Print Page   |   Sign In   |   Join RCI
RCI Blog
Blog Home All Blogs

Catch a Leprechaun with Sweet St. Patrick’s Day Treats

Posted By RCI, Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Updated: Friday, August 20, 2021

 

Try your luck this St. Patrick’s Day with treats so tempting, you might just lure a leprechaun into your candy shop…along with new and returning customers too!

 

 

Blarney Bark

What leprechaun could resist a bite of “Blarney Bark” from RCI member, Reid Candy & Nut Shop, of Cambridge, Ontario. These festive treats are made with green compound coating and bits of rainbow stripe candy, colorful candies and clover sprinkles.

  

Photo credit (left to right): Dolle’s CandylandBurke Candy and Ingredient

 

Irish Potato Candy

A popular St. Patrick’s Day treat, Irish potato candy was neither invented in Ireland nor does it typically contain potatoes. RCI member, Dolle’s Candyland of Ocean City, Maryland makes their Irish potatoes extra decadent by coating coconut cream in rich, dark chocolate before rolling them in a blend of cocoa and cinnamon. Milwaukee-based RCI member, Burke Candy & Ingredients combines shoestring potato sticks with their coconut dough before rolling their version of Irish potatoes in cinnamon and sugar.

 

 

Pot of Gold Truffles

Transform your existing truffle or meltaway recipe into pots of gold fit for teams of leprechauns. Create the flat top of the “pot” by flattening or trimming one side of the round center before coating it in chocolate. Once set, pipe chocolate onto the flat top of the pot and use it to adhere rainbow candy and gold sprinkles.

 

 

Leprechaun Cookies

These leprechaun cookies are so clever, they’re likely to leap right off your shelves and into customers’ shopping baskets. With a little green and orange confectioners coating, some candy eyeballs and a pinch of finesse with the piping bag you’ll have yourself an army of jolly good leprechauns.

 

 

Chocolate-Covered Pickles

If you dip it, they will come. This salty and sweet combination is just bizarre enough it is sure to catch the attention of the more adventurous consumers looking to try something new. Malley’s Chocolates of Cleveland has had success (and garnered plenty of media attention) over the years coating dill pickles in chocolate exclusively for St. Patrick’s Day.

Anyone who receives treats like these is sure to count themselves lucky this St. Patrick’s Day! Share your favorite St. Patrick’s Day treat in the comments below.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Tags:  Bark  Chocolate  Creativity  Holidays  Inspiration  Irish Potato Candy  Nutter Butter  Spring  St. Patrick's Day 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

5 #Adorbs Ideas to Transform Treats for Valentine’s Day

Posted By RCI, Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Updated: Friday, August 20, 2021

Looking to celebrate this Valentine’s Day in a big way, but with little extra effort? If you already make chocolate-covered sandwich cookies or pretzels, the following ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Keep reading for five quick and easy tricks to make your existing treats #adorbs this Valentine’s Day.

 

 

“PAW-some” Puppy Pretzels

Package these adorable pretzel treats with a printable tag that says “Puppy Love” or “You’re PAW-some!” and watch these puppies leap off the shelves.

 

 

Credit: For Modern Kids

Love Bug Sandwich Cookies

All you need is some red confectioners coating, dark chocolate and candy eyes to transform your chocolate-covered sandwich cookies into lady bugs for Valentine’s Day.

 

 

Credit: Cakegirls®

Sweet Emoji Sandwich Cookies

It’s okay to get emotional about how cute and easy these emoji-inspired cookies are. Dip in yellow confectioners’ coating and candy eyes and heart sprinkles. This particular example from Cakegirls® used an edible ink marker to draw the faces, but you could also pipe expressions with dark chocolate.

 

 

Credit: In The Kids Kitchen

"Beary" Cute Sandwich Cookies

Pour on the cuteness by transforming chocolate-covered sandwich into bears. Use chocolate wafers for the ears and pipe on light pink confectioners’ coating for the snout and a heart sprinkle for the mouth.

