{Candy} Graduation Hats

WOW, what a difference a year makes. I can't believe my little girls just finished their first year of college. These were such a cute treat for my girls High School Graduation party last year. I just never got around to posting them, so for all you moms out there with graduates this year, ENJOY!

The cookies in the photo are delicious too, see recipe here.

The party was fantastic and the dessert bar, oh MY! It was a big hit and I would recommend anyone doing this for anytime of big party.

Of course we served up some of our favorite cupcakes of all-time
Pineapple Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting

I saw many versions of this and still went out to create my own yet another completly different version that was quick and easy.

Graduation Candy Hats
created by me; inspired by Taste of Home

24 miniature peanut butter cups (freeze overnight)
24 Dove (freeze overnight)
24 mini-chocolate M&M candy pieces (chocie of color)
1 pkg sour straw candy
Melting Chocolate (to use for the glue)

Remove candy from the freezer and upwrap all candy and place upside down on waxed paper. Melt chocolate metling candy in microwave to use for the glue to put hats together. Cut the candy rope/straw sour candy into thin strips for the tassel. With a tooth pick dip into the melted chocolate and then place the tassel onto the top of the hat and the M&M on top of each candy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs {Copy Cat Recipe}

This is my all time FAVORITE store-bought Easter candy and now that I can make it at home, that's even better. These are so delicious, and last year when I made them I took them to the hospital nurses of my niece and they too fell in love. I know these will be an annual treat in my kids Easter baskets from now on... Fresh and NOT store-bought.

The little extra crunch in the chunky peanut butter is heaven and we just love love any peanut butter candy. (I need to work on my egg-shaping skills, but other then looks these taste A-MAZ-ING)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs
adapted by me, recipe found at The Whimiscal Princess

4 cups powdered sugar

1-1/2 cups Creamy Peanut butter (we use chunky, and I love it)
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 to 3 tbsp milk
3 cups chocolate melting chips (we make two batches, one milk and one white chocolate)

Mix together the powdered sugar, peanut butter, and butter. Add the milk one tablespoon at a time until it becomes a nice workable dough, it will be crumbly (but when you squeeze the batter together it will form up). It will be just like play dough, it will be really easy to work with. Form the dough into egg shapes, and place in the refrigerator for about an hour or more.

Place the melting chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave 40 seconds at a time stirring in between until completely melted.

Dip each egg in the melted chocolate and place on waxed paper until set. You can use a toothpick, a fork or a skewer, whatever you are comfortable with or whatever works best to get the excess of the chocolate off after dipping. With the left over chocolate use a fork and go back and forth across to make the fancy swirls on top of the eggs. We do chocolate on white and white on chocolate. 

Let them set up on the wax paper in the refrigerator (freezer tends to crack them, so to avoid that use refrigerator or room temperature to let them set up. Enjoy your homemade Easter treat.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Marshmallows

 The Valentine's Day strawberry marshmallows that are out in stores are so cute, I just can't help myself every time I pass by them in the grocery store I want to pick up a bag. I've already made a few fun things, check out these SUPER DUPER CUTE Chocolate Chip Cookies with Heart Marshmallows and last year these Heart Brownie Bites.

I had planned out an entire PINK Baby Shower using lots of pink, lots of hearts and lots of awesome ideas with these heart marshmallows, including the cutest dessert bar ever.

But, today I wanted to share this cute gift idea for a great Valentine's Day treat. These are a simple treat all you need to do is just dip the marshmallows in some of your favorite melting chocolate, decorate and bam a super cute Valentine's gift. Have your kids give them away to special friends or teachers or make them for your co-workers, either way they are sure to make someone smile.

TIP #1: When buying lots of holiday M&M's I've got lots of tips and tricks for saving them up and separating the colors. Whenever there are holiday M&M's out in the stores, I gather up my coupons (usually stocking up the day after for the half price sale) and using coupons and getting them at half price they are a steal. I bring them all home and separate the colors into baggies (this is WAY cheaper then buying M&M's buy the color at a store or online). I then store them in their separate baggies in my baking cupboard until an event takes place. I've used the red for a sports party, the pink for a PINK Baby Shower and the list goes on and on. I love having all the colors of the rainbow at my finger tips and whenever my hubby and I go to the movies our favorite thing is M&M's and popcorn. I can just grab a colored baggie and throw them in my purse (totally beats paying $4 bucks at the theatre for a small box).

