Choco-nut Candies

Hullo, reader! Today I give you the recipe to Choco-nut Candies, a treat I am still perfecting (a "Choco-nut Candies - Revisited" is sure to follow!); but I did want to put something up on this blog and let the world know I am not finger-less! (what other conclusion would they come to if I didn't type anything?)

To begin, here is your list of ingredients:

3/4 c. Peanut Butter

1 c. Crushed Peanuts

3 tbsp. Milk

2 tbsp. Butter (or Margarine)

3 tbsp. Cocoa Powder

1 1/2 c. Powdered Sugar

1 c. Chocolate Chips

2 tsp. Canola Oil

   First you will put 3/4 cup peanut butter, 2 (not your third yet!) tablespoons of milk, and 2 tablespoons of butter in a bowl to be mixed. I used Adams crunchy peanut butter, which has a lot more oil than some brands. Depending on the consistency of your peanut butter, you may have to compensate for its particular amount of liquid. Also as a note, I used 1% milk and margarine to be healthier. Once in the bowl, use your mixer on low for approximately 10 seconds, or until the ingredients are well mixed. Then turn the mixer on hi for approximately 20 seconds.

 

  Next, add 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, and your last tablespoon of milk and mix on low until the ingredients are homogeneous (spread evenly throughout), and then mix them on medium until the ingredients look something like...

this ->

   Make sure your hands are clean, and then mold (very tightly -- it's important!) the peanut butter mixture into spheres about an inch in diameter. Put them on a platter and place in the fridge. They will chill while you crush your peanuts.

I use dry roasted, unsalted. Place 1 cup peanuts in a zip-lock bag, put that on the counter, and use a rolling pin to smash them. Rolling with it doesn't work particularly well, but simply pressing down with it does, and the bag keeps pieces of peanut from flying across the room. The only nut I want flying around the kitchen is me.

Put your chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl, cover the bowl if you choose to prevent any un-likely spattering, and microwave it for twenty seconds. Then take it out, stir it, and add your oil. Microwave for ten seconds, take out, stir, and repeat until chocolate moves slowly when you tip the bowl. 

Next take a ball that you formed, roll it in the melted chocolate, then roll it in the crushed peanuts. Set on platter, and do the same with the 

Put them in the fridge to harden for approximately 20 minutes, then enjoy them!

Note: Since some of the ingredients require refrigeration, I recommend keeping them in the fridge. This also keeps them harder.