Mini Peanut Butter Cups

I thought it would be fun to try some mini peanut butter cups. Previously I had made these Reese's Peanut Butter Bars from Our Best Bites. I was truly amazed that they tasted exactly like the peanut butter filling of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. (I'm pretty sure the graham crackers are the trick.) So it's been on my mind to try out my own mini pb cups.  There are several techniques to creating the mini cups, and I tried a few methods before finding one that worked the best for me. Here's how I made them:

First prepare the bottom chocolate layer of pb cups:

Ingredients:
melting milk chocolate wafers
squeeze bottle (like for condiments, with a narrow tip)
mini paper cups

Fill clean squeeze bottle halfway with chocolate wafers. Microwave at half power for 1 minute. Shake & squeeze, then microwave 1 minute again. Repeat until chocolate is smooth and melted. As you work with the chocolate, you'll notice it becoming thicker and harder to smooth overtime. Just re-melt as needed.



Holding several paper cups (to give more stability to the cups), squeeze chocolate around the sides of top cup and into the bottom. I started with one ring of chocolate just under the cup's top edge, so the chocolate could drip down the sides to the bottom., then another ring just below it. Then I zig-zagged chocolate along the bottom. To fill in the mini-holes, I used a toothpick to spread the chocolate, coating the paper cup. (I found if I used more chocolate to fill in the holes, there ended up being too much chocolate.) Then to smooth it all out, I shook it a little and dropped it (from about a 6 inch height).

To ensure the chocolate cups dried in a round, shape, I put the wet chocolate lined cups into a mini-muffin tin.

Second prepare the filling:

While the chocolate sides/bottoms are setting up (which happens very quickly) you can make the peanut butter filling.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs
1 lb (3 1/2 C) powdered sugar
1 1/2 C creamy peanut butter
1 C (2 sticks) real butter, melted

Mix thoroughly. This makes enough to fill a 9 x 13 pan, so unless you want a lot of pb cups, you may want to half the filling recipe. (I ended up using half the filling to make the before-mentioned Peanut Butter Bars in a smaller casserole dish; then I cut out fun shapes with cookie cutters.) Anyway...

Shape small discs (mini pb cup sized) from the filling. Press into hardened chocolate shells. Don't worry about the pb filling being completely smooth--the chocolate on top will fill in any dips.

Third, cover the filling with a chocolate layer:

Remelt/smooth the chocolate. Zig-zag your final layer on top of peanut butter filling. Spread chocolate by gently shaking/tilting pb cup. To smooth, again drop pb cub onto counter. Let dry.

Microwave Peanut Brittle

This recipe is one of my family's favorites. It doesn't require a candy thermometer and it's so easy, I have no excuses to not make it! The only trick is catching it during it's last cooking time. I've cooked it anywhere from 1 1/2 to 4 minutes - it just depends on your bowl and your microwave. And how "done" you like it to be. Make sure to make a note of what bowl you used and how long it cooked on your recipe so you have a better idea next year. :)

Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 cup raw peanuts (sometimes called Spanish Peanuts)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix together baking soda and vanilla in a small cup. Set aside.

Mix peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt in large microwavable bowl. (No need to mix this really well.) Cook on high 3 minutes. Stir with wooden spoon. Cook on high 2 minutes. Add butter and stir. Cook on high 1 1/2 - 4 minutes watching very closely. When the white bubbles just start to turn to a caramel or brown color (usually in the middle of the bowl you can see it change color), remove. Stir together soda and vanilla and then pour into bowl. Mix very quickly and quickly spread on greased foil. Cool completely. Break into pieces.

Brigadeiros

 Mimi Collett shared this great recipe for Brigadeiros.
"No Brazilian party is complete without this chocolate treat that is similar to a simple bonbon or truffle."

3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbps. butter
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

In a medium saucepan, combine cocoa powder, butter, and condensed milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how hot your medium setting is. You will definitley be able to tell when it has thickend. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. You can even let it sit over night. Roll the mixture into small balls and cover them in chocolate jimmies. To roll, I recommend covering your hands with butter or margarine.

Variations of this recipe include rolling a nut inside the middle of the ball or rolling the chocolate ball in powered sugar, coconut flakes, etc.

There is also a coconut version called a Beijinho, which calls for 1/4 cup of coconut flakes rather than cocoa powder. They are usually rolled in regular granulated sugar.

Almond Roca

This candy looks beautiful and tastes amazing.

First, make the English Toffee:
2 cubes butter
1 cup sugar
5 Tbsp. water

Combine all ingredients in heavy pan. Over low heat melt butter. Then, stirring constantly, cook over medium high heat to 300 degrees and caramel color.

Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. vanilla.

Pour onto buttered marble. Spread to a medium thin layer. Score with a knife, then let cool.

Break apart on score lines.

Second, dip the toffee in chocolate
Melt milk chocolate in glass bowl by microwaving in small intervals or melting over double boiler. (Either buy a huge chocolate slab and break off small parts to melt OR use candy melts--they look like really big chocolate chips). I do not recommend chocolate chips because they will taste waxy.

Drop 3-4 toffee squares at a time in chocolate. Use a fork to flip.

Third, roll in ground almonds 
Finally chop almonds (I used a food processor). Then, while chocolate is still wet, roll toffee in almonds. Place on wax paper until cool.

Caramels

Here's the recipe for caramels we made together. I've added my notes in italics.

Home-made Caramels

Butter marble and pan (if not non-stick).

2 cups sugar
1 cup dark Karo syrup
1 pint whipping cream
1 cube butter
 1 tsp. vanilla

Add sugar, Karo syrup, 1 cup of whipping cream, and butter in pan. Slowly melt ingredients together over low heat. When combined and smooth, raise heat to medium-high. (For me, this is around 300 degrees on my electric kettle.)

Stirring constantly, cook mixture to 240 degrees. (This should take about 10 minutes.)
Add 2nd cup of whipping cream. Still stirring, cook mixture again to 240 degrees. (Another 10 minutes)

Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

Pour onto marble slab. Let cool for 20-30 minutes. Caramel should be just barely warm to the touch.

Cut into small squares and roll into tootsie-roll shapes. Wrap in wax paper and twist the ends (like a mint would be wrapped).

Christmas Candy

Thanks to those that came to our candy making night. Hopefully you learned a few tips--especially what NOT to do! Since I only make candy once a year, sometimes it takes a few times to remember all the tricks. You were all great guinea pigs. :)

A few notes before you begin:
1. Check the calibration of your candy thermometer. I discovered mine was about 5 degrees off, and that can make a big difference. You can find a good tutorial here.
2. Follow the recipe exactly, but make adjustments for your heat source. Your "medium-high" might be hotter than mine. Take notes on things to change next time.
3. I cook my candy in an electric kettle (a pot that you'd use for deep-frying). Mine is non-stick and light, which makes pouring a lot easier. You could use a heavy saucepan instead. Just be careful when pouring or get someone to help hold the pan.
4. I pour the candy onto a marble slab to cool. It stays cold and isn't damaged by the molten lava. I can also cut right on it. You could substitute a heavy cookie sheet--I'm not sure if you'd need to make any adjustments. Try and find out!

Thanks again for coming. Feel free to ask any question, or if you want to make something together, I'd love to help!