Category Archives: Candy

Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Ruthanne

What was your least favorite Halloween Candy? You know…the one left at the bottom of that plastic pumpkin at Thanksgiving? Mine was the Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kiss. The distinctively wrapped orange and black chewy candy with peanut butter in the middle– remember those? I remember trying to trade my brother 10 of them for a Nestle Crunch and being refused.

My goal: Make something WONDERFUL out of Mary Jane PB Kisses.

The result: AMAZING! Seriously the best caramel sauce I’ve ever had.

This creamy caramel with just a hint of peanut butter flavor stays soft even when used as an ice cream topping (it’s really good with apples too!– reeeeeallly good…..!)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 15 Kraft Caramels (unwrapped)
  • 15 Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses (unwrapped)– (I found mine at Walgreens: 99 cents/bag)
  • 1 (14oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 c. butter

DIRECTIONS:

  • Place all ingredients in a saucepan and melt, stirring constantly.
  • Stir until melted and completely smooth (about 6 to 8 minutes)
  • Cool a little and pour over ice cream (or anything else that would taste good with gooey caramel sauce!)

My thoughts: I experimented with these horrible little candies all weekend…They melt in the microwave in 15 seconds (and they smell TERRIBLE burnt!)  Once they melt, they harden and form crystals within seconds (no dipping apples in THAT). They do not combine with chocolate. They DO combine with peanut butter, but YUCK– they form a dough-like consistency that sticks to your teeth.

Adding them to my best caramel sauce was the answer– and they really do taste WONDERFUL in this-they add a sweet peanut butter flavor that goes PERFECT with caramel. So a month from now, when you find these little gems still sitting at the bottom of your kids plastic pumpkins, think of easybaked and make some caramel! 🙂 -r

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Inside-out Caramel Apples!

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Ruthanne

Celebrate fall with a unique twist on the caramel apple: soft creamy caramel and chocolate on the INSIDE of the apple! Happy October to YOU!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 12-16 medium apples
  • 1 to 2 cups of 7-up
  • 32 Kraft caramels (unwrapped)
  • 1 can (14oz.) of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 c. margarine
  • 6 oz. Wilton Dark Candy Cocoa Melts

(note: these amounts will make more caramel sauce than you need – you can cut the ingredients in half, but then you will have 1/2 of a can of condensed milk left-??!!  I say put the extra caramel sauce over ice cream 🙂 your call….)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Cut top off of apple, scoop out core and seeds with a melon baller
  • Fill apple “cup” with 7-up and use a kitchen brush to coat edges and top  with 7-up (this will prevent browning).









  • Repeat process with all apples (re-use the 7-up if you want- just pour it from one cup to the next!)
  • Make caramel sauce by adding caramels, condensed milk and margarine to a saucepan and stirring over medium heat until completely melted and smooth.
  • Melt chocolate in microwave in 30 second increments until smooth.
  • Spoon or pipe chocolate into apple cups, saving a little to drizzle on top.
  • Spoon or pipe caramel (cool a little 1st if you decide to pipe this!) into apple cups over chocolate.
  • Drizzle chocolate over top of caramel and serve warm and gooey- or chill and serve cold-mmmm!

My thoughts: No worries– I’m sure a “normal” caramel apple post is in my future– I just wanted something different from the expected.  These really are a beautiful dessert- serve them with a knife and a fork though- they are a wonderful gooey mess if you serve them warm!  Hope you enjoy these!  -r

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Toffee Pecan Crunch Bars

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Ruthanne

Crunchy toffee, pecans and chocolate make these bars irresistible!  This is a wonderfully quick and easy recipe for a last minute treat.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 10-15 sheets of graham crackers
  • 1c. finely chopped pecan pieces
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1 stick of margarine
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 1c. mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

  • Line an 11×17 jelly roll pan with a sheet of parchment paper (cut to size)
  • Break graham crackers into quarters and lay out on parchment paper.
  • Sprinkle pecan pieces over grahams.


