Did you know that M&M’s comes out with new flavors beyond just peanut and plain? Maybe because I’m not a mom, but I had no idea! So when Collective Bias asked me to come up with a recipe featuring the new M&M’s Candy Corn White Chocolate Candies, I was intrigued.
I don’t feature many desserts here at The Local Cook, but before I started to focus on eating locally I was quite the dessert queen. In fact when I was dating my husband I made him a cheesecake for our very first Valentine’s Day. While these M&M’s Candy Corn White Chocolate Candies would be AWESOME swirled in a cheesecake, I really wanted to focus on traditional Halloween treats for this particular mission. So while I probably won’t win any creativity awards, I do think these three party snacks are very tasty, would be great for getting kids involved in the kitchen, and are a lot of fun to make.
First, I headed out to WalMart (the only place that carries the new Candy Corn White Chocolate flavor). I got some inspiration for cute-ifying them. Then I went to work. You can see my shopping experience and visual tutorials here.
Corny Popcorn Balls
These were based on a recipe I found in James Beard’s American Cookery. One of my favorite Halloween treats growing up was my Grandma’s neighbor’s popcorn balls. It’s a Midwest classic that is even better with some of the white chocolate M&M’s!
Ingredients:
- 3-4 quarts lightly salted popped corn (note: I happened to have single serve microwave bags on hand, and it took 4 bags).
- 1 (9.9 oz) bag M&M’s Candy Corn White Chocolate Candies
- 2 C sugar
- 1/2 C light corn syrup
- 1/2 C water
- 2 tsp vanilla
- Pop the popcorn and place it in an oven-safe dish and keep warm in the oven.
- In a 3-qt saucepan, mix together the corn syrup, sugar, and water and bring to a boil. Continue at a boil until the candy thermometer reads 264-270. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Place the white chocolate M&M’s in a buttered or oiled LARGE mixing bowl. Carefully add the popcorn, lifting the popped kernels so that the unpopped ones stay in the bowl and don’t end up in your popcorn balls. Then pour the syrup over the whole thing, mixing with a wooden spoon until it’s cool enough to touch (but still sticky–you need to be able to form the balls).
- Spread aluminum foil or waxed paper out on your counter. Butter or oil your hands, then form balls. If you want to put them inside cute cupcake wrappers, make sure they are small enough to fit. Allow to cool.
The Verdict: These make about 12 balls. The salty popcorn and the sweet syrup plus the white chocolate was a great combination. The heat from the syrup actually made the M&M’s a little melty and they added a different texture. Warning: Do not eat if you have loose fillings or braces 🙂
Corny White Chocolate Pretzel Rods
Chocolate covered pretzels rods are another classic treat. I decided to kick it up a notch by making crystallized white chocolate M&M’s as decoration. I found cute cello bags that fit just right. In fact, when DH got home from work, he asked where I had bought them!
While you can melt the M&M’s, I didn’t have much luck, so I ended up using Wilton’s chocolate melts for the base dip, then pressed on the decorative crystallized rocks.
Ingredients:
- 1 (9.9 oz) bag M&M’s Candy Corn White Chocolate Candies
- 1 container Wilton white chocolate Candy Dips
- 1 package pretzel rods (you probably won’t use the whole bag)
- Place M&Ms in a large plastic bag. Use a hammer to smash apart the candies. In a microwaveable container, heat for one minute; stir; heat another 30 seconds; stir; continue until the candies begin to crystallize. It will start to look like those hard rock candy flakes. Set aside to cool.
- Melt the white candy dip according to package directions.
- Dip the pretzel rods into the white candy dip, then press on the crystallized M&M’s. Depending on the amount of dip and candy you use, it will make around 12 pretzel rods.
Corny Caramel Apples
This is definitely the least time-intensive of the three recipes, especially if you use the shortcut that I did and use the little caramel wraps.
Ingredients:
- 5 apples
- 1/2 (9.9 oz) bag M&M’s Candy Corn White Chocolate Candies
- either 1 package of caramel apple wraps OR caramel candies for melting. The apple wraps come with the sticks; if using caramel candies, you could just stick a fork in it as a handle.
- Follow package directions or melt caramel and dip the apple.
- Press either broken or whole M&M’s into soft caramel.
The Verdict: In the photo it shows very few M&M’s; I was running short and had eaten part of the bag so I wasn’t sure I’d have enough. The creaminess and richness of the white chocolate went so well with the caramel and apple that I wish I had covered it in whole M&M’s!
Want to try M&M’s Candy Corn White Chocolate Candies for yourself? Click here for a coupon!
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias
This post shared at Dessert Recipe Linky Party, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, A Little Birdie Told Me, Tip Me Tuesday, It’s a Keeper Thursday, Sweet Thursday, Grocery Cart Challenge, Friday Food, Friday Shout-Out
Totally making the popcorn balls! Those look so yummy!
I’ve been thinking of trying these pretzel sticks for the kids this year so I really appreciate the recipe. Everything came out super cute and looks very yummy! I love the traditional recipes and you’d be amazed at how many (including myself) just don’t have them! Thanks for sharing!
These are some great recipes! I didn’t have them either, and I would never have thought about making those pretzel rods. They look so good!
yummmmm i like to see a new take on old recipes!!! good luck in the contest
Is it legal to have caramel apples for breakfast? i hope so – ’cause I totally eat the one in your picture right now!
So cute, I espcially love the pretzel rods, my fave. Thanks for joining It’s a Keeper Thursday, I am co-hosting this week, hope you will stop by!
Oh and I shared this on my facebook wall. https://www.facebook.com/#!/Newlyweds.blog
Those treats look so good! Thanks for linking up on our Sweet Thursdays!!!
I hope I’ll see you there often! 😀
Mmmm…all three recipes are marvelous, but I’m especially eager to try the popcorn balls — a classic, and inspired by a James Beard recipe no less! Must try!
Such a pleasure to have you on “A Little Birdie Told Me…” at Rook No. 17!
I love these, I cannot wait to do some Halloween baking! Hopefully moving into our new place this weekend!
Thanks for linking up to Momtrends this week!
~Shannon, Food Channel Editor, Momtrends.com