I hope your Christmas prep is going well and you're surrounded by family and friends. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, I still hope you're having a good day! Today, I special treat for you. How about a tasty little goodie just in time for your last minute Christmas baking or that New Year's Party?! Well, help me welcome Meredith and some delicious chocolaty-caramel goodness!
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Quick Holiday Treat: Gigantic Turtle Candies
Doesn’t it always seem like the closer it gets to the end of the year, the more you have you to do? Even if you started planning out your holiday cookie baking in October, there are always those last minute get-togethers to cook for and people you forgot to buy for. Instead of running out to the mall or spending a boatload on express online shipping, consider d
oing your last minute holiday shopping from the comfort of your kitchen instead.
Choosing to bake gifts instead of buying them is usually a more economical decision and is definitely less stressful than braving department store crowds. It’s easy to make large batches that can be gifted to dozens of different people, and let’s face it; most people would choose home-baked goodies over an impersonal gift card any day of the week.
These Gigantic Turtle Candies are the perfect last-minute gift idea that your friends will be thrilled to receive. Not only are they incredibly simple to make, but they’re a great twist on traditional sugary cookies. The combination of butter, chocolate and caramel hits just the right balance of sweet and salty that’s much more memorable than your usual chocolate chip cookie. Plus, since they’re made out of
popcorn instead of cookie dough, you won’t have to deal with flour and sugar all over the walls. And best of all, they’re the perfect treat for little hands to help shape—try them for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations or make them as a fun family activity all year long!
Gigantic Turtle Candies
1 2.9-oz bag Gourmet® Butter Microwave Popcorn
PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
63 pecan halves
1 14-oz bag caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons Fleischmann’s® Original-stick
2 tablespoons milk
1 12-oz bag semisweet chocolate morsels
Directions
Prepare popcorn according to package directions. Remove all unpopped kernels and place popcorn in a large bowl; set aside.
Spray 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray. Arrange 21 groups of three pecan halves in a cloverleaf pattern on your baking sheets.
Place the caramels, Fleischmann’s and milk in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on HIGH for 3 to 4 minutes or until the caramels are melted, stirring once. Pour over popcorn and gently toss to evenly coat. Let cool for 2 minutes.
Spray your hands with cooking spray. Shape the popcorn mixture into 1-inch mounds and press onto the center of each pecan cloverleaf.
Melt the chocolate morsels in the microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes or until smooth when stirred. Drizzle over each caramel mound. Chill for an hour or overnight. Pop a few turtles into festive plastic baggie for an easy treat for friends and neighbors.
Author Bio: This is a guest post written by Meredith Kimelblatt on behalf of Orville Redenbacher’s®. For more last-minute holiday gift ideas and popcorn recipes, visit www.orvilleredenbachers.com.
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Thanks for sharing, Meredith! Doesn't that sound delish?! I am definitely going to have to try these!
This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.
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