Candy

Nightmare on Elm Street Freddie Kruger Halloween Bowl Holder (YIKES!)

September 16, 2021 By Joi Sigers

This A Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger Candy Bowl Holder (Amazon Link) would be SO up my oldest daughter and oldest son-in-law’s haunted alley it isn’t even funny. They love Halloween as much as some people love oxygen and go ALL OUT each year – inside the house and outside the house, they leave no doubt as to what season it is!

A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of his favorite movies of all time (right up there with Top Gun), so I know this candy bowl holder would make his entire Halloween season!

If you embrace Halloween like they do, you might want to click through and take a closer look at this macabre little dude.

Product Description from Amazon:

Lightweight injection molded figure crafted from heavy duty foam, with hollow back designed to stand flush against a wall
Base is approximately 10-inch square, stands approximately 18-inches tall
Includes plastic bowl, 9.75” across and 3.5″ deep
Officially licensed figure adds personality to your home or office
Not just for candy, can be used to hold business cards, keys, coins, pens, party favors, and much more

For more information and a closer look (if you aren’t scared!) see A Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger Candy Bowl Holder (Amazon Link).

“Candy Cookies” – No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies (With Gluten-Free Option)

September 26, 2019 By Joi Sigers

Over the years, I have baked, sliced, cut, and molded every kind of cookie imaginable. Given that I am the human equivalent of Cookie Monster who also happens to love to bake – this is completely understandable. Expected, even.

What isn’t understandable or expected, however, is the fact that one of my absolute favorite cookies is one of the simplest.

What’s more, it doesn’t even have to be baked. No need to turn the oven on for these guys!

Most people refer to this type of cookie as “No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies” or “Haystacks.” When my daughters were little, I would actually shape them into little haystacks because they got such a kick out of how they looked.

Today, however, I just drop them by a tablespoon onto parchment paper and allow them to spread. I have always referred to them as “Cookies that are Really Candy,” I recently began calling them Candy Cookies. By gosh… that’s what they are after all!

Below is the easy as it gets recipe.

Notes:

For gluten-free cookies, use gluten-free oats. I use Quaker Gluten-Free 1 Minute Quick Oats… available online or in just about any store.
If you want “haystacks,” use a teaspoon when you drop onto the paper. As the mixture cools, shape the cookies into cute little haystacks.
For the “Candy Cookies” pictured here, use a tablespoon to drop the mixture onto the parchment paper.
Keeping the ingredients for these cookies on hand at all times is always the right thing to do – especially during the months leading up to Christmas. You never know when you’ll need to whip up a batch of something delicious to give as a “Well.. of course I got you something too!” gift. Been there, cooked that.

"Candy Cookies" - No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies

September 26, 2019

by Joi Sigers

Category Candy Christmas Recipes Cookies Quick and Easy Recipes

"Candy Cookies" - No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

3 cups white sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups peanut butter
4-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats (I use Quaker Gluten-Free Oats)

Instructions

In a medium saucepan *over medium heat) - combine sugar, butter, and milk.
Bring to a rapid boil and boil for 1 minute. A rapid boil doesn't just mean when it "comes to a boil." You need for it to be boiling all across the top at a frenzied pace.
Remove from the heat.
Add the vanilla and peanut butter and stir well.
Mix in the oats - stir to combine well.
Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed or parchment paper.
Allow to cool until set.

America’s Favorite Jelly Bean Flavors, By State

March 7, 2018 By Joi Sigers

What’s your favorite flavor of jelly bean? Mine are grape, cherry and strawberry – pretty crazy about each, but if I had to pick one, it’d be grape. I was really shocked by the results of the favorite jelly bean flavors around the country (see the interactive map below). Licorice?! Seriously?? That’s undoubtedly my LEAST favorite, and here it is a favorite with a lot of people. In fact, it’s the favorite in my own state (Kentucky).

People, what are you thinking?! Grape’s where it’s at. Or cherry or strawberry…. watermelon or green apple, even.

I’m giving myself a craving for jelly beans now. I’ll leave you with the map and see if I can find some in our Easter candy dish. Some grape ones, that is.

