Candy Spiders Food

CANDY SPIDERS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil.
• Unroll the wheels of black string licorice and cut it into segments about 1 1/2-inch long. If you have regular black licorice, cut it into quarters lengthwise, then cut the long strips into small 1 1/2-inch segments.
• Arrange the black licorice segments in groups of 8 on the baking sheet, forming a starburst pattern to represent the spider's legs. The body will cover the center portion of the starburst, so don't worry about exact placement.
• Place the chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave them until melted, stirring after every minute to prevent overheating.
• Add the marshmallows and the crisped rice cereal to the chocolate and stir until the candy is well-mixed.
• Using a teaspoon, drop small clumps of the candy mixture onto the prepared leg clusters, making sure that the spider's body is centered in the middle of the legs.
• While the chocolate is still wet, add two small candies to represent the spider's eyes.
• Place the tray of spiders in the refrigerator to set the chocolate, about 30 minutes.
• Serve at room temperature.

PECAN-CARAMEL SPIDERS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with waxed paper and lightly spray with nonstick spray. Mound 30 small clusters of pecans, about 3 or 4 pecans each, spaced a couple inches apart on the pan.
• Make caramel: Warm the cream over low heat and keep warm while you cook the sugar.
• Put the sugar and corn syrup and in a deep, heavy-bottomed large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Stop stirring, raise heat to medium-high, and simmer until the sugar reaches the hard crack stage, or 305 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 7 minutes.
• Whisk the butter and salt into the sugar mixture. Gradually pour in the cream and vanilla taking care since the mixture will bubble up. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar reaches soft ball stage, 240 degrees F on the thermometer, about 5 minutes more. Immediately remove from the heat and cool for a minute.
• Ladle a couple tablespoons of warm caramel over some of the nut clusters, to make the spider bodies. Then press 6 pieces of licorice into the warm caramel to make the legs. Repeat with the remaining caramel and licorice. (It's helpful to have an extra hand here, since the caramel can set quickly. If caramel hardens, warm over very low heat. ) Let spiders cool 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the chocolates in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1-inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, 2 to 3 minutes more.)
• Spoon about 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate on top of each spider. Sprinkle with jimmies or chocolate curls, if desired. Let cool until firm.

CANDY SPIDERS

Steps:

• Cut a sliver off top of each gumdrop to expose sticky interior. Repeat with black licorice drops. Gently press cut side of 1 gumdrop (body) onto cut side of 1 black licorice drop (head). Repeat.
• Using a skewer, poke 2 shallow holes into each licorice-drop head for eyes, and poke 8 shallow holes (4 on each side) into each gumdrop body for legs. Gently press 1 nonpareil into each eye hole. Cut a small slit in the midpoint of each licorice lace, being careful not to cut all the way through, to create joints on legs. Insert 1 licorice leg into each hole in body.

CHOCOLATE SPIDERS

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate confectioners' coating and place into a heatproof bowl over simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the chow mein noodles so they are evenly distributed. Spoon out to desired size onto waxed paper. Let cool completely before storing or serving.

SPIDERWEBS CANDY

Steps:

• Serve and enjoy!

EDIBLE SPIDERS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and butter. Microwave until melted. Stir occasionally until chocolate is smooth. Pour chocolate into a sealable plastic bag and set aside.
• Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Stick 4 chow mein noodles into each side of marshmallow for legs, and arrange on wax paper. Using scissors, cut one corner off the bag of melted chocolate. Drizzle over the marshmallow spiders. Attach 2 candies to each marshmallow for eyes. Chill until chocolate hardens.

CHOCOLATE SPIDERS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate for 2 minutes at 50% power, stirring after 1 minute. Stir until melted; let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in marshmallows. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Cut licorice into 2-in. pieces; press eight pieces into each mound for legs. Press two chocolate balls into each for eyes. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.

CARAMEL NUT BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 310 degrees and space half bag of unwrapped candies on two parchment lined baking sheets. Melt until JUST softened (Around 5-7 minutes) and pull off bits and stretch into 1" - 1 1/2" spider legs. You'll have to keep placing baking sheets into the oven to reheat and I won't lie-this part is tedious.
• Once your poor, semi-burned fingers feel like snapping and you just can't make any more, the fun begins! Using any small nuggets of candy left on your sheet, use a pair of long stemmed tweezers and torch to heat. Glue one macadamia nut and half of one peanut together. You can adhere these on a flat parchment-lined surface OR you can glue the peanut upwards on a slight angle and make spiders that look as though they're ready to pounce!
• Use a brûlée torch or hand held lighter to heat base joints of spider legs and apply 8 to each nut cluster. Once your spiders are adequately horrifying, spray the tops with a quick burst of food coloring spray and prepare to terrify and amaze your guests.