciated)! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every review. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Peppermint Marshmallows

Makes: 36 marshmallows

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes plus rest time 4 hours

Ingredients

3/4 cup water, divided
3 envelopes unflavored gelatin (.25 ounces each)
2/3 cup light corn syrup
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/2 cup finely crushed candy canes (optional)
Red gel food coloring
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

Line a 9×9 inch baking dish with plastic wrap and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Spray another piece of plastic wrap to cover the top, and set aside.

Place 1/2 cup of water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and sprinkle gelatin on top of water to soak.

While gelatin is soaking, combine 1/4 cup of water, corn syrup, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Boil the mixture hard for 1 minute.

Carefully pour the hot sugar mixture into the gelatin mixture and beat on high for 12 minutes with the stand mixer, until the mixture is fluffy and forms stiff peaks. Add in vanilla extract and peppermint extract and beat until just combined. Mix in crushed candy canes, if using.

Pour the marshmallow mixture into the prepared baking dish, using a greased spatula to smooth the top. Squeeze 9-12 drops of food coloring across the top of the marshmallow, then use an oiled butter knife or chopstick to swirl the coloring into the marshmallows. Cover the candy with the piece of prepared plastic wrap, pressing it down lightly to seal the covering to the top of the candy.

Allow the marshmallow candy to rest for 4 hours or overnight.

Mix together cornstarch and confectioners’ sugar in a shallow dish. Using oiled scissors or an oiled kitchen knife, cut the marshmallow candy into strips, then into 1-inch squares. Dredge the marshmallows lightly in the cornstarch mixture and store in an airtight container.

Chef’s Notes:

Look for unflavored gelatin in the baking aisle. It will be by the flavored gelatins (Jello, etc), but comes in a smaller box that contains several envelope packets. Knox is the most common brand of unflavored gelatin.

Light corn syrup is extremely common in candy recipes. It helps prevent sugars from crystalizing – consider it a form of insurance when making homemade candy. If you are opposed to using corn syrup, I have had many readers successfully make my marshmallow recipes with honey instead. Just keep in mind that honey may add some flavor to the recipe, unlike corn syrup which has a neutral sweetness.

Make sure you purchase peppermint extract, not mint extract. Peppermint and mint are actually different flavors, and we want peppermint for this recipe.

Recipe from My Baking Addiction

Oh Henry’s

Francine — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:00:46 +0000

Oh Henry’s are a treat that are very reminiscent of growing up in Toronto, Canada. These delicious treats are named after a favorite chocolate bar, Oh Henry! which has a combination of chocolate, salted peanuts and caramel in it.

This treat uses butterscotch instead of caramel and gives texture by adding chow mein noodles. With only 4 ingredients and taking less that 15 minutes to make, it’s hard to find a more mouthwatering and simple confection!

My friend, Tammy, served these straight from her freezer up at her cottage on the lake in Collingwood, Ontario and I never forgot how good they were. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Tam!

Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together in a large saucepan, in a double boiler, or in the microwave (my choice…just melt for a minute at a time, stir, and add more time if necessary).

Stir in the chow mein noodles and salted cocktail peanuts.

Drop little mounds from a teaspoon on to a lightly greased baking sheet.

Either refrigerate or freeze the treats until they are firm. You can keep them in the freezer and just remove however many you want to serve.

Enjoy!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Oh Henry’s, be sure to leave a review down below at the bottom of this page (stars are also appreciated)! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every review. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Oh Henry’s

Makes: 3 & 1/2 dozen cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup salted cocktail peanuts, walnuts or Brazil nuts
6 ounces chocolate chips
6 ounces butterscotch chips
3 ounces chow mein noodles

Instructions

Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips in large saucepan over very low heat, in double boiler or in microwave. Stir in noodles and nuts. Drop from a teaspoon onto a lightly greased, parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate or freeze.

Recipe by Tammy Seigel

Sea Salted Pumpkin Pecan Brittle

Francine — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 20:47:12 +0000

Sea Salted Pumpkin Pecan Brittle is a delicious confection to celebrate the season! It’s warm pumpkin pie flavor with crunchy pecans makes it a tasty brittle that will be welcomed by all! It’s addictive and mouthwatering!

