So, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while then you know that I’m a sucker for peanut butter and chocolate treats.  Any time I see a new recipe for a homemade chocolate-peanut butter anything I have to post it.  So here’s the latest – Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Candy Bars from Cookies and Cups.

It’s super easy – no mixing, no baking … just melting chocolate and sprinkling some cereal over it and you’ve got yourself a very yummy treat.  Here’s the ingredient list – just about all of it you can buy from our website (see the links):

• Semi sweet chocolate chips
• Chopped honey roasted peanuts
• Mini peanut butter cups
• Reese’s Puffs cereal (you could use Cocoa Puffs too)
• Peanut butter chips
• Coconut oil or vegetable shortening

I love how simple and fun this DIY Gumball Garland is!  What a great, crafty idea for older kids to do at a birthday party, or for you to do in advance to add to your party decor!

Our friends at One Charming Party came up with this and posted very detailed instructions on their website here.

If you’re looking for gumballs to make this yourself, then look no further than our website.  We have a HUGE selection of gumballs – from assortment packs to individual colors. Have fun!

]]> http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/05/14/diy-gumball-garland/feed/ 0 http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/04/18/amazing-peanut-butter-cup-brownies/ http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/04/18/amazing-peanut-butter-cup-brownies/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:03:07 +0000 Sweet City Candy http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/?p=3566

Our friends at Cookies and Cups has done it again! They created an unbelievable, diet-crashing, super-duper delicious brownie based dessert.  Ok, so here’s what goes into this – its a Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownie Box Mix, topped with chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and peanuts, topped with a chocolate peanut butter Rice Krispie mix.  Whew!  What a mouthful!

Click here for the recipe…

Photos and recipe are from Cookies and Cups

]]> http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/04/18/amazing-peanut-butter-cup-brownies/feed/ 0 http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/04/02/fun-baby-shower-block-crafts/ http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/04/02/fun-baby-shower-block-crafts/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:53:04 +0000 Sweet City Candy http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/?p=3517 This baby shower craft game is so adorable!  I wish we had done something like this at my baby shower.  I’m pretty sure my son would still be playing with these blocks and he’s almost 4.

This fabulous idea comes from our friends at One Charming Party.  Click here for detailed instructions as well as their free printable block craft direction signs.

Also, if you’re looking for other baby shower games, check out this post of ours on how to play the Baby Shower Candy Guessing Game – a classic and tons of fun!

We wanted to share with you some of our favorite Easter posts from around the web to help you get in the spirit and maybe give you some ideas on how to make your Easter festivities the best ever!  Enjoy!

Tangerine and Green Easter Tablescape from Pizzazzerie.com – Here are some gorgeous tips on how to create this elegant and colorful Easter table!

Bright and Shiny Easter Party from Hostess With the Mostess - If you’re looking for more kid-friendly Easter decor, check out this post on HWTM. You may need to adjust the brightness on your computer!

DIY Easter Bunny Bags from TomKat Studio – Need a little treat bag to stuff with goodies for all the kiddos coming over?  Learn how to make these adorable Bunny Bags!

You Are EGGstra Special Free Tags from Love The Day – Whether you use Cadbury Creme Eggs or died hard-boiled eggs, these FREE tags from Love The Day are a perfect pun on this adorable gift.

Color Coordinated Egg Hunt from Crissy’s Crafts –  Have multiple kids competing for eggs?  Why not make the egg hunt fight free by giving each kid a specific colored basket and equal amounts of color coordinated eggs for everyone?

Easter Brunch is one of my absolute favorite meals of the entire year.  Everyone is refreshed from the long weekend, kids are dressed up in their “Sunday Best” wearing patent leather shoes and pretty pastel colors.  Eggs are being hunted, jelly beans are being eaten and families are getting together to make memories.  Plus, to me, Easter officially ushers in springtime and we can stop wearing wool hats, mittens and puffy down jackets everywhere.

For tips and resources on how to create this tablescape, click here to Pizzazzerie.com.

If you’re looking for some aqua and green coordinating treats to go with your brunch, check out these ideas below!

