Recipes for Making Your Own Delicious Chocolate Candies

Impress your family and friends with homemade candies. With everything from Peppermint Bark to No-Fail Dark Chocolate Fudge, these candies are easy and delicious. And thinking ahead to the holidays, try these recipes now and decide which will be your go-to holiday candy recipes. The Peppermint Bark is a tasty year-round candy but would be an especially good holiday candy and gift. The Marshmallow Truffles are so easy and fun to let the kids roll in colored candies to decorate. Change the colors of the decorative candies to represent whatever holiday is being celebrated. For the fudge lovers, this is one of the easiest, tastiest recipes.

PEPPERMINT CANDY MARBLE BARK CANDY
6 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
6 squares white baking chocolate
1 cup crushed peppermint candies* (about 50 round peppermint candies)

Put semi-sweet baking chocolate in a microwave proof bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes or until almost melted, stirring after a minute. Stir to melt completely.

Repeat the above process with the white baking chocolate.

Stir 1/2 cup of the crushed peppermint candy into each bowl.

Line a cookie sheet that has sides with waxed paper. Alternately spoon the two bowls of chocolates onto the waxed paper. With a butter knife, swirl chocolates together to create a marble effect. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

This makes about 1 pound of candy.

*To crush peppermint candies, place candies in a zip-top plastic bag. Crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Or you could process in a food processor using pulsing action.

SO EASY MARSHMALLOW TRUFFLES
1 pkg (10-oz) large marshmallows
1 pkg (12-oz) chocolate chips
toasted coconut
various decorative candies (from the cake decorating section)

Arrange the marshmallows on a cookie sheet; freeze for 15 minutes.

Put chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl and cook in microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes or until melted. Stir every minute.

Remove marshmallows from freezer and using a wooden skewer dip each marshmallow in the chocolate mixture until the marshmallow is completely coated. Remove the skewer.

Have some toasted coconut in a small bowl, some decorative candies in other small bowls. Roll each chocolate coated marshmallow in one of the bowl to coat. Use a fork to transfer the coated marshmallow to a waxed paper lined cookie sheet or trays. Chill or keep in a cool and dry place.

Yield: 3 to 3 1/2 dozen truffles

NO-FAIL DARK CHOCOLATE FUDGE
1 can (14-oz)Sweetened condensed milk
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
dash of salt, optional
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a heavy saucepan melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk and salt, over low heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla extract. Spread the candy into an aluminum foil lined 8-inch square pan. Chill until firm, approximately 2 hours. Turn the fudge out onto a cutting surface, peel off the foil and cut into squares. Cover loosely and store at room temperature.

Yield: Approximately 2 lbs

Enjoy!

Original article

Enjoy These Delicious Chocolate Recipes: Cookie Bars, Turtle Pie, Pinto Bean Fudge

For all you chocoholics, here are some yummy chocolate recipes. From Double Chocolate Cookie Bars made with an Oreo cookie crust to Chocolate Turtle Pie to Chocolate Fudge with a surprise ingredient of pinto beans, you will love these chocolate treats.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE BARS
2 cups Oreo-type cookies, finely crushed*
1/2 stick butter, melted
2 cups (12-oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can (14-oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter until well mixed. Press onto the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking pan.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk. Stir in the vanilla. Pour this chocolate mixture evenly over the crust in the pan. Sprinkle the remaining cup of chocolate chips and the chopped pecans over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until set. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into 24 large bars or 36 smaller bars.

These bars are good at room temperature or chilled.

CHOCOLATE TURTLE PIE
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1 prepared graham cracker crust
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 pkgs (4-serving size)chocolate cook and serve pudding & pie filling
3 cups milk
whipped cream, for garnish

Spread the caramel topping over the bottom of the crust. Sprinkle the pecans over the caramel. Refrigerate.

In a saucepan, stir the pudding mix into the milk. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir twice during cooling. Pour into the crust and place plastic wrap on the surface of the filling. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until set. Before serving garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

PINTO BEAN CHOCOLATE FUDGE
1 can (15-oz) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
7 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts

Place the beans in a microwave-safe dish and mash with a fork until smooth. Cover the dish and heat in microwave 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Remove dish from microwave. Add the cocoa powder, butter, and vanilla. This will make a thick mixture. Slowly stir in the confectioners' sugar. Stir in the nuts. Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate until firm.

