No Bake Caramel Truffles

Hello and welcome! 

Today's recipe is almost too easy...

The Recipe: 

• 1/2 cup caramel 
• 1 bar dark chocolate

The Process:

1. Spoon and shape caramel onto baking pan. 
2. Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe container for 30 seconds. 
3. Stir. 
4. If not fully melted, repeats steps 2 and 3 until it is. 
5. Cover caramel in chocolate. 
6. Freeze to harden. 
7. Share! 

The Calories:

Caramel: 150 calories

Chocolate: 210 calories

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TOTAL: 360 calories

Okay, so it's not really healthy. But it is vegan and gluten free if you use unsweeetened chocolate, and for 20 servings, each one is only 18 calories. Worry not if you only eat a couple! 

What went right: 

          They tasted great and were good to have around for my Vegan and Gluten Free hallmates. 

What went wrong: 

           When they were not in the freezer, the caramel did not stay solid, but reverted to its stickier plasma form. Perhaps some cornstarch would fix that next time. 

What I would do next time: 

            Add cornstarch or heavy cream to help the caramel solidify when room-temperature. 

Overall, a super easy, tasty treat! 

No Bake Peanut Butter Truffles

Hello and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! 

Hopefully you've enjoyed the Dark Chocolate Peppermint Toffee recipe and shared it with others so they could enjoy it as well. (hint hint wink wink nudge nudge!) 

                              

Today's recipe was another of my holiday creations, but this one was somewhat of my own invention. 

Thanks to Emmy for making them with me, and to all my Turmanators for indulging :) 

The Recipe:  

• 1 cup flour
• 3/8 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 bar Dark Chocolate

The Process: 

1. Mix all ingredients except chocolate. 
2. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe container in 30 second bursts, stirring after each burst. Should take at most 1 minute total. 
3. Ball dough and dip in chocolate. 
4. Freeze to harden. 
5. Indulge and share! 

The Calories: 

Flour: 578 calories

Sugar: 93 calories

Peanut Butter: 379 calories

Vanilla Extract: 12 calories

Chocolate: 605 calories

Butter: 405 calories

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TOTAL: 2072 calories

Okay, so that sounds bad. But this recipe makes 24 truffles, making each truffle only 86 calories. Much better! 

What went right: 

          These are freaking amazing and took almost no time. 

What went wrong: 

          So, they're not super healthy...oops! Workout to follow. 

What I would do next time: 

           Nothing! When making Christmas treats, calories are no matter.

Overall, an amazing recipe that I plan to make over and over again :) 

The Workout: 

Just to be safe, let's do a 100 calorie workout! 

Thanks to SparkPeople for this list of ways to burn 100 calories: 

• Biking: 23 minutes of casual cycling
• Cardio dance class: 15 minutes
• Elliptical: 8 minutes
• Jumping rope: 9 minutes at a moderate intensity
• Lifting weights, vigorously: 15 minutes
• Pilates: 24 minutes
• Rowing machine: 13 minutes
• Running stairs: 6 minutes
• Running: 9 minutes of running at a 6 mph pace
• Swimming: 15 minutes moderate intensity
• Walking stairs: 11 minutes
• Walking: 20 minutes of walking at a 3 mph pace
• Water aerobics: 23 minutes
• Yoga: 20 minutes
• Zumba: 11 minutes

Apple Truffles

Happy Holidays! 

Welcome to my blog, thanks for visiting :) 

                                  

Today's recipe was inspired by the massive amounts of dark chocolate Lauren gave me for Secret Santa (thank you Lauren!!) and the classic chocolate covered pretzels we usually make back home. 

This recipe is super quick, easy, and great for serving to guests, bringing to parties, and making with friends/kids!

Thanks to Addie and Justin for helping me chocolate dip, as chocolate covered anything is more fun with friends :) 

The Recipe: Apple Truffles

• 5 Apples
• 2 bars of 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
• Crushed Candy Canes

The Process: 

1. Line baking sheets with tin foil.
2. Cut apples into slices, removing the core. 
3. Break Dark Chocolate bars into small pieces. 
4. Microwave chocolate in a microwave-safe container in 30 second spurts, stirring in between. It should take at most 1 minute total. 
5. Dip apples in chocolate.
6. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. 
7. Freeze to harden chocolate. 
8. Try not to eat them all!!

The Calories: 

Chocolate: 420 calories

Apples: 570 calories

Candy canes: 30 calories

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TOTAL: 1020 calories

Let's be real: this recipe makes around 60 servings, and is essentially just apple slices. Each slice has about 17 calories. Indulge guilt-free ;)

What went right: 

          Everything! These were super delicious and loved by everyone who ate them. They were also a great treat for my Gluten Free/Vegan friends who could not eat the toffee or most other treats we made. 

What went wrong: 

          I didn't have pretzels :( 

What would I do next time:

          Potentially use caramel as well to make them Turtle Apples, or try dipping in butterscotch or white chocolate. 

Overall, a super quick, easy, healthy recipe for everyone to enjoy!! 

No-Bake Halloween Truffles

Hey Dessert Lovers!

Today's recipe is a Pinterest favorite with a little collegiate, Halloween flair!

It's not necessarily the most healthy (by any means), but my hall went for a run tonight to make up for it. Sometimes in college, it's necessary to let yourself have a little fun...especially for fall break.

Thank you to Jordie for holding this program and cooking with me!

The Recipe: No-Bake Truffles

• 1 package of Oreos
• 1 package of Cream Cheese
• Hershey Syrup
• Halloween Sprinkles

The Process:

1. Crush Oreos in a bowl until relatively fine (using the back of a wooden spoon...Pinterest typically recommends crushing them in a bag, but college students use what they can find)
2. Mix in Cream Cheese using multiple spoons (the mix will get stuck to all spoons involved...be patient!)
3. Ball the mixture and put on a baking pan 
4. Drizzle with Hershey Syrup
5. Add sprinkles to taste
6. Freeze for 45 minutes
7. Indulge with friends :) 

The Calories: ...I almost don't want to...

Oreos: 1800 calories

Cream Cheese: 776 calories

Chocolate Syrup (about 4 tbsp): 200 calories

Sprinkles (about 4 tbsp): 240 calories

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TOTAL: 3016 calories

Our balls were pretty big, so we made 28. This means each ball had 108 calories.Smaller balls would have fewer calories per ball. 

What went right:

        Absolutely fantastic and delicious!!!

What went wrong:

        There is such a thing as too much. I definitely ate more of these than anyone else, they were just amazing. I never thought I would love Oreos so much...I really don't like Oreos that much as they are but these are addictive. 

Would I make them again?:

        We will definitely be using this recipe again. I can see it being a great party treat to make at home with the family. Additionally, I think the recipe would make a good cake or pie topper, or layer. This might also taste amazing in a s'more, with rice crispies and peanut butter, or with other drizzles on top. Dessert on the brain, folks. 

Overall, this was a great way to end fall break and break out of my sick person food routine. I ate nothing but soup, rice, tea, orange juice, and bananas for the past week, so it was great to eat something sinfully delicious again. Our cafeteria should really make these...or maybe it's better they don't ;)