Source: 10+ years online candy sales data from CandyStore.com.

Interactive Map Credit: Candy Store

2017 America’s Favorite Halloween Candy (Interactive State by State Map)

October 18, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Can you even believe Halloween is so close?! Blows my mind just how fast time passes. I’m actually pretty bummed about it because I LOVE this time of year (September – January) SO much that I want it to crawl at a snail’s pace. Unfortunately, it runs at a cougar’s pace and is over before you know what hit you.

Halloween (the first “holiday” of the stretch) is just days away and candy is on all our minds! The fun interactive map below will show you each state’s favorite Halloween candy. Simply hover your cursor over your state to see the favorite candy for your area.

Source: CandyStore.com.

If you’re unable to see a large enough version of this map, click through the link above for a much, much larger map.

Sally’s Candy Addiction (Review)

October 26, 2015 By Joi Sigers

Sally’s Candy Addiction and Peanut Butter Buckeyes (Page 53)

I’ve made myself a Chai Tea Latte and am sitting down to do my best to give Sally’s Candy Addiction the review it deserves. The more I like a cookbook, the harder it is to do a review. I get so excited that my adjectives tend to run around and bump into each other. I’m hoping the Chai Tea Latte will give them some direction.

When I was sent a copy of Sally’s Candy Addiction to review, I didn’t just walk back in the house with book in hand, I flew. My outside cats never knew I could move so fast. The inside cat knows – after all, she witnesses it each time a chocolate craving hits me.

I have always been a huge candy lover – eating it AND making it. I’m one of those who makes candy year-round. I just don’t understand those people who only make candy at Christmas.

What’s up with that anyway?

I almost always have some sort of fudge or other candy made up for my family to enjoy – a fact that has always set well with my husband, daughters, and sons-in-law and their many sweet teeth. Candy make their days sweeter which, in turn, makes my life sweeter.

Whether you’re a candy addict like me and the lovely author, Sally McKenney, or tend to make candy only a couple of times of year – Sally’s Candy Addiction simply has to be the next cookbook you buy. Actually, it should be the next anything you buy.

I think a lot of people would make candy more often if they realized that it isn’t as tough as they think. When most people think of candy making, they picture temperamental candy thermometers, hard to make fudge, and diva-like divinity.

Okay, okay, I’ll admit it. Divinity can be a real diva, but fudge isn’t remotely hard to get along with and today’s thermometers couldn’t be more agreeable. Many candy cookbooks in the past would lead you to believe that candy making takes endless time, ingredients, and patience. In her gorgeous, colorful, and endlessly FUN cookbook, Sally McKenney proves that candy making isn’t difficult and it doesn’t require endless time, ingredients, or patience.

One of my favorite recipes from the book (Chocolate Crunch Candy Bars, page 59) only has two ingredients. Two!

In addition to tons of delicious, easy to follow recipes, Sally’s Candy Addiction has an opening section that serves as sort of a Candy Making 101 – whether you’re new to candy making or a sticky-handed pro, you’ll absolutely love this section. You’ll refer to it often as you enjoy the delectable world of candy making.

Some of the topics covered in this section include:

kitchen essentials for making candy
why you needn’t fear the candy thermometer
the difference between chocolate tempering and melting
candy cooking stages
candy-making basics
key ingredients, with Sally’s expert advice on each

Chapters in Sally’s Candy Addiction:

Can’t Beat a Classic
The Chocolate-Covered Chapter
Endless Truffles
Caramel, Toffee, and Brittle
Nuts and Sweet Treats
Oh-So Fabulous Fudge
Just Add Candy

Recipes in Sally’s Candy Addiction Include:

Marshmallows
Southern-Style Pecan Pralines
Easy Vanilla Buttercreams
Candy Apples
Vanilla Cake Pops
Strawberry Buttercreams
Chocolate Coconut Candy Bars
Strawberry Pretzel Bark
Simply Chocolate Truffles
Caramel for Dipping
Chewy Cream Caramels
Easy Pretzel Toffee
Salted Honey Cashew Brittle
Peanut Brittle
Sweet Heat Caramel Corn
Pretzel M&M’s Puppy Chow
Popcorn Balls
Rocky Road Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge
Fluffernutter Swirl Fudge
Shortcut Chocolate Fudge
Birthday Cake Fudge
Cookies ‘N’ Cream Fudge
The Great Milky Way Cake
Snickers Cheesecake
Crazy Candy Deep-Dish Cookie Cake
And many, many more…

In a candy-coated nutshell, Sally’s Candy Addiction Cookbook is the only candy cookbook you’ll ever need. Throw out any candy cookbooks you have that make candy making sound as complicated as calculus or as fun as a tooth extraction and replace them all with Sally’s Candy Addiction.

Order your own copy today and (like me!) you can begin testing out candy recipes for Christmas baking and gift-giving. My family loves when that sort of thing goes on.

Not only are there countless candies that’ll be ideal for delicious gift-giving, you might also consider grabbing one or two copies of the book for gift giving as well – paired along with a great candy thermometer, it’d be the sweetest gift imaginable.

The way I figure it, anyone I give a copy of this book to will make some candy that they’d feel compelled to share with me.

Always thinking. Always.

About the Author

Sally McKenney is a food blogger with an enormous sweet tooth. Or should we say… a mouth of sweet teeth! She worked in finance for four years before dedicating herself full time to the millions of fans that follow her increasingly popular website and now books,Sally’s Baking Addiction and Sally’s Candy Addiction. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband, Kevin, and their rescue German Shepard/Rottweiler mix, Jude. Sally is a food blogger for People.com. When Sally isn’t on the computer, practicing yoga, or spending time with family and friends, you can find her baking in the kitchen or behind the camera.

Sally’s favorite dessert is apple pie, and her perfect weekend would always involve baking something yummy and hiking with Kevin and Jude.

See Sally’s Candy Addiction for more information.

Christmas Candy Dishes (I’ll Take One of Each, Please)

December 9, 2014 By Joi Sigers

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Candy Dish

Whenever someone says they have a “sweet tooth,” I think, “Hmmmm, wonder what it’s like to just have one.” Every tooth in my head is a sweet tooth. That’s why the only tea I know is “sweet tea,” why I add more sugar to just about every recipe than is called for, and why I get the shakes if I don’t have AT ALL TIMES a Hershey’s with Almonds candy bar nearby.

The closer, the better.

As you’d imagine, candy dishes are something of an obsession of mine. My candy dishes rotate with the seasons and holidays. A favorite is one shaped like a ghost that haunts our counter from September to November. I started collecting candy dishes a few years ago and – like collecting salt and pepper shakers – have found it to be great fun. Amazon.com is a perfect source for both salt and pepper shakers and candy dishes by the way. They have gazillions of unique pretties.

Collecting candy dishes also gives me an excuse to buy more candy. “Oops, one of the candy dishes is empty, better make or buy more candy…”

I recently (can you say GRAND CLUTZ???) broke one of my favorite Christmas candy dishes, so I’m on the hunt for one to replace it. After all, is nine really enough?

The Christmas Candy Dishes shown here are a few I’m considering. I’ve got a system, I figure if I blog about them – I can buy one and other members of my family can buy me the rest.

Ho Ho Ho!

The Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat Candy Dish shown at the top is fun, bright,festive, and (as far as I’m concerned) a must have.

Santa Claus Candy Dishes:

Santa Feet Candy Bowl

Set of 2 Santa Christmas Holiday Treats Candy Bowls

Snowman Candy Dishes:

Snowman Candy Dish

Nostalgic Christmas Candy Dish

The beautiful Miles Kimball Red Glass Sleigh Candy Dish, below, is deliciously nostalgic. I remember my grandmother having one just like this. Each Christmas she’d have those wonderful hard candies in her sleigh candy dish. This dish would be perfect filled with nostalgic Christmas candy to make the nostalgic effect complete.

For Santa AND Snowman Lovers!

