S'mores Treats

I have made these a couple times now and they are sooo yummy! I think I like them even better than actual s'mores. Less messy too!

Ingredients:
6 cups graham cereal pieces
5 cups mini marshmallows, divided
3 TBS butter
3 - 1.55 oz. Hershey's milk chocolate candy bars, broken into pieces

Directions:
Measure out cereal into large bowl.
Spray a 9" x 13" pan with non-stick spray.
Melt butter and 4 cups of mini marshmallows in a pan over medium heat until completely melted. Pour into cereal and stir until combined. Add in the last cup of mini marshmallows and stir.
Pour half the cereal mixture into prepared pan and press down. Top with half the chocolate bar pieces. Cover with remaining cereal, press down and top with the rest of the chocolate.
Allow to cool and then cut into bars.

Enjoy!

I didn't even get a picture of them all cut up because they were gone too fast!

Andes Mint Muddy Buddies

My family loves Muddy Buddies!  We have tried a few different kinds lately.  We liked the cinnamon churro okay, but probably won't make them again.  But now, the mint Muddy Buddies..... YUM!  We LOVE these!  They are especially good at Christmas!  I don't know why, but I can't get enough mint lately.  Peppermint Brownie Cookies, Mint Hot Cocoa, and my favorite - Mint M&Ms.  I buy bags of these during the holidays.

These are super easy to make, and the only bad thing about this recipe is that it doesn't make very much. :(  I guess I will just have to make more.....

Ingredients:
2 boxes (4.67 oz) Andes Creme de Menthe Thins
5 cups Rice Chex cereal
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
4 teaspoons sprinkles, optional  (I used 2 each of red and green)

Directions:
Add powdered sugar and sprinkles together in a gallon-size plastic bag.  Mix together.

In a large bowl, measure out the Rice Chex.

Unwrap and place all the mints into a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave for 1 minute, and then in 15 second intervals until you can stir it smooth.

Pour the chocolate over the cereal, mixing until cereal is evenly coated.  Add cereal to the bag with the sugar, and shake until covered.

Enjoy!

Reese's Popcorn Munch

I started making some of my Super Bowl treats already, so I don't have as much to do tomorrow. :)  This Reese's popcorn is something I have been wanting to try for awhile, and I decided this would be the perfect opportunity!

I made my boys stay out of it because "it's for tomorrow", but I had to try a little - just to make sure it was good. ;)

Yep.  It's good.  Very, very good! I think chocolate and peanut butter are my new favorite things on popcorn.  Yummy! Who knew?  Oh, you did?  Well thanks for telling me.  haha :)   

 

Recipe adapted from Inside BruCrew Life

Ingredients:

10 cups popped popcorn

1 1/2 cups Reese's Unwrapped Minis, chopped in half



2 cups Reese's Puffs cereal
1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk)
1/2 cup Reese's peanut butter chips
2 tsp shortening, divided
1 cup Reese's Pieces candies

Directions:
Mix popcorn, mini cups and cereal  together and spread on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 tsp shortening and chocolate chips.  Heat for 30 seconds and stir, continuing until melted and smooth.  Drizzle over popcorn mixture.

Sprinkle with Reese's Pieces candies.

Heat peanut butter chips the same way you did the chocolate chips, using the remaining 1 tsp of shortening.  Drizzle over popcorn.

Let sit in refrigerator for a few minutes until cooled and set.

Break into chunks, and enjoy!!

Holiday Popcorn

If you are looking for an easy treat to make with the kids or for a party - look no further - these are my new absolute favorite treat!  There are peanuts, and chocolate all covered in a marshamallowy goo. Yumm-o!

And you know what the best thing about these little goodies is?  You can make them for any holiday!  Red and green at Christmas, Reese's Pieces or fall colored M&M's - you could even put candy corn it it.  (Just a suggestion.)  The possibilities are endless...

I am dying to try Raisinettes in it next time! 

Adapted from Taste of Home

Ingredients:

6 quarts of popped popcorn (about 1 cup unpopped)

1 jar (16 oz) dry roasted peanuts

1 pkg (16 oz) M&M's candy

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup canola oil

1 pkg (16 oz) miniature marshmallows

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix popcorn, peanuts and M&M's in a very large mixing bowl.

Cook marshmallows, butter and oil in large saucepan over medium heat until marshmallows are melted.  Remove from heat, add vanilla and stir.

Pour melted marshmallows over popcorn mixture and mix until evenly coated.  Press into two 9x13" pans.  Let stand until set, about 1-2 hours.

Cut into bars and enjoy!  Since there are 2 pans, you can even give one away & keep one for yourself! Bonus! :)

 

Strawberry Krispie Treats

One of my favorite things is Rice Krispies Treats, so when I came across these little strawberry HeartMallows I got a little excited.

I have to admit though, the strawberry flavor wasn't as strong as I would have liked, so I would maybe add some flavoring in next time.  They do have a pretty pinkness though. :)

I covered them in chocolate and sprinkles, and I tried cutting them with heart-shaped cookie cutters, but they weren't turning out so good, so I just cut the rest square.  I'm sure that they taste just as good. :)

I am pretty sure everyone knows how to make these, but since it's a recipe blog - I will post the entire recipe:

Ingredients:
6 c crispy rice cereal
1/4 c margarine
1/8 tsp strawberry flavoring (optional)
Strawberry HeartMallows (I used the whole bag, about 5 cups)
1-2 c chocolate chips
2 TBS shortening
sprinkles


Directions:
Measure out cereal into a large mixing bowl.  Melt margarine and stir in marshmallows 1 c at a time until melted.  Pour over cereal, stir until combined.  Press into greased 9x13 baking dish.