Yield: 3 1/2 pounds

Note: The pinto beans replace some of the butter normally used to make fudge. This fudge is creamy and the walnuts add crunch. No one will believe you made this fudge with beans!

Enjoy!

Original article

Delicious Chocolate Recipes - Truffle Cookies, Frosting Made From Chips, Pudding Pie in Crumb Crust

We chocoholics, and yes there are millions of us out there, are constantly looking for another delicious chocolate recipe! This article is all about chocolate with recipes from Chocolate Truffle Cookies to Frosting Made From Chocolate Chips to a Chocolate Pudding Pie in a Crumb Crust. Chocoholics are going to love these chocolate goodies!

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE COOKIES
1 1/4 cups butter, softened
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa powder
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chocolate sprinkles

In mixer bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and cocoa until light and fluffy. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla extract. Add the flour and mix in well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls; dip in the chocolate sprinkles. Place the balls, dipped side up, on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2-inches apart. Bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.

Yield: 5 to 6 dozen

NOTE: These make great Fall and/or Halloween cookies when you use the chocolate and orange sprinkles.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING FROM CHOCOLATE CHIPS
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Combine the chocolate chips and butter. Melt in the microwave until chips are melted enough to make mixture smooth when stirred. (Or cook over hot water until melted.) Remove from heat or microwave. Mix in the vanilla and add the salt. Beat in the sifted (important to eliminate lumps) powdered sugar alternately with the milk until of a spreading consistency.

Use this delicious frosting to top off your favorite chocolate, vanilla, marble, etc cake!

CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Chocolate Cookie Crumb Crust:
1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted

Mix the cookie crumbs and the melted butter together. Reserve a couple of tablespoonfuls for garnish. Press mixture firmly and evenly against the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate to form a crust. Place in the 350 degree oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Filling:
1 envelope (approx 2-oz)dessert topping mix
1 pkg (4 serving size) instant chocolate pudding and pie filling mix
1 4/5 cups cold milk
6 to 8 nice pecan halves, for garnish

Prepare the dessert topping mix according to the package directions; set aside.

Prepare the pudding mix as directed on the package using the 1 3/4 cups of cold milk. Gently fold 1 1/2 cups of the prepared topping into the pudding, blending together well. Pour the pie filling into the cooled crust. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate about 4 hours or until set. Before serving, pile the remaining topping into the center of the pie and sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture over the top. Place the pecan halves out from the topping in spoke fashion for garnish, if desired.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/
For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article

One of Most Delicious Coconut Chocolates in the World - Bounty Bar Chocolate

Chocolates are considered to be the most scrumptious snacks when it comes to sweets. There would be no one, who wouldn't love chocolates. Some of these chocolates are completely made up of cocoa beans and some of them come with different fillings in them as well, such as orange, coconut, banana and caramel fillings. These chocolates have made their own place amongst people and are always in demand, as many people cannot eat pure chocolates because of their slightly bitter nature. Mars Incorporated was the first company, which introduced the coconut chocolate, named as Bounty Bar Chocolate.

Introduced in the year 1951, these coconut filled chocolates became an instant hit and people thronged to buy these immensely delicious chocolate bars. Bounty bar chocolate basically has a coconut filling, which is made by crushing coconut into very small pieces and mixing it with dark chocolate. Another bar with milk chocolate coating is also produced. It comes in a blue wrapper, whereas the dark chocolate comes in a white wrapper. In beginning, cherry and mango flavored bounty chocolates were also introduced but these could not match the popularity of coconut filled dark bounty chocolate.

What makes this chocolate very desirable is the combination. Coconut, when mixed with dark chocolate gives a very succulent and tender taste to the chocolate, which instantly melts into the mouth when eaten. The chocolate with the coconut filling serves as a good appetizer and can be used as a lunch snack. Bounty bar chocolate needs to be eaten straight out of the refrigerator. If you keep it out of the fridge for some time and then eat it, you won't be able to enjoy the flavor completely. So, it is important to make sure that these chocolates were kept in a fridge while you are buying them. If you are buying them in a stock, keep them stored in a refrigerator, so you get to enjoy the real taste of these every time you get one out to eat.

A normal Bounty bar chocolates pack has two mini chocolate bars, each 6 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. The palm trees printed over the wrapper make you feel like you are near a beach full of coconut trees. One mini bar seems to be too short to enjoy the taste fully, but there is another mini bar to follow. If you haven not eaten this chocolate, you definitely should try this heavenly treat.

