Tag Archive | peanuts

Halloween Crack

Oct13

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

5-Minute Rocky Road Fudge

Jul7

fudge pieceI’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of fudge. I find that it’s often either way too rich or way too sweet. All that changed when a friend introduced me to this amazing fudge a few years ago. She was whipping up several batches to mail off to friends and family at Christmas and I happened to stop by at just the right moment. I lent a hand with the fudge factory and was rewarded with a plate to take home. I remember taking that first tentative, teeniest of bites and then proceeded to shove the whole piece into my gob as fast I could get it in there. This isn’t fudge. It’s crack. Holiday crack. It’s smooth rich chocolate is studded with nuts and marshmallows which go together so well that even the pickiest of fudge-eaters are happily brought over to its dark side. Now I’m the one who includes this delicious fudge in my Christmas cookie tins. Just be sure to always set aside a few squares for yourself or pop in the freezer for a rainy day. Did I mention how easy this fudge recipe is? All done in the microwave and prep time is 5 minutes or less!

This recipe was adapted from a NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE recipe.

Rocky Road Fudge

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts or peanuts

Directions: 

1. Line a 9″ square baking pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

image_2

2. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk.

Chips and sweetened condensed milk

3. Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Since microwaves vary, it might be necessary to microwave for 10-15 seconds then stir and repeat as necessary until it’s nice and smooth.

Creamy chocolate

4. Stir in vanilla then fold in marshmallows and nuts.

Marshmallows and nuts stirred in

 

5. Spread mixture into greased pan and press flat with spatula.

Smoothed mixture into pan

 

6. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until the mixture has hardened. QUICK NOTE: If you’re in a hurry you can also pop the pan in the freezer to help speed it up.

Hardened fudge

7. Lift foil from pan and use a pizza cutter to cut into small squares. Enjoy!

squares