Can you believe that Easter is this weekend? Oh my goodness! Time has flown way too quickly. It seems like we just tossed out Valentine’s Day cards the other day and now we’re making preparations for the Easter Bunny to arrive.
I still don’t know what our plans are for Easter. Normally we go to my father’s house for dinner and an Easter egg hunt. The kids are getting too old for egg hunts but they still want one because they know Grandpa will hide not only candy in the eggs but also $$$. Mostly change but a there are a few eggs Grandpa puts $1 bills in and one egg gets a $5 bill.
Have you seen the new Hard to Find Easter Eggs from Wonka? Instead of being bright colors like pink, blue and yellow the eggs are colored with Earth tone colors like green, brown and gray. They are also textured to look like rocks, sticks and grass. They are actually pretty cool looking. Nestle sent me some of the Hard to Find Easter Eggs, along with a few other free samples, in order to do a review. There was no compensation.
As most of my readers know I live in a condo. We don’t have much of a yard at all. My “yard” is a 6′ x 12′ rickety old wooden balcony. Or I suppose you could consider the parking lot my yard too. Sigh. I honestly couldn’t find a good location to hide the eggs to take pictures of them to show reader what I meant about how they are harder to find compared to traditional plastic eggs. If Grandpa has an egg hunt this year I’ll hide the eggs around his yard, take photos and update this post.
I received a few other goodies from Nestle including Laffy Taffy Jelly Beans, Nestles Crunch and Butterfinger Eggs, and some Solid Nestle Crunch and Butterfinger Easter Bunnies.
All of these products are available at grocery, drug and mass retail stores across the country.
In the past I have created treats using Nestle candies. My kids still rave about the caramel covered candy apples I made back in the fall using Nestle candies. I wanted to make something different this time around.
My husband had a great idea. He told me to create my own “Blizzard” ice cream, similar to what they make at Dairy Queen. That seemed easy enough.
I unwrapped several Nestle Crunch Eggs as well as Butterfinger Eggs. I then proceeded to cut the chocolates up into small pieces. Using a blender and some vanilla ice cream I created Nestle Crunch and Butterfinger “Blizzards” for my family. Oh my goodness! They could not get enough of them. I had to make them several times for everyone (except myself – ice cream doesn’t always sit well in my tummy). My husband even asked me to make one for him. They turned out just as good as the kind you get in the ice cream shop.
Kudos to my hubby for thinking that one up. 🙂
Another thing I tried to make was the Jelly Bean Easter Bark using the Laffy Taffy Jelly Beans. I found the recipe on Meals.com. The recipe called for vegetable shortening. I didn’t have any on hand. A friend of mine suggested that I use butter instead. It didn’t turn out the same as in the picture. My bark was more “bendy” then it was crunchy. I also used a different chocolate than the one listed in the recipe. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it either.
Here is a side by side comparison of the actual recipe (left) and my Jelly Bean Easter Bark.
Even though it didn’t turn out exactly the same way my kids sure enjoyed it. I have none left! They ate all the pieces.
I also made an Easter Cake using chopped up Nestle Crunch pieces.
I prepared a cake mix as directed on the box. I made a two layered cake so I poured half the batter in one pan and half in another. Next I unwrapped a dozen Nestle Crunch Easter Eggs and cut them in half. I put half on top of one cake and half on top of the other.
Once the cake had baked and cooled I frosted the top of one cake and topped if off with about 10 Nestle Crunch Easter Eggs that I chopped up. Then I added the other layer of cake and frosted it. For decoration I topped the cake with Nestle’s Laffy Taffy Jelly Beans and one of their adorable Nestle Crunch Chocolate Rabbits.
The bits of Nestle Crunch added a nice surprise to the cake and frosted middle layer. Even after baking it still retained it’s crunch.
It’s fun, and a bit of a challenge, to turn holiday candies into extra special treats.
Have you ever used any Nestle candies, or Easter candies, in any of your recipes? If so I would love to hear about them. Feel free to comment and tell me more about it.
Look for Nestle candies at drug, grocery and mass retailers across the country.
For more information about Nestle please visit www.NestleUSA.com.
For recipe ideas please visit Nestle Kitchens at www.Meals.com and on Facebook.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review and these recipes. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.
Jackie says
I’ve never used Nestle candies in a recipe. I think the bark looks very festive…and I love the way the cake came out!
Janet W. says
What a cute cake with the bunny on top for decoration! Everything looks delicious!
Alicia K says
that cake looks good!!
June M. says
Oh, the delicious candies from Nestle are not good for my diet! I do love their great treats though, especially the Butterfingers!
Donna George says
That is adorable. I love the chocolate bunny on top.
Tammy S says
I didn’t even know they made Laffy Taffy Jelly Beans. My sister is crazy about Laffy Taffy so she would love the jelly beans. I love the homemade Blizzard idea. sounds great. I will have to make the Jelly Bean Easter Bark. Thanks for the ideas.
ANN*H says
Oh wow I havent seen these before in the stores yet. The homemade blizzard is a great idea thanks for all the info and ideas – the kids will love them
bill elliott says
What a great idea, my Grandchildren would love this. Thank you for the recipe
sandy weinstein says
these look so good and fattening. i just want to put my finger in an get a big lick and then regret all of the calories
Jessie C. says
The bunny cake looks so good. Kids would totally love this creation.
kelly willis says
wow these are some great ideas
Dorothy Teel says
Yummy ideas I never thought of making at home Blizzards, but now that you brought it up I am going to have to try them looked delicious…
Robin Wilson says
As soon as I saw the word Blizzards I was hooked and drooling! What a great idea! I am an ice cream ~ frozen treat junkie and this one is great. Thanks so much for these ideas!