Santa and Snowman Candy Dishes (Set of 2 Plates)

Below is one that I have NO idea how I don’t already own. I mean, given my obsession with all things Hershey, how could this oversight have ever taken place? The beautiful thing about this candy dish is that it could stay out year round. Hershey’s Kisses from January to December… now that’s what I’m talking about!

Hersheys Kiss Crystal Candy DishLast… but far from least… is a gorgeous Christmas Candy dish set that I’m not going to go another Christmas without! The Glass Candy Dishes – Set of 3 Gift Box Shaped Dishes with Lids (pictured below) is absolutely breathtaking and no candy dish collection is complete without it. Wow. Wow. Wow!

Find even more Christmas Candy Dishes on Amazon!

Amazon.com Widgets

Super Cool Gift Idea: Retro Candy Gift Baskets

December 1, 2014 By Joi Sigers

1970’s Holiday Retro Candy Gift BoxThe funnest gifts to give are those that are unexpected, unique, and totally original. Gifts no one else has thought of, let alone bought.

The retro candy boxes and gift sets in this post are IDEAL for anyone.. well, anyone WITH teeth and WITHOUT diabetes, that is. You give candy to anyone fitting these descriptions and you might just be called a Grinch or Scrooge.

Or worse.

I think any of these would make wonderful gift ideas for everyone else, though! Trips down memory lane can be great fun, especially when you have someone with you. Give a loved one a chance to take you on a trip down memory lane with them – the best kind of trip too… one with candy.

Now, that’s one sweet trip.

Whether you’re looking for a fun Christmas gift, the perfect (and oh so appropriate) birthday gift, or something special for a High School reunion, these adorable and delicious retro candy gift sets redefine perfection.

Sweet Holiday Memories Retro Candy Assortment (less than $17!)I know a few young ladies in my family who’d get a HUGE kick out of the 1980’s Retro Candy Gift Box, pictured below.

The same girls would also love the 1990’s Retro Candy Gift Box (below). Are you like me… do you tend to think of the 90’s as “just 10 years ago.” Don’t get me wrong, I can do basic math, I just tend to think of them as more recent as they really were.

When I first saw the “1990’s Retro Candy,” I thought, “Retro? But that’s so recent…” then the math kicked in and I consented to let Retro stand. Don’t depress yourself by doing the math, just trust me on this one.

There are TONS of retro and vintage candy gift baskets, boxes, and sets on Amazon…. with every decade you can imagine. There are gift sets under $20 and there are gift sets over $20. Big sets, small sets… you’re bound to find just the right gift.

There are even 1940’s candy gift baskets! Seriously? How adorable.

Simply click through any of the links or the following one (Retro Candy Gifts) to jump right in and look around.

These would honestly make wonderful, unexpected, and fun gifts for anyone… okay, just about anyone.

1950’s Retro Candy Gift Box

1960’s Retro Candy Gift Box

Amazon.com Widgets

300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes (Review)

June 10, 2014 By Joi Sigers

The Definitive Collection of Candy Recipes!

I was recently sent a great candy cookbook to review, FILLED with some of the best recipes of all time. I was actually planning to save my review of 300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes: Brittles, Caramels, Chocolate, Fudge, Truffles and So Much More for September because I wanted to tell you all about it right before Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas baking.

Then, this morning, it hit me – what if you’d like to try out some of these recipes over the summer before making candy for your family and gifts.

Besides, is it ever the wrong time to make candy?

I’ve read a lot of candy cookbooks in my time (I even own a couple of great ones), but I’ve never seen a collection of candy recipes quite like this one. Not only does this cookbook contain every type of candy you can imagine, it has a lot you could never even begin to mentally conjure up!

One of my favorite things about 300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes is the fact that each recipe has ingredients you can easily find – no matter where you live, you won’t find yourself asking, “Will my store even have that… and, if not, what am I going to use for a substitute???”

The recipes are also highly do-able, for any level of cook – newbies and veterans, alike. The step-by-step instructions are crystal clear and the author includes countless tips and advice that can only come with experience.