  • Make sauce by melting butter, margarine and sugar together in a saucepan.
  • Bring sauce to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. (sauce should be yellow and syrupy)
  • Pour sauce over grahams and pecans.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
  • Top with chocolate chips and allow to sit until hard (you can chill to speed this process)


  • Peel up using parchment paper and break into pieces.
  • YUM!!!!!


My thoughts: Easy, tasty and fun….I got this recipe from a coworker many many years ago and it is a great last-minute recipe.  If you like heath bars this is the perfect recipe for you!  Enjoy! r-

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Homemade Caramel Turtles

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Ruthanne

Soft creamy caramel tops chocolate and pecans– a quick and easy treat.

INGREDIENTS:

  • about 2 cups of whole pecans.
  • 12oz (one bag) of Wilton Dark Candy Cocoa Melts
  • 32 Kraft caramels (unwrapped)
  • 1/2c. butter
  • 1 (14oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk

DIRECTIONS:

  • Line pecans  up in squares on parchment paper

  • Melt candy melts in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until smooth.
  • Spoon chocolate over pecans, filling in the center space and spilling it over about half of each pecan.
  • While this hardens, make caramel sauce (this recipe makes more caramel than you need, but you can refrigerate the rest and use as an ice cream topping later…or you can cut this part of the recipe in half- you will just have 1/2 a can of sweetened condensed milk left…?)
  • Melt unwrapped caramels, butter and sweetened condensed milk over the stove until smooth.
  • Spoon caramel into the center of each turtle (try to keep as much as you can on the chocolate- it will harden some, but it is a soft caramel)
  • Allow these to harden (refrigerate if necessary) and ENJOY!!!!!


My thoughts: Easy and yummy!  I was surprised at how good the candy melts tasted in this- obviously using real chocolate would be a bit fussier and probably a much better flavor- but everyone loved these and I think the melts worked just fine.  These are messy looking turtles- I wouldn’t fuss over making them look perfect- I think the messy look makes them fun and DEFINITELY home-made!!!! 🙂

This recipes was shared on these wonderful blogs: The Girl Creative, Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo, This Chick Cooks, At Home With Haley, Cupcake Apothecary

 

20 Comments

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Cookie Cutter Brownies

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Ruthanne

Make a dessert that everyone will love at your holiday parties!  Brownies cut into shapes and dipped in white chocolate— so. much. FUN!!!!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1c. butter
  • 2c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 c. flour
  • 1/2c. cocoa
  • 1/2tsp. salt
  • 1c. milk
  • 1 1/2 bags of Wiltons Candy Melts (in whatever colors you want!)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Cream butter and sugar together. 
  • Beat in eggs, cocoa, vanilla and salt.
  • Add flour and milk (alternating them and mixing well in between)
  • Spread evenly in greased jelly roll pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until done in center and just starting to pull away from sides.
  • Cool completely
  • Using a sharp cookie cutter, cut small shapes out of the brownies. (I just used my finger to gently push the brownie out of the cutter and onto a cutting board.


  • Place excess brownie pieces into a freezer bag and freeze for another day (we are having brownie sundaes later this week!) 🙂
  • Melt each color of candy melt in separate bowls, microwaving for 30 second increments and stirring in between until smooth.
  • GENTLY set brownie cut-out into melted chocolate and scoop chocolate over the top.  Lift out with fork and tap excess chocolate off.  Place on parchment paper to harden.


My thoughts:  These are SO much fun to make!!!  The brownies are very easy to cut into shapes- its a good “cake- like” brownie recipe (you would not want to use a fudge brownie with this!)  The hardest part is dipping them in the candy melts.  Its not NEARLY as difficult as those crazy cake-pops, but you do have to be gentle and really keep your fork and bowl edge clean as crumbs can get into the melted chocolate and ruin the texture of it.  If you want to skip the chocolate coating part you could easily just decorate these cute little brownies with frosting too!  Enjoy!