TIP #2: Melting Chocolate. When you are finished using melting chocolate and you have some left overs, it's very easy to just re-harden in small disks and re-use later. I take all the left over melting chocolate and drop in small spoonfuls on wax paper. Let re-harden over night and then store in a baggie until you need to remelt and reuse for another project.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Marshmallow
original idea spotted on Pinterest from Monster Mama

Strawberry Marshmallows
Melting Chocolate
White Melting Chocolate
Valentine's Day M&M's

Melt your milk chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Using a toothpick dip each heart marshmallow in the chocolate until it's completely covered. Lay out on wax paper and immediately set a Valentine's colored M&M on the center. Let dry. Melt a few melting chips of white chocolate into a small ziploc baggie, in the microwave. Once melted cut off a small corner and then decorate. I slid the marshmallows onto a skewer before placing into a long baggie, but this is not necessary. Tie with a cute bow and deliver.

Christmas NERD Frosting Fudge {12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES}

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES

Christmas NERD Frosting Fudge

We started making this fudge last year with our Peppermint Crunch Frosting Fudge and it's my favorite fudge to make and with SO MANY combinations, here is a sneak peak of all my fudge recipes. It's easy, it's simple, it's amazing and it's super duper delicious. What more could you ask for in a FUDGE ?!?! And if you or your kids LOVE NERDS, this fudge is out of this world.

Christmas NERD Frosting Fudge

recipe adapted by me , but found at Cookies & Cups

1 can of Vanilla Frosting (16 oz)
1 (12 oz) bag white chocolate chips, or 1 lb White Melting Chips
1 large box Christmas NERDS

Lay down wax paper in a 9×9 or 8×8 pan, depending on the thickness you desire for your fudge. Melt you chips in the microwave, as soon as they are melted, stir in your entire can of frosting. Once combined fold in your candy. Spread into prepared pan and chill for 30 minutes. When firm, cut into squares. Serve or store in an air tight container.

Nutter Butter Truffles {12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES}

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS GOODIES

Nutter Butter Truffles

We love peanut butter and my step-son's favorite treat are Peanut Butter Krispies. When I saw this recipe using Nutter Butter Truffles and I just happen to have some extra Nutter Butters in the pantry from another recipe, I knew this would be a great recipe to try. If you love Peanut Butter and you love Nutter Butters.. then this recipe is for YOU! Happy Holiday Baking.

Nutter Butter Truffles
found at What Megan's Making, looks like original recipe is from Kraft Foods

1 pkg Nutter Butter Cookies
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
white chocolate melting chocolate
peanut butter for drizzling
white chocolate for drizzling

Crush nutter butters in food processor. Combine crushed cookies and softened cream cheese in a large bowl (your hands work best for this). Roll into small balls. Melt white chocolate in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Using a toothpick, dip the nutter butter balls into the chocolate, letting the excess chocolate drip off. Set the truffles on waxed paper to cool.

Microwave a little bit of white chocolate and peanut butter together (adjust amounts to taste - you don't need much). Use a spoon to drizzle the peanut butter chocolate on top of the truffles. Store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to eat or give away.

Caramel Nilla Wafers {THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky Party #105}

It's our weekly LINKY PARTY {THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS}, where we'd love to see what you've been cooking this week. YOU are invited to come link up your favorite recipes. We've opened up our linky party to anyone who wants to link up. NO RULES, NO REQUIREMENTS, JUST LINK! I am sharing with you today a very cool little candy treat, Caramel Nilla Wafers. I actually made this treat last year for the first time and never got the chance to share it with you. But, it's here now and just in time for you to make for Halloween or pin this recipe for Thanksgiving. It's perfect for BOTH!

My son is 13 years old now, my twins are away at college and I am afraid this mommy may just be seeing the last trick-or-treater in my house this year. He is still on the fence if he will trick-or-treat or not, so the jury is still out.  Here is one of my favorite pictures of my twins, their BFF's and my adopted kids (the triplets) and the LITTLE BOY from a few years back, my girls were always troopers and dressed up every year from when they were born until Senior Year of High School, my son not so much.

Caramel Nilla Wafers
recipe found in Kraft Foods Magazine (Holiday 2011)

18 Nilla Wafers
8 (or more) Kraft caramels (or other melted caramel that will harden)
melting chocolate (white or milk)
almonds, pecans or Hershey Kisses

Place nilla wafers, bottom-side up on a baking sheet. Microwave caramels until melted (about 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds). Let caramel stand about 1 minute, then spoon about 1 tsp of melted caramel onto each wafer; top with pecan, almond or Kisses. Melt about 1/4 cup of white chocolate (or milk) and drizzle over wafers.

THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS has changed, you can now link up ANY recipe you'd like. Come one, Come all. NO rules, NO requirements, just link up any recipes (or food related craft items) and hop around to visit all the great recipes.

If you are a regular to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS Linky party, then link-up we're excited to see what you made this week. We are no longer sticking with ONE theme, so just link up any of your favorite recipes.

<a href=" http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/THIS%20WEEKS%20CRAVINGS" target="_blank "><img src="http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k498/Hudgens6/Buttons/ThisWeeksCravingsButton.jpg" /></a>

Your hostess for this linky arty are: Tina from MOMS CRAZY COOKING, Nicole from The Daily Dish and Kristi from Veggie Converter.

