Authentic Winter Snacks

Whether you’re with your friends or family, baking or making pastries is always a fun bonding idea! Here are some winter snacks that are simple to make, healthy and delicious.Fruit Candy Canes : Ingredients : Bananas and strawberries, or other fruits of your choice. Directions : Slice fruits of your choice and arrange into a candy cane formation!Reese’s Cup Rudolph TreatsIngredients :

• 24 Miniature Reese's Cups, unwrapped
• 2 ounces of melted and tempered pure chocolate, or melted Light Cocoa Candy Melts
• 24 candy eyes (1/4 inch or 3/8 inch)

Instructions : 

1. Set one Reese's Cup on your work surface.
2. Brush a dab of melted chocolate in the center on top of the Reese's Cup.
3. Allow that to set up a bit then set another Reese's Cup on it's side down onto the melted chocolate.
4. Hold the candy in place until the chocolate sets and the Reese's Cup stays upright.
5. Attach 2 candy eyes to the top, back edge, of the upright Reese's Cup using dabs of chocolate as edible "glue."
6. Attach 1 red candy nose and 2 candy antlers to the upright Reese's Cup using chocolate.
7. Cut 3/8 inch wide strips from the Fruit Roll-Ups sheet.
8. Wrap a strip of Fruit Roll-Ups around the base of the upright Reese's Cup forming a scarf.

This snack is perfect for chocolate lovers and is super fun to make!Pretzel Rod SnowmenIngredients : 

• 10 large pretzel rods
• 12 oz package white chocolate melts
• 40 candy-coated chocolate candies
• 5 small fruit-flavored taffy bars
• 1 tube black gel icing
• 1 tube orange gel icing

Directions : 

1. Cut pretzel rods in half and place them onto a sheet of parchment or wax paper that will be used for after they are dipped.
2. Melt white chocolate candies according to package directions in a 1-cup liquid measuring cup—the handle and spout make the dipping process easier, and the spout is just the right shape to scrape off excess chocolate from ‘snowmen.’
3. Tip your measuring cup so the chocolate pools along the side and lets you coat further down the pretzel. Dip cut side of the pretzel into chocolate, covering as much of the pretzel as possible. Tap to smooth chocolate coating then remove excess along the bottom by dragging the pretzel across the measuring cup spout. Place pretzel on parchment paper then repeat process with remaining rods.
4. While the chocolate coating is still slightly tacky, position 2 matching-colored candies on each side of the pretzel near the top to form earmuffs. Allow melting chocolate to completely harden before moving on to the next step.
5. Cut each of the taffy bars lengthwise into four ¼"-wide strips for the scarves. If you’re using something like a fruit roll-up, cut it into 20 pieces that are about ¼" wide by about 4"–5" long. Wrap taffy around the pretzel just below the earmuffs then bend or position candy to resemble a scarf.
6. Use black decorating gel to make coal eyes, mouth and buttons. Pipe orange decorating gel on the face in the shape of a carrot nose. Set snowmen aside until coatings are fully set then enjoy!

These simple yet delicious snacks make for a perfect after school treat that you can make by yourself or with friends. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!