To make the brittle, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Add the butter and stir until it’s melted. Continue to cook for another 10 minutes or until a candy thermometer registers 280°F.

Add the pecans and continue cooking and stirring until the temperature hits 305°F. Turn off the heat and add the pumpkin pie spice.

Pour the brittle onto a foil-lined hot baking sheet and spread it thinly. Sprinkle it with flaky sea salt and let it cool completely. Break it into pieces and serve!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Sea Salted Pumpkin Pecan Brittle, be sure to leave a review down below at the bottom of this page (stars are also appreciated)! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every review. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Sea Salted Pumpkin Pecan Brittle

Makes: 20 pieces

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark corn syrup (0r clear corn syrup)
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 & 3/4 cup chopped pecans
non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

For the Prep:

Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Line a sheet pan (13×18-inches) with a large piece of foil for easy clean-up. Crimp the edges of the foil around the sides of the pan. Place the pan on the lowest shelf of the oven while you prepare the brittle.

To Cook the Brittle:

Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a medium-size saucepan (I use a pan that holds 3 quarts). Stir to combine then bring to a boil (3-4 minutes).

Add the butter and stir until melted. Continue to cook the sugar mixture, stirring occasionally, at a medium boil for about 10 minutes or until an instant or candy thermometer reaches 280˚F.

Add the pecans and stir to combine. The mixture will be quite thick at this time. Stir more frequently now as you don’t want the pecans to burn. If the mixture seems to be browner around the edges of the pan as you are stirring, reduce the heat a bit to prevent burning. Continue cooking (and stirring) until the mixture reaches 305˚F(152˚C) on a candy or instant thermometer.

To Finish:

Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the burner. Add the pumpkin pie spice and stir to combine. Using oven mitts, remove the hot pan from the oven and place it on the stovetop. Spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Rub the pan with a paper towel to evenly distribute the spray.

Pour the candy mixture lengthwise down the center of the prepared pan. Do not spread but tilt the pan from side to side and back and forth. At first, the mixture won’t cover the pan but continue to tilt and lightly jiggle the pan until the mixture is spread thin and covers the pan. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Set aside on a cooling rack to cool completely then break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Recipe from The Cafe Sucre Farine

Salty Churro Toffee Snack Mix

Francine — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:37:19 +0000

Salty Churro Toffee Snack Mix is the most deliciously addicting treat I’ve had lately! Tiny oyster crackers (yes, that’s what we’re using and you thought they were just for clam chowdah!) are coated in a salty sweet churro toffee and then topped off with cinnamon sugar. Seriously?? Yeah, just try stopping at one mouthful!

It takes just a few minutes to make these and just a few ingredients so chop chop…get to work!

Begin by combining butter and brown sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla extract and then pour over oyster crackers.

Stir well until all of the oyster crackers are covered and then spread out on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes or until bubbly all over.

While the crackers are baking, combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl.

When the crackers are done baking, remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar all over.

Let the crackers cool completely and then break into pieces.

Enjoy them immediately or store airtight for up to a week (I doubt they’ll last that long)!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Salty Churro Toffee Snack Mix, be sure to leave a review down below at the bottom of this page (stars are also appreciated)! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every review. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Salty Churro Toffee Snack Mix

Makes: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Bake Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

5 cups Oyster Crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 & 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.

Pour the oyster crackers in a large bowl and set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine the butter and brown sugar. Stirring consistently bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon and vanilla. Pour this immediately on top of the crackers. Use a rubber spatula, stir and coat the crackers evenly with the mixture. Spread the crackers evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 10 – 15 minutes until bubbly all over.

While the crackers are in the oven combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt. Set this aside.

When the crackers are done remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle immediately with the salty cinnamon sugar mixture evenly. Let the crackers cool and then break into pieces. Serve immediately or store airtight for up to a week.

Recipe by Cookies and Cups

Red White and Blue Strawberries

Francine — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:26:12 +0000

How cute are these Red White and Blue Strawberries? They are also so easy, quick and utterly mouthwatering! They are the ideal treat to bring to any Fourth of July celebration!