 

Dedicating this recipe to all the people in my life who serve or have served our country in the military— THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This recipe was shared on these wonderful blogs:

Bacon Time, Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jelly beans, Little Brick Ranch, Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Pinch of this, that and the other, Something Swanky, Two Maids a Milking

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Raspberry Lemonade Truffles

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Ruthanne

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These soft and creamy lemonade truffles are accented with a sweet raspberry white chocolate.  Truly a unique dessert that will have you thinking summer as soon as you taste one!

INGREDIENTS: (makes 30 truffles)

  • 1 (8 oz.) bar of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened to room temp)
  • 1 packet (0.23 oz.) of Kool-Aid Lemonade mix (unsweetened)
  • 5 cups powdered sugar (plus a little extra to coat your hands as you work with dough)
  • 1 bag (12oz) Wilton White Candy Melts
  • 1/4 teaspoon imitation raspberry flavoring
  • Red and yellow food coloring (enough to get the color you desire)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Cream together Philadelphia cream cheese and packet of lemonade.
  • Add yellow food coloring to desired shade of yellow.
  • Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, blending well between each one.  After 4th cup, coat your hands in powdered sugar and mix in 5th cup with your hands until well blended.
  • Using sugar-covered hands, roll dough into 1 inch truffle balls and set on parchment paper.
  • Melt candy coating chips in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until smooth.
  • Add raspberry flavoring and red food coloring (to desired color) and mix well.
  • Spoon about 1/2 – 1 tsp. of chocolate onto parchment paper and then press a truffle on the top of it until the chocolate is visible around the edges.  Finish the rest of the truffles this way.
  • Spoon remaining chocolate into a ziplock bag and clip the corner.  Drizzle the chocolate over the truffles.
  • Allow topping to harden (about 5 minutes)
  • Peel off parchment paper and serve at room temperature or chilled.

Makes about 30 truffles.

My thoughts:  Wow!  These have been a huge hit with everyone in my life that’s tried them!  They are an original creation for Real Women of Philadelphia.  For all of you who love to cook and bake, you really should check this contest out– its a lot of fun and the sweetest people are a part of this community!  I was longing for something to remind me that summer is coming (in spite of all the yucky weather lately!)  Raspberry lemonade is such  treat- and these truffles capture the essence of it to me.  I hope you get a chance to try them– let me know what you think!  :o)r-

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Caramel Coconut Cream Cups

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Ruthanne

These chewy coconut cookie cups filled with rich chocolate and fluffy cream cheese are topped off with soft caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut.  More than delicious, these are truly a unique dessert that will have all your friends and family wondering how in the world you made them!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 c.  yellow cake mix (any variety)
  • 2 c. crushed coconut cookies (I use WalMart brand)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 c. vegetable oil
  • 1 c. shredded coconut
  • 1/4 c. whipping cream
  • 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 16 Kraft Caramels (unwrapped)
  • 7 oz. sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/4 c. margarine
  • 6 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 4 oz. Cool Whip (refrigerator temperature)
  • 12 oz. Wilton Dark Candy Cocoa Melts

