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chocolate

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A fun sized history lesson on fun sized candy bars

Shouldn’t “fun sized” candy bars be really big and the ones given out on Halloween you eat in one bite be named something less rosy? It’s a question just about every kid in the past 50 years has asked themselves on Oct. 31. But just when did these bite-sized Butterfingers and snack-sized Snickers become the norm? Well, it seems the first shrunken versions of popular candy bars can be credited to the former Chicago-based Curtiss Candy Company. Now part of Nestlé thanks to a series of mergers and acquisitions, the company produced a “Buddie” size Baby Ruth bar in the early 1930s. “Junior” sized versions of their Baby Ruth and Butterfingers candy bars came along in the 1950s. Hershey also got in on the game early when it began selling its sleek “Miniatures” candy bars in 1939. Small candy bars had been well established by the time candy manufacturer Mars…

Is white chocolate actually chocolate?

White chocolate is one of those polarizing foods like black licorice, Brussel sprouts and cilantro — you either love it or you hate it. But what actually is white chocolate, and can it really be considered chocolate? Let’s first look at chocolate in general Chocolate needs no introduction. You’ve had it. You love it in all its forms: bunnies, bars, brownies. But what makes chocolate, chocolate? Well, both the dark kind and the milk kind contain cocoa solids or cocoa powder — which give them their rich brown color — as well as the fatty cocoa butter — the fat that gives them their creamy mouthfeel. White chocolate just has cocoa butter — no cocoa. Both milk chocolate and white chocolate also typically include some amount of milk or cream powder, sugar, and sometimes vanilla or other add-ins. where does cocoa butter come from? Cocoa butter is the foundation of…

Football whoopie pies are a total touchdown for game day desserts

Football season has officially kicked off, so bring on the food! These football-shaped whoopie pies will score points for being delicious as well as adorable. They’ll be the MVP of your tailgating table. Note: If you’re making these in the off season, or if you’re shorter on time, you can, of course, make this recipe without forming cookie batter into footballs.  Football Whoopie Pies Makes about 48 cookies, or 24 gobs Ingredients For the cookies 2 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cup cocoa 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 cup hot water (in a large glass) 2/3 cup milk 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp butter flavoring For the filling 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp butter flavoring 3 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 tbsp milk (if necessary) Directions Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a…

Sandy Bottom Shark Bark

Take a big bite out of Shark Week with this fun and festive Shark Bark. (It’s also great for ocean-themed or shark birthday parties, too!) The “sandy” Ritz cracker bottom tastes like delicious toffee. The swirly water layer is made with melted white chocolate. And if you like a little bloody realism to your Shark Bark, add a few drops of red food coloring! Top with big, blue gummy sharks. Then crack into pieces for an incredibly delicious, totally jawsome dessert! What you will need: cookie sheet spoon parchment paper space in your refrigerator for cookie sheet oven set to 375ºF. Sandy Bottom Shark Bark Ingredients Ritz crackers (about 1 1/2 sleeves of standard size box) 1/3 cup butter 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 packages white chocolate chips blue food coloring red food coloring gummy sharks Directions Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place Ritz…

Peanut Butter Fluff Fat Bomb

Keto friends, prepare to be amazed. This Peanut Butter Fluff is low in carbs and rich in healthy fats, meaning it’s keto diet approved. Plus bonus: it only takes six basic ingredients to create this delicious dessert, so you’ll actually want to make it all the time. Not keto? You’re going to love the rich flavor and airy texture of this easy-to-make dessert anyway. Feel free to substitute your everyday confectioners sugar for the Swerve and use regular milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips if you don’t need to go strictly low-carb. But, if you’re having a gathering catering to a slew of different diets, stick with the low-carb version. Pipe into small jars for presentation. It will be irresistible to all. Peanut Butter Fluff Fat Bomb Makes about 4 servings Ingredients 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 1/4 tbsp natural peanut butter 5…

