Tag Archive | candy

Rainbow Easter Egg Nests

closeuppeeps

On a recent drug store visit, I was quickly sidetracked by the adorable Easter section. Pastel, glitter, and cute bunnies had completely taken over aisle three! Inspired by the sweeties, I thought up a fun treat to make for the kiddos, an Easter or Spring party, or just because!

The idea for this recipe is super simple–make a batch of Rice Krispies Treats, line them into a cupcake tin to create the nests. Sprinkle with coconut dyed with green food coloring for the grass, hide a few candy eggs in the nests, and top with a Peep.

Step-by-step directions are below!

Rainbow Easter Egg Nests – Makes 24 Nests

Ingredients:

For the Rice Krispies Treats Nests

  • 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 package (10 oz., about 40) marshmallows OR 4 cups mini marshmallows

For the “grass” filling:

  • 2 cups of coconut
  • green food coloring

Candy decorations:

  • (2) 4 ounce packages of Whoppers mini Robin Eggs (or your favorite egg-shaped candy)
  • (3) packages of Easter peeps

Directions:

To make nests:

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted then remove from heat.

marshmallows

2. Add Rice Krispies cereal and stir until well coated.

ricekrispies

3. Working quickly and being careful not to handle while it’s too hot, Use buttered hands or wax paper to evenly press approximately 1/2-2/3 cup of mixture into two buttered muffin pans. Cool.

4. Pop the nests out of the muffin pans and line on a cookie rack.

nests

To make coconut “grass”:

1. Place coconut in a bowl, add a few drops of green food coloring, and stir with a fork until incorporated and mixture looks like grass.

Decorate!

Sprinkle a tablespoon of the coconut “grass” in the nest, hide a few eggs on top, and nestle an Easter peep on top. You’ll have plenty of extra grass so use it to decorate your display!

nestswitheggs

 

 

 

 

 

platednests

Halloween Crack

Halloween Crack platedFall is truly my favorite time of the year. With Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner, sweaters are pulled out of closets, apples are plucked from trees, pumpkins displayed on the front stoop, and I’m whipping up batches of Halloween Crack. Wait, what?!?! Yep, you heard me right. Okay, it’s actually a delicious party mix made of pretzels, M&M’s, peanuts, and other ingredients, all tossed in a homemade toffee concoction but it’s so decadent and addictive that it’s now better known as Halloween Crack. You’ll understand when you grab your first handful. Just trust me. This recipe was given to me by one of my Mom’s friends who used to make it for parties and it was a guarantee that anyone who tasted it had to have the recipe. This is one of those fall recipes that can’t be beat and should definitely make an appearance at your next Halloween or fall party!

Halloween Crack
Yields 16 cups

Important Note: You can swap out and adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. For example, instead of peanut butter sandwiches try using mini Oreos, instead of plain M&M’s try peanut or almond. There are lots of fun and yummy options!

  • 1 package miniature pretzels or pretzel sticks (11 oz)
  • 1 package miniature peanut butter sandwiches (8 oz)
  • 1 cup dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • 2 Tablespoons Vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 package plain M&M (10 oz)
  • 1 package candy corn (15 oz)

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, mix pretzels, crackers, and peanuts. Set aside. Preheat oven to 250°.

2. Using a dutch oven or a large pot with high sides, combine sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

butter, corn syrup, sugar.

Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and baking soda. Note: The mixture will foam up, hence using a pan with high sides to prevent bubbling over. 

butter, corn syrup, sugar with vanilla and baking soda

3. Pour hot mixture over the pretzels, crackers and peanuts and gently stir until coated.

 

Toffee over pretzels

 

Pour onto a large greased jellyroll or roasting pan.

Pretzel mixture in baking pan

4. Bake for 40 minutes, stirring every 12 minutes. Remove from oven and, while still warm, break apart any big chunks of the mixture. Toss with M&M’s & candy corn.

Added M&M's and candy corn

Allow mixture to cool completely before serving or store in an air tight container to enjoy later.

Finished mixture in a bowl