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • In a mixing bowl combine cake mix, crushed coconut cookies, eggs and oil.  Blend well.
  • Scoop batter evenly into 12 un-greased muffin tins, pressing it down with spoon.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
  • Spread coconut over a small cookie sheet and toast at the same time your cups are baking for 10 to 15 minutes (check often to prevent burning!)
  • While cookie cups bake, make your fillings:
  1.  Chocolate ganache:  Place whipping cream in a small saucepan and heat it over the stove until it just starts to bubble at edges (20-30 seconds).  Turn off heat, add chocolate chips, over and allow to sit on warm burner for 5 minutes.  After 5 minutes, stir until smooth.
  2. Caramel Sauce:  Place caramels, condensed milk and margarine in a saucepan and heat until caramels are fully melted and mixture is smooth (about 5 minutes)  stir constantly.
  3. Cream filling:  Combine cream cheese with sugar  until smooth.  Fold in Cool Whip.
  • Remove coconut from oven when it is a toasty brown.  Place in bowl to cool.
  • Remove cookie cups from oven.  They look like muffins at this point–using a tart shaper or the end of a wooden spoon, press the middles of the muffin in to form a cup shape. (NOTE:  because ovens vary in temperature, your cups may need to bake longer.  When you press the middle in it should look a little oily from the coconut oil in the cookies- but it should hold its shape–  if it’s doughy and wont stay pressed down, place it back in the oven for a few minutes.)
  • Tip the muffin pan over a clean counter to release the cups and carefully turn them all upright to cool.
  • Melt chocolate candy coating in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until smooth.
  • Dip the top edge of each cup into the chocolate and then sprinkle with toasted coconut.
  • Spoon chocolate ganache evenly into each cup.
  • Place cream filling in a large ziplock.  Cut one corner and pipe the cream evenly into each cup.
  • Spoon caramel sauce evenly over each cup.
  • Drizzle any left-over candy coating over each cup and top with remaining coconut.
  • Keep refrigerated until serving.
  • Makes 12 cups.

My thoughts:  I “invented” this recipe for Kraft using Philadelphia Cream Cheese.  It has some of my favorite flavor combinations– coconut, chocolate and caramel– amazing!  It is also a great texture combination: chewy, creamy crunchy….yum.  This is a fairly time-consuming recipe.  If you love baking it is FUN FUN FUN!!!!  (I’m actually a little addicted to making these!)  I can’t give it an “easy recipe” tag though– its just too involved.  If you get a chance to try these let me know what you think!  Enjoy!!!! r-



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Chocolate Easter Eggs with Peanut Butter Filling!

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Ruthanne

These chocolate eggs are filled with a creamy peanut butter mixture.  Fill your Easter baskets with this easy to make recipe!!!

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

  • Combine margarine with peanut butter and add powdered sugar until mixture is thick enough to be rolled and molded by hand.
  • Form eggs in any size (I use an egg-shaped 1/3 cup measuring spoon, but you can shape by hand in other sizes as well)
  • Melt chocolate in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well in between until smooth.
  • Using a fork, dip peanut butter eggs into chocolate until completely covered and slide off fork onto parchment paper.  Allow chocolate to cool and harden.
  • Decorate as desired (drizzle with other colored chocolate, or sprinkle with spring candy…).

My thoughts:  This is my second year making these eggs as a fundraiser for missions trips at my church.  We have improved our technique for making these in large quantities and had a lot of fun this year.  These are HUGE peanut butter eggs.  I always warn people to not eat a whole one all at once!  The filling is so creamy and rich.  I hope you get a chance to try these out for YOUR Easter baskets!  Here’s some shots of our egg-making extravaganza:

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Chocolate Cheesecake Fudge!

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Ruthanne

If you like cheesecake and you like fudge, this is a perfect combination!  Plus, I am convinced this is the easiest fudge recipe EVER!!!!!!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 bags (11.5 oz each) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tub (10 oz.) Philadelphia Original Favor Cooking Creme
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 c. finely chopped nuts

 

DIRECTIONS:

  • Melt chocolate in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well between until smooth.
  • Add cooking creme, vanilla and nuts and stir until well blended.
  • Pour into a 9×9 pan that has been lined with aluminum foil.
  • Refrigerate for about 40 minutes (until fudge is hard).
  • Remove from pan, peel away foil, cut and serve!!!

 

My thoughts:  I created this recipe for Kraft.  They sent me all of their flavors of cooking creme to experiment with before it was placed in stores.  This is one of the “Original” flavor recipes I made.  I LOVE how easy it is and I love the cream cheese flavor– it adds a unique twist to the basic fudge recipe.  This is a wonderful dark chocolate fudge- but if you want it sweeter just use milk chocolate chips instead!  ENJOY!!!!!!!   r-

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