Tag

candy

DIY Halloween Bat Tree

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TrickOrSweet #CollectiveBias

As soon as the first day of Autumn strikes, I make the kids finalize Halloween costume decisions, I start to hang a few spooky decorations, and I buy some candy. I try and rationalize it by telling myself that it is because I want to make sure I have enough for all of the Trick or Treaters on Halloween and as my kids cannot partake in the candy part because of their allergies, I am always afraid I will run out. However, we all know it is for me.

Also, there is nothing like a giant bowl of Hershey’s Candy by the front door to let everyone know Halloween is on the way. The kids and I adore sharing treats with anyone who stops by before the big day to get everyone in the mood for Halloween. With Hershey’s giant bags there is enough candy to get our  friends and family in the Halloween spirit before the big day, and plenty left for Halloween too. Just take a look at all the kinds you can buy HERE.

Hershey 10

This year, I decided to decorate the dresser that sits near our front entryway with a giant bowl of candy filled with the Hershey’s Trunk or Treat Variety Bag found at Walmart. These awesome variety bags can be found right in the seasonal holiday section, where all the Halloween accouterment resides.

Hershey STORE SHOT

While at Walmart, I found some awesome white sticks in the floral department, and that gave me the perfect idea for a great entryway decoration. With some supplies I had on hand, I created some flying bats to greet us and our guests every time we enter the house. They are cute, simple, and festive and look adorable next to our giant bowl of Hershey’s Candy that we are sharing with our friends and family.

To make these Flying Bats you will need:

black paper

string

hole punch

scissors

pencil

bat silhouette (you can print one from the internet and cut out)

floral sticks

a vase or bucket

tape

Hershey 3

Trace the bat silhouette onto the black paper.

Hershey 4

Following the pattern, you traced cut the bat out.

Hershey 5

Using the hole punch punch two holes in the wings of the bat.

Hershey 6

Tie string through the holes.

Hershey 7

Put the floral sticks in bucket.

Hershey Sticks

Hang bats from sticks like ornaments (tape sometimes helps keep them in place).

Hershey 8

For a quicker version of my directions, here is a video.

Head out and buy your giant bag of Hershey’s Candy and Walmart (you can check decide right here), then decorate your entryway to greet your Trick or Treaters (or yourself)!

 

 

Salted Carmel and Dark Chocolate Truffles

It is Smart Cookie time! When Valentine’s Day is on its way, I of course think of chocolates so I thought instead of a cookies, it might be fun to make a chocolate candy treat. A few weekends ago, I had a salted carmel chocolate cake for dessert at a restaurant, and the combination of salted carmel and rich dark chocolate was so awesome that it inspired this recipe. Also, as my friend, Mary, pointed out dark chocolate is heart healthy. This is perfect for American Heart Association’s Heart Health Month.

 

 

This recipe seemed a little intimidating at first, but I found this great recipe as a base, and made a few small changes. They are a hit, as in they are gone.

Salted Carmel and Dark Chocolate Truffles

12 oz semisweet or dark baking chocolate chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
12 carmel candies cut in half
1-2 Tbs Fine Sea Salt

 

Place chopped chocolate in a large heat safe bowl, and place on top of a sauce pan filled with and inch or two of water to act as a double boiler. Turn on the heat to medium low. Next, in a second sauce pan over low heat add the cream. When the cream is heated through or when there are small bubbles around the edge of the pan, add the cream to the melting chocolate and gently whisk together. When the chocolate is thoroughly melted and incorporated with cream, add the mixture to a shallow baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for one hour.

While the chocolate is cooling, dredge carmel pieces in sea salt.

 

 

Remove chocolate from refrigerator.

 

Using a small cookie scoop (1 Tbs size) and scoop chocolate and insert salted carmel piece into the center of chocolate. Then gently roll into a ball and place on a refrigerator safe dish.

When all the truffles are made, sprinkle with the tiniest bit of sea salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

I have to make more to mail out. I think these are my new favorite chocolate treat.

For more information about Smart Cookies click here. You can also see past Smart Cookie recipes below: Oatmeal Dark Chocolate and Dried Cherry Cookies, Lucy Cookies, White Chocolate and Cranberry Blondies, Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Biscotti, and Italian Butter Cookies with Lemon Glaze.