THE LINKY PARTY is opened ALL Week, come back and link up as many times as you wish, we can't wait to see all your fun and new recipes you made this week!

Pretzel Kisses {Pumpkin Spice}

It's Homecoming Weekend at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri and I am here with my girls to hang out for the weekend. I am so happy that even though they are 1837 miles away I still get to come visit and enjoy their college experience with them. So, BLESSED!

Here is a FUN treat for the Holiday Season. Make these ahead of time for a party and they are a great snack or just make some up and baggie them up for a Holiday gift for friends and family.

Pretzel Kisses
found on Cookies & Cups

2 bags of Hershey’s Kisses (we used Hugs & Pumpkin Spice)
1 bag of Pretzel Snaps
Big baking sheet
Waxed paper – for easy removal

Preheat oven to 300. Unwrap Kisses (this is the hardest part, hehe). Line baking sheet with waxed paper, this will ease the mess or use a non-stick baking pan (that's what I did and it worked fine)

Lay one pretzel down and top with a Kisses. Pop in the oven for 2 min, just until they are glossy and softish. Remove from oven and let sit for 1 more minute, to continue the softening process. (Just watch them if you leave in the oven too long they will completely melt and run through the pretzel). Now top each Kisses with another pretzel pushing down gently, so it sticks together

I pop the baking sheet in the freezer for a few minutes to cool them off, or leave on the counter to cool.

White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix

I was making up a few goodies for a Fundraiser-Bake Sale and came across this recipe. I knew I had some Chex Mix cereal (that my girls have now decided they don't like), this was the perfect recipe to turn that unwanted cereal into a delicious treat! Of course, everyone loved it once I put a little chocolate with it.

White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix
found recipe on Cooking with K

1 lb white chocolate melts
6 cups Chex cereal (any kind or mix a few together, we used rice and corn)
Chopped Pieces of Orange Chocolate
1 to 2 tsp Pumpkin Spice
16 oz. M&M'S Peanut Butter Chocolate Candies, or Peanut Chocolate Candies, or Plain Chocolate

In a medium microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute intervals, until completely melted; set aside. In a large bowl, add cereal, chocolate pieces, and M&Ms. Pour melted chocolate over the cereal mixture. Using a large spatula to mix and coat all the chex mix. Once all the mixture is coated real well with the chocolate, pour out onto a table lined with waxed paper. Once cooled, break up into piece and store in an air tight container.

Pumpkin Spice Fudge

I hope you are enjoy these delicious Pumpkin recipes, it's that time of year.

Since I am away (in Missouri) this week again, I've been able to schedule some awesome

posts for you 'all. Stayed tuned each day for some new treats.

 

Pumpkin Spice Fudge
recipe found over at Aunt Peg's Recipe Box

2 cups sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

3/4 cups butter

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1-1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 (12 oz) pkg white chocolate chips (or white chocolate melting chips)

1 (7 oz) jar Marshmallow creme

1 cup chopped pecans 

1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Butter a 9 x 13 baking dish or line with parchment paper. Combine sugar, brown sugar, butter, evaporated milk, pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice in a heavy saucepan: cook over medium heat until the sugars dissolve, then continue cooking until the mixture begins to boil, stirring constantly. Boil until a candy thermometer reaches the the soft-ball stage (234 ~ 243 degrees).

Remove from heat, stir in the white chips until they are all melted and mixture is smooth. Add in the marshmallow creme, pecans and vanilla, mix well. Pour into prepared pan, and cool to room temperature. Cut into squares, store refrigerated in an air tight container.

Gooey Trail Mix {Nestle Toll House Morsels}

This recipe is for sure GOOEY and for sure DELICIOUS. It's a very tasty {but} gooey candy Trail Mix. It's simple, it's versatile, it's easy to customize to your liking and it's SO good you can not stop eating it.

You can make it with almost any kind of cereal, you can add in pretzels, switch up the nuts to your favorite kind, if you don't like coconut leave it out and you can pick any kind of Nestle Toll House Morsels to add into your trail mix.  We choose this awesome Nestle Toll House Morsel mix of Peanut Butter Chips and Chocolate Chips and a bag of Nestle Toll House Mini Chocolate Chips, what an easy way to give it that peanut butter and chocolate flavor all in one.

We had so much fun in the kitchen cooking away and creating recipes. My twin daughters are off to college so with the help of one of their friends and my son, we had a blast cooking, baking and of course lots of taste testing. We started our day at 7:30 am apple and raspberry picking and then we came home to bake the night away. We made so many recipes the kitchen look like it exploded at one time. We not only created this delicious Gooey Trail Mix, but we baked a few apple pies, we made homemade raspberry muffins, a caramel apple cupcake and birthday cupcakes for my twins, then we added in banana bread for another blog post I need to get done before I left on vacation and well when it came dinner time we had so many sweets, we had to find some left overs in the refrigerator to eat. It was SUCH a fabulous day and so many amazing things came out of the kitchen yesterday, that I can tell you it was a blast and we can wait to get together again soon. This CRAZY mom was still going strong when the kids checked out.