I can’t think of any treat that is more widely enjoyed than chocolate-dipped strawberries. These babies are dipped in white chocolate and then sprinkled with blue sanding sugar for that festive patriotic look.

The sweetness of ripe strawberries combined with white chocolate and crunchy sanding sugar makes a wonderful addition to a dessert table!

The beauty of these strawberries is that they don’t have to be perfect! Love that…

If your melted chocolate is a little thicker than you like for dipping, just spread the chocolate on using a small offset spatula.

If the blue sanding sugar isn’t in a perfect line, oh well!

If you want to do your own thing, try drizzling the white chocolate over the strawberries and sprinkle the sanding sugar over. You’ll still have a red, white and blue theme going on!

Finally, if you can’t find strawberries with the stems still attached, don’t sweat it. As you can see, I couldn’t find them and they are still adorable and delicious!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Red White and Blue Strawberries, be sure to leave a review down below at the bottom of this page (stars are also appreciated)! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every review. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Red White and Blue Strawberries

Makes: 12 strawberries

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Ingredients

12 large strawberries, with stems intact
5 ounces white chocolate melts, about a half package
1 tsp vegetable oil, optional
2 tbsp dark or light blue sanding sugar

Instructions

Wash and then dry your strawberries thoroughly. Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper and set aside.

Melt your chocolate melts in a small, deep bowl according to package instructions. Add oil if using.

Pour your sugar into a small deep bowl (if you plan to dip your berries, add enough to make the sugar deep enough for dipping).

Using the stem, dip the strawberry into the white chocolate 2/3 to 3/4 of the way up the berry. Let the excess drip off before using a spoon to sprinkle the colored sugar across the bottom 1/3 of the berry, trying to make a straight line.

Place the berries, decorated side up, on the prepared baking sheet to allow the chocolate to firm up.

Chef’s Notes:

If the white melts aren’t “drippy enough”, you can use a small offset spatula to “paint” the white chocolate onto the berries. That’s what I did.

These berries are best on the day made.

Homemade Chocolate Bars

Francine — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 17:02:21 +0000

Homemade Chocolate Bars for Valentine’s Day are a beautiful way to say “I love you”! Let your special person know that you’re willing to go the extra mile for them to make Valentine’s Day a real treat!

These bars are so fun to make. You can use any type of chocolate that you like (my honey loves milk chocolate so that’s the base of all of these bars) and use any topping you like! I’ve chosen mint Oreo cookies, candied bacon and freeze-dried berries, but you could also add nuts, dried fruit like cranberries or blueberries, toffee pieces, chopped waffle cones, sprinkles, etc.

This is a crafts project, as well as a food project, so have fun with it!

Melt all of your chocolate either in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. When it’s melted, remove from heat but keep the bowl over the pot so that it doesn’t cool too quickly. You could also zap the chopped chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until it’s melted.

Pour the chocolate into your silicone molds.

Cover them with your favorite toppings and let them sit out for about 15 minutes and then transfer to the fridge to fully set. Once they’re chilled, they’re super easy to pop out of the molds and wrap.

How to wrap homemade chocolate bars…

These homemade chocolate bar wraps are so easy to make that ANYONE can do it…even if you don’t think you’re a crafty person.

Start by cutting 3.5×8 inch strips of brown craft paper. You could also recycle a brown paper bag.

Using a roller stamp and an ink pad, stamp on your letters. Try to line them up as best you can. I wasn’t perfect at it but I also like that it gives these bars a homemade look.

Take a red sheet of construction paper and fold it in half. Cut out varying sizes of tiny hearts then glue one of the sides on to your brown paper for a 3D affect.

Wrap each bar in clear cellophane bags and tape down any excess, similar to wrapping a present.

Cover each bar in the brown paper and tape it in the back. It’s that easy!

