Tricks for treats
To melt a chocolate bar for drizzling, break up the bar and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at full power using 10-second bursts and stirring after each burst until just melted.
As toppings for caramel apples or Candy Bar Cookies, or to mix into the popcorn balls, choose several of the following: M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces, candy corn, broken pretzel pieces, trail mix, chocolate chips, chopped nuts (peanuts, pecans, almonds), or chopped-up candy bars (Snickers, Skor, Heath, etc.).
When combining candies for the Candy Bar Cookies filling, mix things up. I include nutty bars (Baby Ruth, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Almond Joy) with caramel and nougat bars (Milky Way, Three Musketeers) and cookie or crisp bars (Kit Kat, Twix,
What about Tootsie Rolls, Whoppers, Milk Duds, and caramel squares? While these will all melt in the oven and taste great, they tend to get overly chewy when baked, so use them sparingly, if at all. Definitely avoid strongly flavored (like mint or cinnamon) candies, as these will overwhelm any other flavors. -- D.D.S.
