Oh Nuts Blog

The Fourth of July is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than by making candy bar flags?

(Now, some folks might argue that going swimming, having a barbecue, or watching fireworks are all pretty legitimate ways of celebrating Independence Day. But I say that each of these activities could be much improved with a little flag-shaped chocolate!)

The chocolate in these candy bar flags is more than just a boring slab of semi-sweet--it's packed with crunchy mix-ins like crispy rice cereal, toffee bits, or chopped nuts. The flag design is made from red, white, and blue candies that add extra flavor and crunch. If you live in a country that doesn't celebrate the Fourth of July, this idea can always be adapted with different colors and patterns to make a wide variety of flags!

Candy Bar Flags (Fourth of July Candy Recipe)
yield: four 4x5-inch candy bar flags

• 12 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate
• 2/3 cup crunchy mix-ins (I used crispy rice cereal and toffee bits)
• Red, white, and blue candies (like Patriotic Chocolate Mint Lentils)
• Small white circular sprinkles

The first step is to prepare the chocolate. If you'll be enjoying these Candy Bar Flags right away, or keeping them in the refrigerator, simply melting the chocolate is fine. Place it in a microwave-safe bowl and melt it in 30-second intervals, stirring frequently, until it's smooth and lump-free.

If you want to store these bars for longer periods of time at room temperature, I suggest tempering the chocolate instead. There are photos and instructions showing how to temper chocolate on last week's Neapolitan Rocky Road Bark recipe.

Once the chocolate is melted, add the crunchy mix-ins and stir them in. I used crispy rice cereal and toffee bits, but you can add chopped nuts, toasted coconut, or any other candy bar-friendly ingredients.

Scrape the chocolate mixture out onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, waxed paper, or aluminum foil.

Use a spatula or a knife to spread it into a rectangle, about 10 inches long and 8 inches wide. It will be about 1/4-inch thick.

Use a knife to mark the chocolate in half vertically and horizontally, forming four equal rectangles. Since the chocolate is still wet you're not actually cutting it, you're just giving yourself a visual guide.

Once the flags are marked off, you'll need to work quickly to add the candies on top before the chocolate hardens. Leave a small 1/4-inch margin on the edge of each flag so that you can cut them into neat rectangles without cutting into the candies. First, arrange the blue candies into a rectangle four across and three long in the upper left corner of each chocolate flag.

Drop a small white sprinkle into the space between each blue candy, to represent the stars. If you don't have white sprinkles this step is optional, but I think it adds a nice touch.

Add a row of white candies on top, going all the way to the end. Depending on the size of your flags,you should be able to fit four or five candies in the row.

Add a layer of red candies underneath, keeping the same spacing for the candies. Continue to add rows of candies, alternating red and white colors.

Continue until you've run out of room on the bottom of the flags. Don't forget to keep a margin so you can easily cut them! If the chocolate hardens before you're able to finish, melt a little more chocolate and place it in a plastic bag with a hole cut in the corner. Squeeze a thin line of melted chocolate across the flag, and press the candies into the chocolate to adhere them.

Once all of the candies are affixed to the chocolate, refrigerate the tray until the chocolate sets completely.

Once set, use a sharp knife to carefully cut the uneven edges from the sides of the flags, then cut the flags apart from each other.

These flags make fun party favors, centerpieces,or edible decorations for your Fourth of July bash. Not having a party? They're also a great kid's craft, since they're quick, easy, and full of delicious edible craft materials.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

All text and images (c) Elizabeth LaBau

"Worms in Dirt" may not sound appetizing, but the taste of this easy dessert will make you a believer! These chocolate pudding cups are decorated with crushed cookies and gummy worms, to make a creepy-crawly treat that kids will love to help make and eat.

This recipe doesn't require any cooking and comes together in about 15 minutes, so it's the perfect activity to do with young helpers on a warm summer's day. Grab your worms and let's go...

Worms in Dirt Pudding Cups Recipe
yield: 8 cups

• 1 15-ounce package chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos)
• 1 3.9-ounce package chocolate instant pudding
• 2 cups cold milk
• 8 ounces whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
• 24 gummy worms
  
  The first order of business when making "worms in dirt" is, of course, to make the dirt. Place the chocolate sandwich cookies in a large zip-top plastic bag, and use a rolling pin to crush them into small pieces. Don't worry about removing the cream filling before putting the cookies in the bag--at first they will clump together, but as you continue to crush them, the cream will blend with the cookies and you won't even notice it.
  
  Continue to crush the cookies in the bag until they are in fine crumbs. A few larger pieces are okay, too--after all, dirt comes in different sizes!
  
  Next, make the pudding. Pour the dry pudding mix into a large bowl, then add the cold milk. Whisk everything together until all of the dry pudding dissolves and it's smooth and free of lumps.
  
  Let the pudding sit for about 5 minutes, until it thickens and is no longer liquid. If it has the delightfully gloppy texture of pudding, you're ready to go on.
  
  Add the whipped topping and approximately half of the cookie crumbs. You don't have to measure, just eyeball half the bag and pour it in.
  
  Gently stir everything together until the streaks of whipped topping disappear, and the cookies are well-mixed into the pudding.
  
  Divide the pudding mixture evenly between eight cups--each should hold a little over 1/2-cup of pudding. You can fill them however you'd like--I prefer to use a large ice cream scoop because I think it's a little neater and faster that way.
  
  Tap the cups on the countertop a few times to level the pudding, then insert 3 gummy worms into the pudding and press them down a little so that they're embedded.
  
  Pour the cookie crumbs over the pudding and gummy worms so that the entire top is covered with "dirt." Smooth it into an even layer with your hands.
  
  Your Worms in Dirt are done! This is such an easy and fun recipe to make with kids during the summer! If you want to make them even more special, you can hide the cups in small terra cotta flower pots, or make one large batch in a big flower pot. Enjoy!
  

  All text and images (c) Elizabeth LaBau