• Marshmallow Peeps (on SALE!)
• Speckled Robins Eggs
• Reeses Peanut Butter Cups Pastel Colors 
• Mellocreme Easter Mix

Look at these adorable little mini Easter baskets! And there so easy to make!  All you need are ribbon, cute cupcake cups and washi tape.  These are great not just for Easter, but for baby and wedding showers and dessert tables.  Just think of all the possibilities!

Source: One Charming Party

Photo Credits: Sara Schmutz via One Charming Party

]]> http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/03/08/mini-easter-basket-cups/feed/ 0 http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/03/01/ritz-crackers-and-toffee-bars-yum/ http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/2013/03/01/ritz-crackers-and-toffee-bars-yum/#comments Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:00:01 +0000 Sweet City Candy http://blog.sweetcitycandy.com/?p=3450 Cookies and Cups is AMAZINGLY creative with her recipes.  Just take a look that this Ritz + Toffee bars, which she lovingly dubbed “White Trash Bars.” Not sure why, but it’s a clever name and it sticks.

Anyway, this recipe is remarkably simple – it has 4 ingredients: Ritz crackers, toffee bits, sweetened condensed milk and frosting.  Voila!

Click HERE for the recipe, and click HERE to order ground up Heath toffee bits for your White Trash Bars.

Photo Credits: Cookies and Cups

So, we’re in the awkward season of holidays where people still want to get together but there isn’t a big national holiday or festival coming up that we can celebrate.  St. Patrick’s Day is soon, but that’s really an Irish / College holiday (or for people who live in Savannah,GA) and Easter is kind of a family-only deal, right? Mardi Gras / Karneval is over and I’m pretty sure people aren’t having Lent parties (although some die-hard Catholics may have a papal conclave party.  There’s got to be a black smoke / white smoke drinking game, right?  Time to invent one.  Hmmm, I sense a future blog post topic).

So in an effort to create a reason for people to get together, we suggest hosting a wine and cheese and chocolate party.  That’s right – you don’t need a holiday or conclave or royal wedding in order to have a party.  All you need are some great friends, food and drinks and you’re good to go.

ArtisanalCheese.com provides an excellent “cheese clock” with suggestions for what to serve in each of a 4-course cheese menu.  Be sure to check out their website.  EatWisconsinCheese.com has a really excellent Cheese & Chocolate pamphlet that also helped with these recommendations, so check them out too!

Scroll down to see a 4-course wine, cheese & chocolate menu for your party!

First Pairing

• Wine: Start out with a light white wine, champagne or a pilsner beer.
• Cheese: Serve with an Artisanal Mild Chutney, young mild goat cheeses, double or triple cremes or bloomy rind cheeses.
• Chocolate: Because the wine and cheese are milder in flavor, begin with a milder selection of chocolates.  We suggest White Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Solid White Chocolate Pieces, and Vanilla Caramels with Sea Salt Coating

Second Pairing

• Wine: Light Red Wine, Rose, Lagers and Pilsner Beers
• Cheese: Choose soft to semi-firm cheeses, like a mild cow, an aged goat or a sheep milk cheese. Be sure to alternate milks and textures to create a contrast between cheeses around your plate. Camembert and a light cheddar are good choices.
• Chocolate: Milk Chocolate Covered Peanuts  or Peanut Clusters, Solid Milk Chocolate Pieces

Third Pairing

• Wine: Red Wines and Ales
• Cheese:As you move through the evening, the cheeses get bolder.  Cheeses in this pairing are hard mountain cheeses, long-aged cheddars, and mild wash rind (“Stinky”) cheeses
• Chocolate: Dark Chocolate Truffles, Dark Chocolate Covered Pomegranate Seeds, Chocolate Merlot Raisins, Mayan Cayenne Almonds

Fourth Pairing

• Wine: Dessert Wines, Ports, and Stout Beers
• Cheese: Choose cheese with a bigger presence, such as more assertive washed rind cheese or a classic blue cheese like Roquefort.
• Chocolate: Solid Dark Chocolate Pieces, Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Dark Chocolate Covered Cashews, Port Wine Cordials

Real champagne not your thing?  Try these delicious Champagne Cordials instead – dark chocolate covering a (non-alcoholic) champagne flavored liquid center.  Yum, indeed!