Well, I was going to boycott Halloween. I usually go all out, it’s always been one of our favorite holidays. But since my little goblins are off to other haunted houses I thought I’d just sort of ignore the whole thing.
Easier said than done.
I realized that even though they won’t be here, I could send a little taste of Halloween to them.
And no Halloween is complete in this family without our favorite confection Chocolate Covered Tarantulas. As I was rushing to whip them up to get them packed into care packages before the mailman came, I was reminded just how fast and easy this remarkable recipe is, because in my rush, I “broke the temper” {chocolatier talk, click on tempering chocolate to learn more} of my chocolate and had to run to the store to buy more and start all over again.
By this time, the clock was really ticking, so I used the microwave method for melting the chocolate and it worked beautifully, so I thought I’d offer this “quickie” version of my original recipe, that is already pretty quick {and no bake} in case you want to whip up something spectacularly tasty {crunchy, chewy, rich, tangy, salty, what else can you ask for??} and spooky for Halloween. Also, this makes a bigger batch, because I thought, while I’m at it, why don’t I make a few more to bring to the party I’m hitting Saturday night, and share a few with the nice firemen who rescued my dog last summer {or was it the summer before?}{anyway, something that’s been on my to do list for far too long}. But I digress.
Let’s get to the chocolate!!
The other great thing about these Tarantulas is that they are durable and are good for a week so you can make them now to bring them out on Saturday night with ease.
Ingredients
yield: about 36 medium tarantulas
4 cups chow mein noodles
11 ounces Caramel Bits
{I bought these on Amazonfresh.com, a HUGE timesaver, if you have the service.
For any readers in the area – I have an extra bag I’d love to give you if you can use it!}
{I bought these on Amazonfresh.com, a HUGE timesaver, if you have the service.
For any readers in the area – I have an extra bag I’d love to give you if you can use it!}
1 each Milky Way and Three Musketeers full sized bars, 1/2 inch chop
{the nougat adds a nice texture to the spiders}OR2 cups of your favorite candy bars and/or caramels chopped into about 1/2 inch chunks…. anything goes here, one of the great things about this recipe.
If you like coconut I think Mounds bars would be divine!!
{the nougat adds a nice texture to the spiders}OR2 cups of your favorite candy bars and/or caramels chopped into about 1/2 inch chunks…. anything goes here, one of the great things about this recipe.
If you like coconut I think Mounds bars would be divine!!
2 cups dried, pitted tart Montmorency Cherries (Trader Joe’s is a great source)
½ teaspoon salt
16 ounces good quality chocolate
(I used the Trader Joe’s Milk Pound Plus bar (17.6 ounces), wonderful Belgium Chocolate)
Preparation
Mix together the top 5/6 ingredients in a large tray or bowl.
Place a large silpat or sheets of waxed paper on a flat surface.
To melt chocolate
In a microwave: Break up the chocolate, or use a knife to create thick shavings if you are using chunks of chocolate. Evenly distribute chocolate in a microwaveable dish.
Each microwave is different, so you may want to experiment with different times, just be careful not to burn or scorch the chocolate, or you’ll have to start all over.To start, I ran mine for 40 seconds and then stirred, and repeated until the chocolate was smooth and glossy. Click on Tempering Chocolate for a 101 and other versions of this recipe.
Pour the melted chocolate over the other ingredients and mix and stir until all of the ingredients are coated in chocolate.
Next, grab pinches of the mixture and place it on the silpat or waxed paper. Push out pieces of the chow mein noodles to make them look like legs. Move a cherry onto the “back” of each of the arachnids to make it look more real.
Then just allow the chocolate to harden, this will happen more quickly in a cooler room and if they are placed on a cool surface like marble.
You can pack them in bags and tie a label on to give away.
Maybe package them up along with a silly mask, petite pumpkin and of course, some glow in the dark Silly String for a quick care package.
Or pile them up on a tray to serve.
Or, really go big, if you’re not boycotting Halloween, like I am, and let them take over your entire kitchen counter.
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| Creepy, Crawly Confections |
I hope you’re enjoying the season!
Emily, how fun, freaky and delish!!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Artist Lesley Schiff