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Homemade Halloween Candy: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
On Halloween you’re more likely to find me melting chocolate until it’s nice and glossy than watching a scary movie. Tending to a dark pool of chocolate, and tasting along the way, is the perfect indulgence for a cozy stay-in Halloween. Since making homemade candy requires a few steps, it’s also a great project if you have some helpers of any age on hand. From stirring the chocolate to spooning the filling and ultimately topping your homemade peanut butter cups, there are plenty of ways to get everyone involved. For the dark chocolate peanut butter cups pictured here, I used colorful toppings from my pantry including matcha powder, naturally colored…
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark
Of all the classic candy combinations, chocolate and peanut butter may be my favorite, and I judge this by how often I swipe a piece of this bark when it’s out on my counter. I also judge it by how often I taste the ingredients while I’m making it. If tending a pool of glossy melted chocolate is not for you, then you might not find any enjoyment in whipping up this recipe. Otherwise, swirling these companions together could become one of your favorite candy making (and sampling) activities too. Ingredients 8 ounces chopped dark chocolate (semi-sweet or bittersweet) ⅓ cup peanut butter chips ¼ cup natural creamy peanut butter…
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Chocolate Squares with Honeyed Apricots and Coconut
A dark pool of bittersweet chocolate, dried apricots dripping in honey, and a bit of salt sitting on the counter create a satisfying push and pull even before this confection comes together. Sweetness will be tempered. When the fluidity of stirred chocolate is interrupted by the addition of dried coconut, feel yet another pull – the disruptive change from smooth to speckled. Taste your way through this recipe as you drizzle, melt, and pinch to create tempting squares that invoke the Mediterranean and the tropics. The liquid confection is so delicious that you may need to remind yourself to spread it out and let it harden rather than eat it…
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Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Homemade candy is more satisfying than store-bought confections with a long list of additives. Crafted in my kitchen, this brittle recipe is loaded with pumpkin seeds and has a depth of flavor that takes it beyond a traditional sugar and nut mixture. Maybe best of all, it is aerated so that it is easy to chew. If you are intimidated by candy recipes, rest assured that I once was too. For many years, my only experience was an adventure in taffy making with my father that ended with small bits of toffee colored sugar stuck to our ceiling. I can safely say that preparation is key to avoiding such a…
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