Your loves are going to love these bars!!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Homemade Chocolate Bars, be sure to leave a review down below at the bottom of this page (stars are also appreciated)! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every review. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Homemade Chocolate Bars

Makes: 4 chocolate bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes plus set time 35 minutes

Ingredients

4 chocolate molds
1 pound chocolate of your choice, chopped
5 mint Oreo cookies, broken into small pieces
3 strips candied bacon (see below) + sea salt
A handful of freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries

Candied Bacon:

3 strips bacon
1/3 cup brown sugar, divided

Instructions

Candied Bacon:

To make the candied bacon, preheat your oven to 350°F and place three strips on a cooling rack over a baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with 1/2 of the brown sugar and bake for 15 minutes. Flip, sprinkle more sugar, and bake for another 15 minutes. Let them cool completely before chopping and adding to the chocolate.

Chocolate Bars:

Place a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Melt all of your chocolate then remove the pot from the heat with the bowl still on top. You’ll want to keep it over the pot so the chocolate doesn’t start to harden. Wipe down the bottom of your bowl as there will be some condensation on there. You don’t want that to drip into your molds. You can also microwave the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in short bursts of 30 seconds at a time, stir, repeat until melted.

Place molds on a sheet pan. Pour the chocolate into the molds and level with an offset spatula.

Top each chocolate bar with the designated ingredients. Let them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes then carefully transfer to the fridge. They should harden within 20 minutes.

Carefully remove them from their molds and wrap. These instructions are listed in the blog post. Enjoy!

Recipe from Butternut Bakery

8-Minute Microwave Salted Caramels

Francine — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:10:42 +0000

For a wonderful gift-giving idea, wrap up some 8-Minute Microwave Salted Caramels! They are a delicious treat that everyone will enjoy! And, they take minutes (okay, 8 minutes) to make! Doing the happy dance…

You all know that I love salted caramel sauce and caramel candies. I’ve been extolling their virtues for years. What I didn’t realize is that I can make these in the microwave!! What this saves in cleaning sticky pots and pans is priceless. And, you don’t have to worry about burning it (you know how if you step away from the cooktop at an inopportune moment, your caramels become ash?). Worry no more!

These caramels have the wonderful depth of flavor created from dark corn syrup and dark brown sugar. Add to that flakey sea salt and these are sure to become a favorite.

Melt the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add corn syrup, granulated & dark brown sugars, sweetened condensed milk and salt and whisk it until combined.

Cook it on high power for 7 minutes and quickly stir it. Check to see if it’s ready by placing a small spoonful of caramel into a bowl of ice water. It should form a soft, pliable ball. If it doesn’t, microwave in short increments until it reaches this “soft ball” stage. You can also use an instant-read thermometer which should register 240-242°F.

Once at the right temperature, add the vanilla extract and stir.

Pour the caramel into a prepared baking pan, let it cool for 10 minutes and then sprinkle it with flakey sea salt. Don’t salt it right away as the salt will sink into the soft caramel.

Let the caramel cool in the fridge until it is completely cool and set. Cut into pieces and wrap in wax paper or parchment.

Show your friends how much you adore them by gifting them a box or bag of these delicious treats!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make 8-Minute Microwave Salted Caramels, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

8-Minute Microwave Salted Caramels

Makes: 48 pieces

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes plus cooling time 3-4 hours

Ingredients

6 ounces salted butter
3/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 & 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
flaky sea salt

Instructions

Spray an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray then line with parchment paper so that two two ends extended over two edges of the pan. Spray the parchment with cooking spray also. Set aside. Prepare a small bowl of water with a few ice cubes and set aside.

Place butter in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with a paper towel. Cook on high power for one minute. Butter should be mostly melted. Add corn syrup, sugars, sweetened condensed milk and salt and whisk well to combine.

Cook on high power for 7 minutes. Remove and give mixture a quick stir then check for doneness by placing a bit (a small spoonful) of the caramel into the prepared bowl of ice water. It should form a soft, pliable ball. If it needs a little more time (it doesn’t form a soft ball), return to microwave and heat in 15-20 second increments, till soft ball stage is reached. Mine was done at right around 8 minutes but time will will vary a bit based on the wattage of your microwave. You can also check with an instant thermometer which should register 240-242˚F (240˚ will yield a softer caramel and 242˚ firmer. Carefully remove bowl from microwave (it will be hot). Add vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract and stir with a heat resistant spatula until foaming subsides.

Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Allow to cool for 10 minutes then sprinkle top lightly with flaky sea salt. If you sprinkle with sea salt right away, the salt will melt right into the caramels rather than sitting on the top.

Allow to cool for 3-4 hours or refrigerate until completely cool and set. Cut into rectangular pieces (I cut into rows about ½-inch wide and then cut each row into three equal pieces). A pizza cutter works wonderful for cutting caramels. Wrap in rectangles of wax paper, parchment or pre-cut candy wrappers and twist on both ends.

Recipe from The Cafe Sucre Farine

Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Bites

Francine — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:08:26 +0000

Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Caramel Bites are a delicious confection worthy of gift-giving! Wrap them in a little box or baggy and deliver them with holiday wishes!

These morsels are waffle pretzel sandwiches filled with a coconut caramel and dipped in melted chocolate. The inside is reminiscent of a Samoa cookie from the Girl Scouts…everyone’s favorite! Add the crunch of the salty pretzels and the dark chocolate and I’d say you have a fab holiday gift!

Make the caramel by cooking the sugar until it becomes golden brown and liquified. Pour in the coconut milk very carefully and cook the mixture until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Once thick, add the butter, rum and vanilla. Finally, stir in the coconut.

Make the sandwiches by spreading out waffle pretzels on a sheet pan. Top with a small spoonful of coconut caramel and then place another waffle on top. Place the sheet pan in the freezer for about 15 minutes to firm up the caramel.

Melt the chocolate and, using a fork, dip each bite into the chocolate, completely encasing it in chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip off and then set the bite back onto the sheet pan. Repeat with the remaining bites and place back in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

If desired, drizzle extra chocolate over the top and sprinkle with flakey sea salt. Refrigerate the bites for 30-45 minutes.

All that’s left is to deliver or serve them and watch the smiles as they disappear!

Share Your Thoughts...

Lastly, if you make Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Bites, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is one of my favorite things to do!

Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Bites

Makes: 60 pretzel bites

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes plus chill time 1 hour

Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup canned full-fat coconut milk
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp rum (optional)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 cups shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
1 bag waffle or mini pretzel twist pretzels
14 ounces dark chocolate or semi-sweet
flakey sea salt for sprinkling

Instructions

In a dry, large deep heavy skillet cook the sugar over moderately high heat, stirring constantly with a heat proof, rubber spatula, until the sugar is melted and turns a deep golden caramel, remove the skillet from the heat, and into the side of the skillet carefully pour in the coconut milk.

Return the pot to the heat and, cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring, until the caramel is thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the butter, rum and vanilla. Stir the mixture until the butter is melted. Stir in the shredded coconut.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place as many pretzels as you can on the baking sheet, I was able to fit about 55. Place about a teaspoon or two of the coconut caramel mixture onto each pretzel and then sandwich together with another pretzel. Place the pan in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate over a double broiler until smooth (or use the microwave, stirring in 30 second intervals). Use a fork to dip each pretzel into the chocolate, letting the excess shake off. Place back on the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pretzels. Place in the freezer until set, about 10 minutes. Drizzle on more melted chocolate, if desired, and then place back on the parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with sea salt.

Refrigerate for 30-45 minutes to set. Store in the fridge or in a cool place.

Recipe from Half Baked Harvest

Chanukah Cookie Box

Francine — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:57:25 +0000

One of the most special gifts you can give for Chanukah is a Chanukah Cookie Box. Fill it with all of your favorite holiday cookies and confections. Popcorn, candies, candied nuts, marshmallows are all wonderful choices to augment the cookies.

In this year’s box, I have included the following recipes:

Copycat Crumbl Sugar Cookies
Ch0colate “gelt”
8-Minute Microwave Salted Caramels
Easy Holiday Popcorn
Iced Sugar Cookies
Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Caramel Bites

To read about how to make the box and other ideas for what you could put in the cookie, box, refer to The Ultimate Holiday Cookie Box post.