About This Recipe
Hobgoblins are the cutest little candy that’s perfect for Halloween. And they are so easy to make! Your kids will love them. In fact, get your kids to help.
I love adorable foods for Halloween, like my Owl Cupcakes. I generally don’t like scary foods (or movies, for that matter).
The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is simply sublime, in my opinion. The original recipe used peanut butter or butterscotch chips, but I really don’t like those ingredients, because they are so artificial. I shudder to think about the artificial food coloring and flavorings used in those chips. Use real peanut butter.
The crunch ingredient in these wonderful little candies is potato sticks. Potato sticks, in case you don’t know, were a huge deal back in the 1960s and 1970s. They are crisp little sticks that taste (kind of) like potatoes. They are crunchy and crisp and salty and the perfect addition to the smooth chocolate. I also add some toffee bits for more flavor and more crunch.
If you don’t want to use potato sticks, you can use chow mein noodles. I really can’t think of anything else, other than chopped cookies, that would work in this recipe. Come to think of it, chopped cookies would be great (idea for another recipe!). Or you could crumble plain potato chips and use them, but I don’t think they would stay crisp enough.
The little hobgoblins are created when you add mini M&M candies for the “eyes.” They will look great on your Halloween party table. And they are so delicious!
So pull up a chair, gather your ingredients and your kids, and enjoy making these little treats.
How to make the best Hobgoblins
- Make sure that your potato sticks (or chow mein noodles) are very fresh. In fact, I don’t even open the can until the chocolate mixture is melted and ready to go.
- Make sure that the chocolate mixture is completely melted together and smooth before you add the potato sticks.
- You can use tweezers to place the little candies for the eyes, but it’s more fun if you use your fingers. Children’s little fingers are best for this task.
Why this recipe works
- The addition of peanut butter to chocolate not only mellows the chocolate flavor and adds a hint of nuttiness, it also makes the candies more tender so they aren’t brittle when you bite into them. The peanut butter interferes with the crystallization when the chocolate sets.
- The salty potato sticks complement the sweet chocolate mixture perfectly. And the toffee bits add the perfect finishing touch.
Steps
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1
Done
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In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the two kinds of chocolate chips and the peanut butter. Microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes, remove and stir. Continue microwaving for 1 minute intervals, stirring after each interval, until the mixture is melted and smooth. |
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2
Done
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Open the potato sticks can and stir in the potato sticks and toffee bits until coated. |
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3
Done
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Drop the mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Shape into the shape you want and carefully add the M&Ms for eyes. Let stand until firm. |
