If you can’t bear the thought of throwing away all your leftover Easter candy, don’t despair — there are plenty of creative ways to transform your excess sweets into decadent desserts. To help you turn the uneaten contents of your kids’ baskets into mouthwatering culinary masterpieces, here are five delicious Easter candy recipes.
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S’meeps (Peeps s’mores). Peeps: Are they tasty treats or lumps of marshmallows masquerading as birds? It’s a question that has long been argued among Peeps lovers and Peeps haters. But whatever side of the debate you fall on, these colorful, creative Peeps s’mores — or s’meeps — will win over your taste buds. No campfire required.
Ingredients:
— 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
— 2 to 5 packages of Peeps in multiple colors
— 1/2 cup heaving whipping cream
— Graham crackers
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Heat the heavy whipping cream in a pot until warm.
3. Layer chocolate chips evenly around a medium oven-safe skillet.
4. Pour the whipping cream over the chips.
5. Top with a layer of Peeps in different colors.
6. Bake for up to 10 minutes, or until the Peeps are golden brown.
7. Serve with graham crackers for scooping.
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Jelly Bean Pop-Tarts. These sinfully sugary treats might be a bit too decadent for the morning, but can be a squeal-inducing treat for youngsters on special occasions. Grab a cup of leftover jelly beans and give these colorful Pop-Tarts a try.
Ingredients:
— 1 cup jelly beans
— 1 1/2 cups flour
— 1 teaspoon salt
— 1 stick butter
— 3 tablespoons cream
— 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
— 2 tablespoons heavy cream
— 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine the flour and salt, then add in butter and blend until coarse.
3. Slowly add cream until the mixture becomes clumpy enough to roll into a ball.
4. Roll the ball of dough flat, so it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out an even number of 3-by-4 inch rectangles — roughly the size of a playing card.
5. Lay half of the rectangles onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Line these rectangles with rows of jelly beans, leaving a quarter inch border on every side.
7. Lay the remaining rectangles atop the rectangles with jelly beans.
8. Seal the edges by crimping with a fork and use a toothpick to poke tiny holes in the top of each Pop-Tart to let steam escape.
9. Chill the pastries in the fridge for 20 minutes to ensure a firm crust.
10. Bake in the oven for five to eight minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Allow Pop-Tarts to cool.
11. Whisk confectioners’ sugar, cream and vanilla in a bowl until the blend reaches a spreadable consistency.
12. Once the Pop-Tarts are cool, use a spoon to spread the frosting over each one.
Deep-fried Cadbury Creme Eggs. Cadbury Creme Eggs are another Easter essential that make their way into every self-respecting Easter basket. But if you think these cream-filled little chocolate morsels are tasty on their own, wait until you try them fried.
Ingredients:
— 6 Cadbury Creme Eggs, chilled in the freezer
— Box of pancake mix
— 4 cups vegetable oil
Directions:
1. Whip up pancake batter according to the box’s directions. Whisk batter until smooth.
2. Cover a medium saucepan in an inch of oil, and heat to medium high on the stove.
3. One by one, dip eggs in batter so they are covered completely, and drop into the pan.
4. Cook eggs evenly until they are golden brown on all sides.
5. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.
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Whoppers Mini Robin Eggs milkshakes. A special Easter edition of the classic candy Whoppers, Mini Robin Eggs are tiny malted milk candies shaped like eggs with speckled candy-coat shells. These crunchy eggs are irresistible when crushed into a milkshake.
Ingredients:
— 1 cup Mini Robin Eggs
— 2 cups ice cream
— 1 cup milk
— 1 cup whipping cream
— Coconut flakes, chocolate or any other leftover Easter treats you’d like to use as garnishes
Directions:
1. Blend Mini Robin Eggs with ice cream and milk in a blender until smooth. Leave a few Mini Robin Eggs out to serve as garnish.
2. Crush the remaining Mini Robin Eggs into a powder by placing them in a zip-lock bag and giving the sealed baggie a good whack with a rolling pin.
3. Pour your milkshake into glasses and top with whipped cream.
4. Garnish with crushed Mini Robin Eggs, coconut flakes, crumbled up chocolate bunny, et cetera.
Easter trail mix. Easter trail mix is quick, easy and can be cobbled together from all kinds of leftover candy. We’ve listed some suggested ingredients below, but feel free to get creative and toss in a few of your own.
Ingredients:
— Easter M&M’s
— Shards of chocolate Easter Bunny
— Peeps
— Sweetened coconut flakes
— Popcorn
— Mini-pretzels
— Rainbow sprinkles
— White chocolate melts
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients except the white chocolate melts and sprinkles in a large bowl.
2. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave or over a stovetop.
3. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the mix and stir until evenly coated.
4. Shower rainbow sprinkles on top.
5. Cool for 20 minutes before serving.
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5 Delicious Easter Candy Recipes originally appeared on usnews.com