Gooey Candy Trail Mix

2 (12 oz) boxes of your favorite cereal
1 (7 oz) bag shredded coconut
4 to 6 oz of your favorite nuts (we used peanuts)
1-1/2 cups butter (yep, that is 3 whole sticks of butter)
2 cups sugar
2 cups corn syrup
1 tbsp Sea Salt (optional)
2 bags Nestle Toll House Morsels (any flavor, we used Peanut Butter & Chocolate and Mini)

Combine cereal, coconut and nuts in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine.

In a large sauce pan, cook butter, sugar and corn syrup to a soft ball stage, this is best with a candy thermometer, cook until about 234 degrees. Pour the syrup mixture over cereal mixture and stir until all is well coated. Then wait until mixture has cooled down a bit before adding in chocolate chips, you don't want them to melt. Then add in one bag of the chocolate chips and fold in carefully.

Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper and pour out mixture flat, add the second bag (the mini morsels at this time on top of the flat mixture), then let cool. Stir it around occasionally to prevent clumping. Store in an airtight container.

This post is sponsored by Nestlé® Toll House® Morsels, the perfect special ingredient for all of your family’s favorite treats!

Cake Batter Rice Krispy Treats

Here is just a simple but delicious way to transform the already yummy rice krispy treats we've made for years. I think I will need to whip up a batch of these for our 3-week motorhome trip, coming soon.

Cake Batter Rice Krispy Treats

original recipe with a twist

4 tbsp butter

1 (12 oz) bag of mini marshmallows or 1 jar marshmallow creme

1/4 cup cake mix

6 cups rice krispies cereal

1 (small) container of sprinkles

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows or creme. Stir until they begin to melt, adding in cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Sprinkle in half of the sprinkles and mix. Lay mixture into a 9x13 greased pan lined with wax paper. Sprinkle the remaining sprinkles on top and press into mixture. Cut and Serve, the extra kick of cake batter really adds to the flavor. YUM!

Peanut Butter Krispies

These are my step-sons all time favorite favorite dessert. This dessert was found so many years ago, I can't even tell you it's original origin (sorry), but I do know my step-son would love if I mailed him a box of these every week. I may just have to surprise him one day and ship off a box from California to Texas, the next time I am in the baking mood. I did however make an entire double batch for his 21st birthday in May (I know I am just NOW finally posting about this, LIFE IS BUSY!).

I have made these several times (as you can see). First photo was yellow and black chocolate with colored chocolate drizzle for my daughters graduation party, second batch for my step-son's 21st birthday celebration in Las Vegas and the last batch was just for fun! That picture was taken a few years ago when we first discovered this awesome recipe!

We drove from California to Las Vegas, Nevada and he flew there from Plano, Texas. We had a great time celebrating and hanging out with him, just my husband and I. We ate lots of delicious food, tried a few fun new drinks with the newbie and enjoyed downtown, the strip and the Blue Man Group which was a very good show. Kids grow up way to fast, I tell ya! And I am feeling WAY TO OLD to have a 21 year old step-son, two almost 19 year old twin daughters leaving for college in 24 days, and my little man who is now 13 years old! OH MY!

Peanut Butter Krispies
original source unknown

2 cups Rice Krispy Cereal
18 oz (approx 2-1/4 cups) Peanut Butter (we like to use crunchy)
1-1/2 cups Powered Sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
Milk or White Chocolate Melts (or any kind of chocolate melts)
extra toppings (peanuts, white chocolate or chocolate mixed with peanut butter)

Mix all ingredients together (this is best done with gloves). Once all mixture is completely mixed, roll into balls or use a melon scoop to make into small round balls. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 40 second increments, until melted. Krispy balls can then be dipped into the melted chocolate and set onto wax paper to dry. Depending on what kind of topping you'd like you may need to add the topping now while the chocolate is still wet (ie crushed peanuts or sprinkles of any kind). If you want to drizzle with peanut butter chocolate, mix 1 tbsp peanut butter with 1/2 cup or more of white chocolate until desired consistency, you need to be able to drizzle. Or if you want just a plain colored chocolate, melt and drizzle.

Here was the awesome candy bar I made for my twins high school graduation party, complete with Peanut Butter Krispies included and my adorable little nephew who couldn't keep his hands off the candy bar. Gotta Love 'em, so dang CUTE! I will be posting all the recipes we made just as soon as I possibly can, but the count down is here and now, 24 days until our 3 week driving vacation to take my girls from California to Missouri via our motorhome. AH, the days are going by so fast.