Cadbury Creme Eggs

So, I ran to CVS after work the other day, only to be met with an awful Easter tragedy. Not a single Cadbury Creme Egg remained on those stinkin shelves. And it's not even Easter yet! Isn't there supposed to be an overabundance of those things so we can all buy extras at half price on Monday? I'm not sure who stocks those shelves, but that's just a shame. 

I mean, really, there were plenty of Peep Imposters (aka Bunnies) and an assortment of lovely pastel-coated chocolate bits. But not a single creme egg in sight. Tear.

Just look at that delicious ooey, gooey center. Beautiful. Not that I wouldn't be thrilled to find a basket full of commercial-crafted creme eggs on my doorstep this Sunday morning, but, dare I say, this version might just be a little bit better than the original. What!

Also, if you have self-control issues but still want the eggs all for yourself but don't want to eat them all in one day, they freeze really well...if they last that long!

Cadbury Creme Eggs [click to print]
Makes about 15 eggies

• 1/2 c. corn syrup
• 1/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp. clear vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 c. powdered sugar
• 1/2 to 1 tsp. orange zest
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. yellow food coloring, liquid
• 12 oz. milk chocolate chips

Combine corn syrup, butter, vanilla and salt in mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and beat until smooth. Scoop about 2/3 of mixture into separate bowl and put in fridge or freezer to chill. Add food coloring and zest to remaining mixture and beat until well combined; chill about 15 minutes.

Scoop white mixture, about 1 tablespoon at a time, onto parchment paper. Make a small depression in the center of each white and chill. Roll yolk mixture into balls, about 1/2 teaspoon at a time, and chill on a piece of parchment paper until firm to the touch.

Place a yolk in the center of each white and pinch sides of white together to enclose yolk. Roll into an oblong egg shape and return to parchment paper; chill again. If things get too sticky while you're working, you guessed it, chill for a few minutes and then continue.

Melt chocolate in double boiler or in microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring well between each nuke. You can add a tablespoon of oil or shortening to the chocolate to make it easier to coat the eggs, but it won't have as crisp of a crack when you bite into the chocolate shell. Insert a toothpick into each egg and dip in chocolate to coat. Stick egg-topped toothpicks into potatoes until set. Or just drop egg into chocolate bowl and cover with chocolate, tap off excess chocolate and place on parchment paper to harden.

Source: Adapted from Instructables and Not Without Salt

Homemade Almond Joy

I know, I know. It's just barely the end of February. I shouldn't be talking about such a tropical flavor as this. But as stockpile bottles upon bottles of coconut-scented sun repellent, I can't help myself. Coconut is in the air! I'm off to Jamaica in less than two weeks and I'm beyond excited!

So, for you, my friends, who I unfortunately can't take with me, I wanted to give you all a reason to celebrate. To experience that summertime bliss in the middle of winter. To bite into some joy!

Almond Joy [click to print]
Makes about 2 dozen bars

24-30 almonds
1 c. powdered sugar
7 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 T. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
3 c. flaked coconut
20 oz. (about 1-1/2 bags) milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread almonds on baking sheet and roast in oven for about 10 minutes. They will look slightly darker and you'll be able to smell almonds in the air! Remove from oven and allow to cool.

In mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, milk, vanilla and salt. Add coconut and stir until evenly combined. The mixture will be thick. Place in freezer for about 30 minutes so it's easier to work with.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Remove coconut mixture from freezer and shape heaping tablespoons into logs; press a single almond in the top of each and place on baking sheet. Allow to set in refrigerator while you melt your chocolate. In small microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips in 30 second intervals, stirring well between each nuke. Remove baking sheet from fridge.

Place one log on a fork; using a spoon, scoop a little chocolate over almond (this will help hold the almond in place) and dip entire candy in chocolate to coat. Gently lift candy from bowl and tap fork to remove any excess chocolate. Use a toothpick to slide candy from fork to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining candies. Once all are coated, place baking sheet in fridge to set, about 45 minutes. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Source: Adapted from Joy the Baker

Christmas Coal Candy

I grew up in the city, but close enough to Dutch country that threats of the Belsnickel still haunt me at Christmas. The Belsnickel dresses in fur, wears a mask with a long tongue and visits naughty children to scare and threaten them into behaving. (Check out Pennsylvania Dutch Night Before Christmas if you want the whole story!) But when those bad kids just refuse to be good, Santa Claus surprises them with a bag of coal instead of shiny new toys on Christmas morning.

But coal candy is for everyone! This traditional Spanish hard candy has a slightly crumbly texture when you crunch it. The traditional Spanish version is lemony, but I wanted something a little more Christmas-flavored, so I went with peppermint extract. This makes a great stocking stuffer or party favor!

Coal Candy (Dolce Carbon) [click to print]
1 egg white
1-1/2 c. powdered sugar, divided
2 tsp. black food coloring
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
3 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. water

In medium bowl, whisk together egg white, 1 c. powdered sugar, food coloring and extract. Gradually whisk in remaining 1/2 c. powdered sugar. The mixture should be thick and stiff and drop off the whisk in globby clumps. If it's too thin and runny, add more powdered sugar, a little at a time. Set aside.

Line 8x8 baking dish (about 2 inches deep) with parchment paper and set aside. Combine water and sugar in pot and stir together, mashing it until it's about the consistency of wet sand. Insert candy thermometer and heat until it reaches 258-260 degrees. Stir the whole time; the mixture will look kind of grainy and weird, so don't worry. When it's around 245-250, it may start browning, but that's okay. The mixture should stay grainy and not liquid.

At 258-260, remove from heat and add egg white mixture to pot and stir. (It might foam, so be careful!) When mixture is well mixed, pour into pan and allow to stand until hardened and cooled. Break into pieces; I used a hammer and screwdriver, it's definitely hard candy!

Source: Adapted from Sprinkle Bakes via Flagrante Delicia