If you are searching for any type of online gifts for your loved ones then click here MyGiftShop and if you are searching for delicious Bounty Bar Chocolates, then click here Bounty Bar Chocolates.

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Recipes for Delicious Food Gifts But They Are Also Great at Your House, Too!

For all of you out there who, like me, love chocolate. We can never have too many chocolate recipes! The recipe below for a deliciously rich Chocolate Fudge Sauce great as a topping for pound cake, ice cream, etc. It is also perfect to give as a food gift. If you have a chocoholic/s on your shopping list, make up some of this rich sauce and put it in pretty jars. Tie a pretty ribbon around the neck of the jar and stick in a gift basket with a pound cake, etc or just give as is. Great holiday or birthday gift. Also great for housewarmings and hostess gifts. Now we can't discuss chocolate mentioning cookies. The chocolate in the cookie recipe is in the mini M&Ms. This is another great gift idea. You put the mix into a quart jar in pretty layers and attach a card with the baking instructions to the ribbon around the neck. Why not give the chocoholics in your life both of these food gift items?

RICH FUDGE SAUCE (PERFECT FOR GIFTING)
1 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
8-oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped fine
1/3 cup clear corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
dash of salt

In a heavy saucepan combine the cream and sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved. Stir in the chopped chocolate, corn syrup, and butter. Lower heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted and ingredients are blended. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Allow sauce to cool to room temperature then pour the sauce into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in refrigerator. Or as suggested above, pour into small jars with tight-fitting lids, decorate with a pretty ribbon and a label to give as gifts.

To serve: Spoon into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until sauce is pourable. This is very good!

MINI M&M JAR COOKIE MIX
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mini M&Ms

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Layer the ingredients in a jar in the following order: flour mixture, brown sugar, granulated sugar, mini-M&Ms, and chopped pecans.

Put a lid on the jar and cover lid with a pretty piece of cloth or small doily tied on with a matching ribbon. Write the following baking instructions on a card and attach.

Mini M&M Cookies
1 jar of Mini M&M Cookie Mix
1 cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixer bowl cream the butter, eggs, and vanilla using an electric mixer. Add the cookie mix and stir in until well blended. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com/

For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com/

Original article

Chocolate Bars - Delicious Bite

Chocolate bars are usually in the form of a bar or rod, and is covered in attractive wrappers. These wrappers make them attractive for children and adults alike, and in addition they have an exquisite taste enjoyed by many. Bars are available in various sizes and most manufacturers have been clever to include a snack size, which makes it an easy and convenient snack to eat on the run.

The basic constituents of most bars are cocoa solid and milk, sugar and milk. By varying the composition of these in the mixture, manufacturers are able to get the various colors which chocolates are found. In the manufacturing process the chocolate is hardened by using emulsifiers. Different additives are used for taste, such as vanilla for example. These include dark, milk or white chocolate. Chocolate bars are not always solid, but are also found filled with a variety of fillings which are too many to name all. Some of these include fruit, nuts, caramel, toffee, etc.

Some manufacturers also make chocolates which have a specific nutritional value. Often these include proteins, vitamins and nuts. Many of these are marketed as energy bars. Great care is taken however, that even these special chocolates still retain their sweet taste that many people love.

There are many companies which make bars. Once again there are too many to mention, so we will all mention some of the more commonly known brands. One of the biggest known brands is Nestle, and is one of the brands found throughout many areas on the world. It also shares this honor with the Mars brand. Hershey is found predominantly in the USA, while Cadbury is found mostly in South Africa, the UK, New Zealand and Australia. Although we have specified countries and regions, some brands are exported beyond the areas where they are manufactured.

If you have the experience and the will power, you can make your own chocolate bars with the filling of your choice. There are many recipes which are easily available and fairly easy to make.

There are few interesting ways of serving chocolate. One the most popular ways is probably with ice cream. An unusual way of serving chocolate bars is by deep frying them in vegetable or peanut oil. In this serving the chocolate is served slightly hot with a warm sauce or whipped cream.

Chocolates remain a treat enjoyed by many, and is often used as a gift to show affection.

Get to know more on chocolate bars.

