Chocolate Bon Bons

These chocolate bon bons have been a favorite for years. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Chocolate Bon Bons

I clearly remember the first time my Mom had me try these. She brought some for a special event but would not divulge the ingredients. You know how some people are, if they like something they ask for the recipe.

Later when I asked her for the recipe, she warned me I might not believe her. Of course I believed her but the ingredients were surprising.

And even better, very easy to use to make.

How to Make Chocolate Bon Bons

You will need:

Creamy peanut butter

Ritz crackers

Chocolate almond bark

Wax paper

Test how much peanut butter you like in the center. Test, test, test! (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

To make:

Add peanut butter to the center of a cracker and top with a second one.

Microwave chocolate almond bark per directions until melted.

Move the sandwich around chocolate to make sure it is coated on all sides. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Dip the cracker sandwich in the chocolate and make sure it is coated on all sides.

Place on wax paper. Allow to dry. Or place in refrigerator to set the almond bark.

Store in a freezer bag or sealed metal can.

These would also be fun to make with miniature crackers with peanut butter.

This would be a perfect recipe to add to our “Write Your Own Cookbook Gift set.” Easy and delicious to make, it’s a great way to introduce someone to working in a kitchen.

Charlotte

Chocolate Kisses Mice

These truffle boxes are perfect to hold one chocolate kiss mouse. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Chocolate Kisses Mice

Oh my, it’s been far too long since I’ve made these simple chocolate and cherry treats. I was inspired to make them this year after my rescue cat James A Mess dropped a play mouse at my feet during a business Zoom session.

These make fun gifts especially from your cats to people who are special to you, and them.

You will need:

Wax paper

Paper towels

Maraschino cherries with stems

Almond slivers

Chocolate almond bark

Hershey Milk Chocolate Kisses

Truffle gift boxes (found online or at a hobby store)

So a note on the two maybe hard to find items:

1. You need maraschino cherries with stems. I called around to locate them where I live so don’t assume you will find them in any grocery store.

2. The gift boxes can be anything with a clear top cover, half the fun is seeing them under a bow. If you can’t find boxes, cut out white cardboard pieces that fit into small plastic bags and glue each mouse to the cardboard with a dab of chocolate.

Maraschino cherries with stems drained on paper towels. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

To make:

Drain maraschino cherries and spread them out on paper towels to get them dry.

Remove foil from Hershey’s kisses.

While cherries are drying, melt the chocolate bark to package directions.

Use the chocolate almond bark to “glue” almost slivers to the backs of Hershey kisses.

Melted chocolate bark holds almond slivers for ears. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Allow the glued ears to dry on wax paper.

Dip maraschino cherries with stems in melted chocolate bark; cover.

Maraschino cherries dipped in melted chocolate bark. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Remove the chocolate-covered maraschino cherries and let them dry on wax paper. I also make sure the “tails” are laying down so they will easily fit in gift boxes.

Chocolate-dipped maraschino cherries drying on wax paper. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

With the chocolate-covered maraschino bodies, add the Hershey kiss with almond slivers to form the mice.

Once glued together with more chocolate, they are now mice. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Allow to dry. If you need them to dry faster, place in refrigerator for a few minutes.

Store in gift boxes in a freezer bag until ready to give.

Fun for stocking stuffers, neighbor gifts and fans of your cats!

Charlotte

Make Your Own Ready to Bake Cookie Dough

Chocolate chip cookie dough frozen in wax paper makes handy cookie dough for quick cooking.

Make Your Own Ready to Bake Cookie Dough

When I was growing up, this time of year, we would make icebox cookies, cookie recipes designed to wrap the dough up in wax paper and freeze for quick later use.

Years later, I took my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, wrapped that up in wax paper and voila - after freezing, I could also quickly cut, cook and serve. Well, yes, they should be cooled but when one has a chocolate chip cookie emergency, there is very little to no rack cooling time.

I have also tested this with some other favorite cookie doughs and they all worked well, too so if you need to make dough ahead of time for cookie baking, this is a good option.

One more tip: if you just need a few cookies ready, bake in an electric toaster oven.

Another important tool for emergency cookie baking, a little toaster oven.

Keep an eye on the toaster oven the first time you bake cookies to make sure you get the right amount of time and temperature.

When finished, cookies look just like they came out of the oven.

A rare sight, chocolate chip cookies cooling on a cookie rack.

Cookies are part of our family holiday tradition so anything that makes the process easier so we can keep the tradition is a great addition!

Charlotte

Sweet Nutty Treat

Sometimes you want something sweet to end your meal  and these nutty treats are easy, and fun, to make.

Using mini-vanilla wafers, add a dab of melted chocolate to the bottom. Attach a Hershey kiss.

Once dry, use a toothpick to dab a tiny stem on the top.

Takes 5 minutes from start to finish and adds charm to any dish as a sweet, desert garnish.

Acorns, any one?

Charlotte