Thursday, December 29, 2011

Mini S'mores Cups

Mini S'mores Cups
Anything with the word "mini" just sounds yummy to me!

Most s'mores recipes call for Hershey's bars but I decided to use what I had on hand. Nestle Crunch bars it was and worked beautifully! I had the snack size and broke them in half.
Preheat oven to 350. Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter in small bowl. Spoon one tablespoon of crumb mixture in each cup of a mini cupcake pan. Press crumbs with spoon or fingers
to form shallow cups . Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling.

Top with chocolate bar or in my case, Nestle Crunch. :)

Next, use mini marshmallows (as pictured) or regular size marshmallows and cut in half.
Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from oven to
cooling rack; cool 15 minutes.

Aren't they cute?
You could also drizzle chocolate on top!

Ingredients:
7 whole graham crackers (1 cup finely crushed)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
6 tbsp butter, melted
4 bars milk chocolate candy, divided
12 large marshmallows

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Place graham crackers into a large resealable
plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs. Combine graham cracker crumbs,
powdered sugar and butter in small bowl. Spoon one tablespoon of crumb
mixture in each cup of a mini cupcake pan. Press crumbs with spoon or fingers
to form shallow cups . Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Meanwhile,
break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven; place
one rectangle into each cup.
Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using kitchen shears dipped in cold water.
Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven 1-2
minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from oven to
cooling rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from pan. Cool
completely.
Break remaining candy bars and place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave
on HIGH 1 minute-1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 20
seconds. Dip the top of each marshmallow in melted chocolate. Turn top-side
up and let stand 40 minutes-1 hour or until set.

Source: Pampered Chef

Friday, December 23, 2011

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

This is my mom's recipe and I have so many fond memories of it. She would only make it for Christmas. I would beg her all year long to make them but nope, only Christmas. As an adult, it is not Christmas without my mom's Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles. I have had other variations but never like this. My mom always added raisins and coconut to them. My husband isn't a fan of coconut but there isn't a lot, just enough. He actually LOVES them!
Ingredients (FULL recipe, makes approx 50 truffles if using tsp scoop):
2 cups peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) *I always use crunchy
2 cups powdered sugar
1 stick of melted butter
2 tbsp vanilla
chocolate bark
1 cup coconut
1 cup raisins

NOTE: It makes a lot!!! I made these for just my family so I halved the ingredients (1 cup pb, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 stick butter, etc). If you half the recipe, you'll end up with approx 28 truffles. I used a teaspoon size scoop to make shape them. I always want to feel like I'm getting more than I am. :)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients (except the chocolate bark) and form into balls. I find it easier to work with if I put them in the freezer or fridge for 30 minutes or so.
Dip them into the chocolate. I know I said this in an earlier recipe but I melt 3 blocks of chocolate bark at a time (30 second intervals). It is the perfect consistency for dipping and I can dip enough before it starts to harden. I don't want to waste my chocolate! :)
I store them in the fridge because we just like them cold but they are just as delicious room temperature. The raisins and coconut make this! Promise!
Now it feels like Christmas!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Make Your Own Thin Mints

I was a little hesitant to use Ritz Crackers but the result was delicious!!!

Two ingredients--how about that!

Ritz Crackers
Andes Mint Baking Chips

Melt 1/4 of the bag at a time. It keeps it at the perfect consistency and you can use just enough before it thickens.

Dip the crackers and let dry.

My husband and kids were impressed. YUMMY!

linking: tatertots and jello, too much time on my hands