Place chocolate chips and shortening in microwave safe dish, and cook 2-3 minutes until melted.  Stir until smooth and pour over cereal and marshmallows.  Add sprinkles and allow to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Bon Bons

#22

 

On the 22nd day of Christmas treats I give you - Chocolate Bon Bons! I love these!  Just the name alone, makes me think I'm indulging myself. (Which I totally am!) 
This is another recipe from my childhood, and I must say - one of my very favorites!

*This makes a LOT so you might want to half the recipe - or just give some away. :)

Ingredients:
1 c margarine, melted
1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
2 c chopped nuts (I use walnuts)
2 lb bag of powdered sugar
2 c flaked coconut

24 oz chocolate chips
4 TBS shortening

Directions:
In large bowl, mix together margarine, milk, nuts, powdered sugar and coconut.  Put in refrigerator and chill overnight. 

Form dough into balls about the size of a walnut.

Melt chocolate chips and shortening in the top of a double boiler over hot (not boiling) water. You can melt the chocolate in a microwave, too.  Stir every 30 seconds to 1 minute, until completely melted and then reheat when it starts to cool.

Dip dough balls into chocolate using a fork.  Drop on wax paper to cool and set.

I like to keep the Bon Bons in the refrigerator, because I think they taste good cold, but you don't need to.

Hope you like them!

Microwave Peanut Brittle

#11

 

 On the 11th day of our Christmas treats.......Microwave Peanut Brittle!!!

 

I was so excited when I found this recipe!  EASY and FAST!!  However, make with caution!  It is very easy to burn.  Every microwave is different even ones with the same wattage.  Make sure you use a GLASS microwavable dish and a wooden spoon.  And be prepared, you will need to work fast!  You will have to play with this recipe to figure it out.  But EVERYONE says it is the best peanut brittle recipe ever!  One person called it “crack candy” so good and so addictive!!  

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup salted peanuts

1 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Butter a cookie sheet (or use parchment paper for easier clean up). Combine sugar and corn syrup in a 2 quart glass bowl and microwave (800watts) on high 4 minutes. Stir in peanuts and microwave on high 3 1/2 minutes more, then stir in butter and vanilla and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes. 

Quickly stir in baking soda until light and foamy. Pour onto cookie sheet with a spatula sprayed with Pam, and spread thin. Cool completely and break into pieces and serve. 

If your microwave has a higher wattage cut the cooking time by 30 seconds.

But just in case you don't want to risk making the Microwave Peanut Brittle, here is a regular recipe too!

Really both of these are SUPER YUMMY!!!

Best Peanut Brittle

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup water

1 cup peanuts

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

Grease a large cookie sheet. Set aside.

In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place, and continue cooking. Stir frequently until temperature reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), or until a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard and brittle threads.

Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter and baking soda; pour at once onto cookie sheet. With 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into rectangle about 14x12 inches; cool. Snap candy into pieces.

Caramel Corn

#4

On the fourth day of Christmas treats I give to you - Caramel Corn! I get requests for this every year, and one of the reasons I love this recipe so much is because it stays gooey and doesn't harden.  There is nothing worse than having to chip off a bunch of hardened caramel corn, and having it crumble all over.

This recipe does make a TON - and I usually have to stir it in a large plastic toy bin! (Washed out, of course.) haha :)

I recently made this for my kids' school carnival bake sale. 

Didn't these turn out so cute? I would buy them! ;)

Ingredients:

2 c popcorn kernels (makes 32 c popped)

2 2/3 c light brown sugar

1 c white corn syrup

1/2 c butter (1 stick)

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

Instructions:

Pop 2 c popcorn kernels in an air popper, and place in large bowl - or toy bin. ;) Remove the unpopped seeds as you go, so no one chips a tooth later.

In large saucepan, heat brown sugar and corn syrup.  Bring to a good boil.

Add butter and sweetened condensed milk.  Cook slowly until soft ball stage. It takes a loooong time, sorry - but it's totally worth it!  

(In case anyone might not know what a "soft ball stage" is, the easiest way to do this is drip a tiny bit into a glass of cool water - then pull it out and squish it between your fingers, if it is sticky at all, it's not done yet.  It should kind of spring back and stay in a little ball shape.)

After caramel is all nice and ready, coat popcorn and stir evenly. 

Here is another way I like to do it:

Chocolate covered, anyone??? I think YES!

EXPLOSION BARS

My boys call these explosion bars, because they have everything you can imagine in them! They are soooo delicious - truly better than a candy bar!

Ingredients:

1 tube refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
4 s'mores granola bars, chopped
1 pkg. butterscotch chips
2 1/2 c mini marshmallows
1 c walnuts, chopped
1 1/2 c mini pretzels
1 pkg. peanut butter chips
3/4 c light corn syrup
1/4 c butter, melted
1 pkg. milk chocolate chips

Directions:

Let dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften.  In a large bowl, combine dough and granola bars.  Press into ungreased 13x9 in. baking dish.  Bake, uncovered at 350* for 10-12 min. or until golden brown.

Sprinkle with butterscotch chips and marshmallows.  Bake 3-4 min. longer or until marshmallows begin to brown.  Sprinkle with walnuts; arrange pretzels over the top.  In a small saucepan, melt the peanut butter chips, corn syrup and butter; spoon over bars.

In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth.  Spread or drizzle over bars.  Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm before cutting.

Enjoy!