So what are you going to do when your husband is starting a new job tomorrow and he says -- "I should take some candy or something so my new co-workers like me".  Uugh..the old me, would have handed him his car keys and told him to have fun shopping at Target but the new me (owner of a cake and candy supply store) decided that store-bought candy just wasn't an option (this time)! 

Instead, I went shopping at my own store and got to work.  In about 3 hours, I had 15 boxes of candy with 3 different types of candy that were a huge hit with his new co-workers!  

Here is what I made:

Peanut Butter Smoothies

(In the photo, these are the candies with the sprinkles on them.)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup peanut butter
• ½ lb butterscotch chips
• ½ lb cocoa lite, milk chocolate candy melts
• *Will make about 45 pieces using a #4 candy cup

Directions

• Gently melt the Candy Melts - either in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, or on a low double boiler
• Gently melt the butterscotch chips - either in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, or on a low double boiler; I found it was a little harder to melt the butterscotch chips. Don't forget to stir in between intervals and don't give up.  Melting didn't happen for me until the 4th or 5th interval
• Mix the melted chocolate, butterscotch and peanut butter together.  Mix until smooth.
• Fill squeeze bottle or a piping bag with mixture and fill candy cups
• I sprinkled with our North Pole Fusion sprinkle mix to dress these up a bit!
• Let sit until hardened
• Store in an air-tight container. Enjoy!

Coconut Bon Bons

(In the photo, these are the candies with the white drizzle)

Ingredients:

• Burco Coconut Dough, 1lb
• Mercken’s Candy Melts of Choice, 12-16 oz (I did half in Cocoa Lite Milk Chocolate and half in Cocoa Dark because I wasn't sure what kind of chocolate the new co-workers would prefer!)
• A tray with parchment paper
• A double boiler or a microwave-safe bowl
• A candy dipping tool (or spoon or fork)
• *Will make about 60 pieces

Directions

• Roll grape-sized balls of the Coconut dough between the palms of your hands. Place on parchment sheet. Chill.
• Gently melt the Candy Melts - either in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, or on a low double boiler.
• Dip the balls into the chocolate using a spoon, fork, or dipping tool and place on parchment to set.
• If desired, decorate with drizzled chocolate or Dessicated Coconut Flakes. Enjoy!
• You can also use a chocolate mold for making your Bon Bons.  The result will be more uniform candy pieces but it may take a little longer to produce large quantities of candy! If using a candy mold, brush the mold with chocolate (or fill, wait a minute and then dump excess out). Set for 5 minutes in the refrigerator. Fill with coconut dough and cover with chocolate. Chill 10 minutes and unmold.

Chewy Caramel Bon Bons

(In the photo, these are the candies with the red and green drizzle)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Peters Caramel
• 12 – 16oz Mercken’s Candy Melts of choice (Again, I did half in Cocoa Lite Milk Chocolate and half in Cocoa Dark)
• A tray with parchment paper
• A double boiler or a microwave-safe bowl
• A candy dipping tool (or spoon or fork)
• *Will make about 60 pieces

Directions

• Cut the block of caramel into 1 inch squares, or smaller.
• Gently melt the Candy Melts - either in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds, or on a low double boiler.
• Dip the caramel squares into the chocolate, using a spoon, fork, or dipping tool. Place on parchment to set.
• If desired, decorate with drizzled chocolate or melted caramel. Enjoy!
• You can also use a chocolate mold for making your Caramel Bon Bons.  The result will be more uniform candy pieces but it may take a little longer to produce large quantities of candy! If using a candy mold, brush the mold with chocolate (or fill, wait a minute and then dump excess out). Set for 5 minutes in the refrigerator. Fill with a caramel square and cover with chocolate. Chill 10 minutes and unmold.