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs

I must admit that I’m not on the keto diet. In fact, I was even skeptical of it at first. But I’ve had enough friends find success on keto for me to think there must really be something there. Plus, I love that people on keto don’t complain about keto. There are enough foods available on the diet to keep them satiated and not feeling grumpy — they’re still fun to hang out with! Not that other diets can make us cranky… or wait. Yes. Yes they do. My keto friends were feeling left out of the Everybody Craves page. Except for a few low carb smoothies, I hadn’t shown them much love. Time to change that. This recipe comes from my friend (and videographer!) Jess, who loves this recipe so much that when she accidentally let a baggie full of these melt in her hot car, she called it…

15 fun ways to take S’mores beyond the campfire

S’mores are delicious. If you disagree, we’ll, we’re no longer digital food world friends. Now, if you say they’re a pain to eat, they’re messy, and they leave you wondering if your face is covered in melted chocolate, gooey marshmallow, graham cracker crumbs, or all three — now I can relate. S’mores are seriously one of the most perfect trio combinations. Give me tomato, basil, and mozzarella caprese salad for dinner and a s’more for dessert, and I’ll be in a sort of summertime seventh heaven. But I do agree they are a serious mess. Most of the time the whole s’more doesn’t even make it into my mouth. The chocolate will ooze out, or a giant piece of cracker will fall into the fire. Thankfully, s’mores ingredients are insanely versatile and you can get super creative with them. From milkshakes to cheesecakes, here are 15 fun ways to enjoy…

Brownie batter dessert hummus recipe

Yes, you read that right. This recipe calls for melted chocolate and chickpeas… together! When I learned about “dessert hummus” I couldn’t decide if it was some crazy gimmick or pure, culinary genius. You can now firmly file me in the latter category. If you’re all about the edible cookie dough trend, or if you can’t stop licking the brownie batter from the bowl, this recipe is definitely for you. No raw eggs here! Just protein-and fiber-packed garbanzos, chocolate, a pinch of flaky salt, and a splash of vanilla. It makes a thick and creamy spread, just like regular hummus, except it’s sweet, so it’s great for smearing on breakfast toast. Use it in place of those unhealthy hazelnut spreads. Dip fresh fruit, pretzels, pitas or eat by the spoonful for a healthier alternative to sweet snacking any time of day. And try easy Banana Dessert Hummus, too! 5-ingredient Chocolate…

Why do we eat chocolate bunnies on Easter?

It’s hard to imagine what a chocolate rabbit has to do with anything in the religious realm. I mean, we’re not complaining — It’s a deliciously adorable Easter treat enjoyed by millions across the globe. But it’s just that, well, how did a milk chocolate mammal become the unofficial symbol of Christianity’s spring holiday? According to Time, the origins of Easter can be traced back to the pagans who celebrated Eostre, the goddess of fertility. Of course, reproduction is what rabbits do best, so it’s fitting that Eostre’s animal symbol was a bunny. Fast forward to the eighteenth century. Christian holidays had long since taken favor over pagan holidays, but some of the symbols and imagery were reappropriated. Part of the tradition of the Easter holiday in Germany included the folklore of an egg-laying rabbit named “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” As Germans immigrated to the United States in the 1700s, so too…

How much sugar should you really allow your kids?

For kids, Easter morning means one thing — a big basket of candy. It’s a part of many childhoods — the egg dying, wearing your Sunday best, and biting ears-first into a giant chocolate rabbit. You try to limit your kid to just a few handfuls of jelly beans, but you turn your back for five minutes and they’ve devoured enough candy to fuel their whole year. While the candy-coma isn’t an actual medical condition, an excess of sugar and sweets can definitely take a toll on your child’s health. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), children shouldn’t have more than 3-6 teaspoons (12-25 grams) of added sugar per day. Eating too much sugar can actually make us crave more sugar, which can ultimately lead to everything from cavities, to obesity, and heart disease. In line with the AHA, the World Health Organization recommends that “free sugars” (sugars from…