Nutty Caramel Marshmallow Pops Food

CARAMEL NUT MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Place nuts in a shallow dish. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine caramels and water. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 30-90 seconds or until melted, stirring twice., Dip each marshmallow into melted caramel, then roll in pecans. Place on prepared baking sheet. Let marshmallows stand until set.

BUNNY BUTT MARSHMALLOW POPS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment, Put 4 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips or wafers and 2 teaspoons shortening or coconut oil in a glass bowl and melt at 50 percent power in a microwave at 30 seconds intervals, stirring after each, until melted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stick 12 yellow marshmallow bunnies (such as Peeps) onto 12 lollipop sticks. Dip the bunnies, one at a time, in the chocolate coating, spreading with a small spatula and tapping off the excess on the side of the bowl. Set the bunnies on the parchment-lined baking sheet and add halved mini marshmallows for tails. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
• Bunny face variation: Instead of the tail, add 2 small edible candy eyes. Attach a small orange jelly bean to each for a carrot. Halve small green jelly beans and snip the ends to resemble carrot tops and attach to the base of the carrot.

MARSHMALLOW POPS

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate- or white chocolate-almond bark (or both) in a double boiler (melt separately if using both). Next, melt the blue and orange candy melting wafers separately in double boilers. Stir them all until they are nice and smooth. These will be your marshmallow coatings.
• One by one, dip the very tip of each lollipop stick into one of the coatings. Then stick that end of the stick into a marshmallow until it's not quite all the way through. Repeat with the rest of the marshmallows, standing them up as you go.
• Next, roll each marshmallow in the coating of your choice, and then tap the stick gently on the side of the double boiler to get rid of the excess. Using your fingers, sprinkle the topping of your choice all over the coating. For a rocky road version, dip in the chocolate and roll in the chopped pecans. For a s'mores version, dip in the chocolate and roll in the graham cracker crumbs. For a cookies and cream version, dip in the white chocolate and roll in the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.
• Set the pops, stick-side up, on a piece of waxed paper, or stick them into florist foam (used to make flowers stand up).

CARAMEL-NUT MARSHMALLOW POPS

Steps:

• Microwave the caramels, milk and butter in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until caramels are completely melted and sauce is well blended, stirring after each minute. I have found that allowing this to cool slightly allows for a better adhesion.
• Insert a lollipop stick into 1 marshmallow; dip in caramel sauce, then in nuts. Place on waxed-paper covered baking sheet.
• Repeat with remaining marshmallows, sauce and nuts. Let stand 20 minute or until caramel coating is firm.

NUTTY CARAMEL CHIP BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add flour; mix well. Press onto bottom of 15x10x1-inch pan. Bake 15 min.
• Meanwhile, cook caramels and water in saucepan on low heat 5 to 7 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring constantly. Gradually add to eggs in medium bowl, stirring constantly with whisk until well blended. Stir in nuts; pour over crust. Sprinkle with marshmallows and chocolate morsels.
• Bake 8 to 10 min. or until marshmallows are lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

CARAMEL-NUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 15-by-10-inch rimmed baking sheet, and line with parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang on long sides; set aside. Spread nuts on another rimmed baking sheet. Toast until nuts are fragrant and lightly golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Transfer nuts to a clean surface; spread evenly, and let cool completely. Coarsely chop, and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 2 sticks of butter with the brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. With mixer on low speed, add flour and a pinch of salt; mix until just combined.
• Transfer dough to prepared baking sheet, and cover with parchment paper. Using a wine bottle or small rolling pin, roll along the length of pan to smooth dough. (Alternatively, press the dough into the pan with the back of a large spoon.) Bake until lightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Combine granulated sugar, cream of tartar, remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 cupwater in a wide, heavy-bottom saucepan. Cook over high heat, without stirring, until some sugar begins to melt and turn golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until sugar is completely melted, mixture is deep golden, and a candy thermometer registers 300 degrees (hard-crack stage). Stirring constantly, carefully pour cream slowly down the side of the pan (it will spatter) until fully combined. Remove from heat; add remaining 1/4 stick butter and stirto combine.Transfer caramel to a heatproof bowl to cool for 10 minutes.
• Stir in nuts; spread caramel mixture over cooled crust. Bake until caramel is set, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cut into 3-by-2-inch bars. Bars can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.