Even though I’m a chocoholic and am more fudge and divinity obsessed than anyone has a right to be, the first recipe I actually looked for when the cookbook came in the mail was for a childhood candy I remember my mom making – “Potato Candy.” It’s hard to find the recipe and on the few occasions I have come across Potato Candy recipes, they’re never “quite” like I remember.

I’m THRILLED to say that I found exactly what I was looking for on page 104 – the Potato Candy recipe I remember and I’m beside myself with happiness!. It’s called “Potato Pinwheels” and has the exact ingredients I remember using when I made this candy with my mom – a cooked potato, vanilla, confectioner’s sugar, peanut butter, and pecans (or walnuts or peanuts).

Tuxedo Fudge (left) and Chocolate-Cherry Creams and Elegant Sparkling Strawberries (right)

Some of the 300 Candy Recipes Include:

Elegant Sparkling Strawberries (Gorgeous for Christmas!)
Buckeyes
Golf Balls
Potato Fudge
Classic Pecan Roll
Caramel Pecan Roll
White Taffy (and other taffy recipes)
Glass Candy
New Orleans Roasted Pecan Pralines
Mom’s Divinity
Cherry-Nut Nougat
Peppermint Taffy (also a must for Christmas)
Brown Sugar Taffy
Chocolate Fudge Recipes
Five-Minute Fudge
Christmas Fudge
Candied Citrus Peel
Peanut Butter Fudge Recipes
Creamy White Fudge
Pumpkin Fudge (A Halloween tradition)
Creamy Orange Fudge
Coconut Fudge
A lot of other fudge recipes!
Martha Washingtons
Coconut Bonbons
Kentucky Bourbon Balls
Spiced Pecans
County Fair Nuts
Toffee
Lollipops (again, great fun for Halloween)
Old Fashioned Popcorn Balls
Microwave Caramel Popcorn
Carnival Candied Apples
Old-Fashioned Caramel Apples
Simple Barks (White Chocolate, Chocolate-Nut, Cherry Almond…)
Chocolate Coconut Drops
Chocolate Marshmallow Turtles
Triple Delight Pecan Patties
Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Rocky Road
Heavenly Hash
Caramel-Nut Marshmallows

And the list goes on and on and on and on.

Marry Me Toffee (left) and Lollipops (Right)

Book Description:

The step-by-step candy bible for home candy-makers.

With hundreds of recipes for mouthwatering candies, chocolates, pralines, crèmes, fudges, toffee, holiday treats and no-bake cookies, this candy cookbook covers the traditional to the exotic.

Complete with easy-to-follow instructions and 75 step-by-step photos, this is a treasure trove of information and inspiring recipes. Although many are intimidated at the thought of making candies at home, Jane Sharrock shows how to master a few basic principles that every candy maker should know. She makes it easy to produce delicious goodies in the home kitchen.

See 300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes for more information. This is definitely a cookbook you’ll want to have in your candy-making hands long before Halloween and Christmas. This is going to be our most delicious holiday season ever.

Give Them Something They’ll LOVE: Top 10 Gift Ideas from Oh! Nuts

November 14, 2013 By Joi Sigers

If you’re like me, you’re just now starting your Christmas shopping. Sometimes it’s tough to come up with original gift ideas that you know your loved ones will actually use and enjoy. None of us have so much money just lying around that we can risk buying something for someone that they may never use.

‘Tis the Season Holiday Gift Tower

Below are the Top 10 Gift Ideas (well, according t me, anyway) from Oh! Nuts. Click each for more information. There’s one thing for certain when it comes to food gifts – they will be used and they will be enjoyed.