Original article

Delicious Chocolates Are Hard to Ignore

Chocolate is basically a raw food processed from the beans of a cocoa tree. After going through various processes, it is converted into delicious chocolates, which are very hard to resist. Although being a luxury food item, these are immensely popular among people of all ages. It is one of those rare confectionery items that is consumed and liked by everyone around the globe and hence, it is known as the "food of the Gods". Cocoa beans are bitter but they are molded into several forms, sometimes by adding some sweeteners or additives. These days, chocolates are available in so many different flavors that one can't even list them down if they want to. It is an integral part of lot of food items and beverages as well.

Initially, chocolate was only used in beverages but later some English companies started molding it into bar shapes and started selling them. It became a huge success amongst people and since then, its usage has been on a rise. From chocolate bars to chocolate ice creams to chocolate sauces or chocolate toppings, these different forms of delicious chocolates became a part of everyone's life. Later, Switzerland played an important part in introducing mouth watering expensive chocolates to the world. They made it so desirable that their companies became a brand name of chocolate and their chocolates were considered as one of the most expensive and luxurious gifts. It also became a symbol of love and special chocolate items were prepared for Valentine's or Wedding Days.

Nowadays, chocolate is used as junkie food as well. Most of the people during the lunch take a chocolate bar, which serves as their basic diet for the whole day. Apart from being scrumptious, they contain carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and different vitamins as well. You can find a huge variety of chocolate products in the market ranging from chocolate milk to chocolate cakes to chocolate dip fruits to chocolate eggs and several others. During Christmas meals, chocolate sauce is used as a topping on the turkey meal as well. But one needs to keep in mind that extra usage of chocolate can cause serious health problems as well, such as high blood pressure, heart problems, weight problems or osteoporosis too. So, it's good to celebrate your life with delicious chocolates but keep an eye on your health as well because you can only enjoy chocolates if you are a healthy person.

If you are searching for any type of online gifts for your loved ones then click here MyGiftShop and if you are searching for mouth watering chocolates, then click here Delicious Chocolates.

Original article

Gourmet Sugar Free Chocolates, The Perfectly Delicious Gift

Gourmet chocolates are relished by people of all age groups. This is a good gift option as well as a great stress buster. Chocolate gift baskets are now in great demand. People customize these baskets and send chocolates to their near and dear ones. There are a variety of chocolates like unsweetened, slightly sweetened, dark chocolates, milk or white chocolates, liquor chocolates to name a few. Diabetics, who are chocolate lovers, need not feel left out any more. There are now delicious chocolate options available for them called gourmet sugar free chocolates.

When you go to the market to get chocolates for yourself be cautious in reading the label that mentions the laxative effects that the chocolate might have. Maltitol is sugar liquor used in these chocolates and too much of its consumption may cause diarrhea. More than 50 grams of sorbitol or 20 grams of maltitol every day may lead to digestive disorders as stated by American Dietetic Association. These can be great chocolate gifts. Although this type of chocolate has been available for many years, you should still read the instructions regarding content level of sugar liquor in it.

Maltitol is a natural form of sugar usually derived from starch and is the main content in the new version of sugar free chocolate. Maltitol is in a stable form and melts fast enabling it to be used to make these delicious sugar free treats.

These high quality chocolates do not have a bitter taste which usually is present when made from artificial sweeteners. Maltitol makes chocolates taste as sweet as original but with less in calories causing no tooth decay and not adding to your weight in terms of fat. Maltitol still gives that rich creamy texture to chocolates. But make sure you keep a check on the amount you consume every day. The next time you need to give something to a diabetic person, choose something along the lines of this type of chocolate gift.

What's great about the new gourmet sugar free treats is that they come in all kinds of styles, tastes and with some incredible additions mixed in. No longer do you just have to suffer with a bland sugarless bar, but gourmet sugar free chocolates now are found in glorious gift baskets and wonderfully elegant boxes as well. There are some incredible selections as well. You can get chocolate peanut clusters or delicious sugar free almond buttercrunch and so many other scrumptious options!

So not only can you pay attention to your weight and still enjoy gourmet chocolates, but you can show that you care by sending some scrumptious sugar free chocolates to others that are health conscious or have diabetes. What better way to share something sweet than to make it a delicious box of gourmet sugar free chocolate?

Colleen Maguire -
Writer, Traveler and Chocolate Lover
For More Delicious Chocolate Ideas and Tastes:
http//www.UltimateChocolateShoppe.com

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