Simply buy their favorite nuts in bulk and put them in a gift bag. They’re nutritious, delicious, and make a perfect snack. Bulk Pistachios are always a hit.
‘Tis the Season Holiday Gift Tower: Three festive boxes filled with Delicious Premium Nuts, Candy & Chocolate.
Let it Snow Holiday Gift Set: Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Chocolate Covered Peanuts, Viennese Crunch, Red & Green Foiled Chocolate Truffles, and Roasted Salted Mixed Nuts
Beautiful Large Holiday Beaded Gift Tray with Jordan Almonds, Christmas Chocolate Cordials, Roasted Salted Pistachios, Cashews, Chocolate Covered Peanuts, and more. The beautiful tray can be kept and used.
Golf Ball Nut Gift (pictured below) – Beautiful ceramic bowl shaped like a golf ball and filled with nuts of your choice. Love this!
Let it Snow Hand-Decorated Cookies – These are extra beautiful (pictured below).
Truffles Gift Box – Great assortment of top-of-the-line parve praline filled chocolate truffles that are surprisingly inexpensive.
Football Nut Gift – I’m definitely ordering this for one of my sons-in-law. In fact, there are about 5 people on my Christmas list that this would be ideal for…
Basketball Nut Gift – Like the Football Nut Gift, but with an adorable basketball instead of football. There’s also a Soccer Ball Nut Gift!
For anyone with a sweet tooth, Oh! Nuts has the best gift ideas imaginable. They have everything from a Tripod Chair Nosh Galore (a usable, comfortable chair that folds flat – filled with delicious snacks and candies… an insanely original and unique gift idea) to Mini Gumball Machines.

There are countless other Christmas and Hanukkah gift ideas. Click through any link shown and see all the original and delicious ideas. You just can’t go wrong when you give deliciousness as a gift.

Holiday Baking with Oh! Nuts: The Best Walnut Chocolate Fudge Recipe

November 14, 2013 By Joi Sigers

When I love a product, I am possibly the most loyal consumer in the world. I use it so frequently it becomes second nature. Oh! Nuts is my GO TO source for nuts. Period. People who aren’t as nuts for nuts as I am may say, “A nut’s a nut,” but I beg to differ. I love everything about Oh! Nuts – from the website to the packaging. The entire experience of shopping, ordering, and receiving is a joy and no one will ever convince me that the nuts don’t taste and even LOOK better than all other nuts.

They recently sent me a few bags of nuts to use in holiday recipes and, even though it’s just the middle of November, I’ve already taken a few “test drives.” The recipe below is for my favorite Walnut Chocolate Fudge – made with Oh! Nuts sensational walnuts.

Best Walnut Chocolate Fudge

Yield: 45 pieces of the best fudge you ever ate

2 cups sugar
3/4 Cups milk
2 squares (2 oz) unsweetened chocolate (cut up)
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 – 3/4 cups Oh! Nuts walnuts, chopped (or, if you’re extra clever, buy their Chopped Walnuts and save yourself a little trouble)

Lin a 9x5x3 inch pan with foil (or buy a disposable tin pan). Extend the foil over the edges and butter the bottom and sides.
Butter the sides of a heavy 2 Qt saucepan. Combine the sugar, milk, chocolate, and corn syrup in the buttered saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat to boiling. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon, being careful not to splash any on the sides of the pan. After about 5 minutes, the sugar should be dissolved – this is when you want to clip on your Candy Thermometer on the inside of the pan. Make sure the bulb on the end is fully immersed in the chocolate mixture, but don’t let it touch the bottom of the pan.
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until the candy thermometer registers 234 degrees (the “soft ball stage”). You want the mixture to boil at a moderate but steady rate across the top. Reaching the “soft ball stage” usually takes between 20 and 25 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the 2 tablespoons of butter and vanilla extract. DO NOT STIR. Cool – without stirring – to 110 degrees on your candy thermometer. This usually takes just under an hour, between 50 and 55 minutes.
Remove the candy thermometer from the pan. Beat the mixture vigorously with the wooden spoon until the fudge begins to thicken. Now add the walnuts. Continue beating with your wooden spoon until the fudge becomes very thick and begins to lose its shiny gloss (about 7 minutes total).
Quickly pour (more like plop) the fudge into your buttered pan and, while the fudge is still warm, score it into 1 inch squares. When candy is firm, use the foil to lift it out of the pan and cut into squares.
Store tightly covered.

Nightmare on Elm Street Freddie Kruger Halloween Bowl Holder (YIKES!)

America’s Favorite Jelly Bean Flavors, By State

2017 America’s Favorite Halloween Candy (Interactive State by State Map)

Sally’s Candy Addiction (Review)