 

 

Credit: Sweet Simple Stuff

Peanut Butter Cookie Broken Hearts

Why mend a broken heart when you can eat? Transform everyone’s favorite peanut butter sandwich cookie by cutting it in half diagonally and covering it in red coating and a drizzle of chocolate.

Consumers are sure to fall in love with these adorable treats this Valentine's Day! Make sure to share plenty of photos of your Valentine’s Day treats on social media and your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential. If you plan to make a small batch of these fun treats, let consumers know they’re available for a limited-time only in your social media posts and your online store. This will cover you if you do sell out (we hope you do!) and also encourage shoppers to buy by creating a sense of urgency. Make note of the quantities you made and sold to help determine whether to bring them back this time next year.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Tags:  Chocolate  Nutter Butter  Oreos  Pretzels  Social Media  Valentine's Day 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

5 #Adorbs Ideas to Transform Treats for Valentine’s Day

Posted By RCI, Sunday, January 19, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021

Looking to celebrate this Valentine’s Day in a big way, but with little extra effort? If you already make chocolate-covered sandwich cookies or pretzels, the following ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Keep reading for five quick and easy tricks to make your existing treats #adorbs this Valentine’s Day.

 

 

“PAW-some” Puppy Pretzels

Package these adorable pretzel treats with a printable tag that says “Puppy Love” or “You’re PAW-some!” and watch these puppies leap off the shelves.

 

 

Credit: For Modern Kids

Love Bug Sandwich Cookies

All you need is some red confectioners coating, dark chocolate and candy eyes to transform your chocolate-covered sandwich cookies into lady bugs for Valentine’s Day.

 

 

Credit: Cakegirls®

Sweet Emoji Sandwich Cookies

It’s okay to get emotional about how cute and easy these emoji-inspired cookies are. Dip in yellow confectioners’ coating and candy eyes and heart sprinkles. This particular example from Cakegirls® used an edible ink marker to draw the faces, but you could also pipe expressions with dark chocolate.

 

 

Credit: In The Kids Kitchen

"Beary" Cute Sandwich Cookies

Pour on the cuteness by transforming chocolate-covered sandwich into bears. Use chocolate wafers for the ears and pipe on light pink confectioners’ coating for the snout and a heart sprinkle for the mouth.

 

 

Credit: Sweet Simple Stuff

Peanut Butter Cookie Broken Hearts

Why mend a broken heart when you can eat? Transform everyone’s favorite peanut butter sandwich cookie by cutting it in half diagonally and covering it in red coating and a drizzle of chocolate.

Consumers are sure to fall in love with these adorable treats this Valentine's Day! Make sure to share plenty of photos of your Valentine’s Day treats on social media and your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential. If you plan to make a small batch of these fun treats, let consumers know they’re available for a limited-time only in your social media posts and your online store. This will cover you if you do sell out (we hope you do!) and also encourage shoppers to buy by creating a sense of urgency. Make note of the quantities you made and sold to help determine whether to bring them back this time next year.

Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Tags:  Chocolate  Nutter Butter  Oreos  Pretzels  Social Media  Valentine's Day 

PermalinkComments (0)
 

Tip #321: Stand Out with Instagram-Worthy Holiday Treats

Posted By RCI, Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
How Instagram-worthy are your holiday treats?
 
Sure, they taste delicious, but how would a potential new customer know if they’ve never tasted your confections? No surprise, social media, like Instagram and Facebook, can be an effective tool for reaching consumers, however if A.) you’re not sharing photos of your products on your social media sites daily or B.) they don’t stand out from other holiday gifts, you could be missing out on a massive opportunity to gain new customers this season.
 
A study by Forbes has shown that 78% of consumers’ purchases are impacted by companies’ social media posts. So, if you’re looking for a boost in sales, consider transforming these classic confectionery treats into holiday showstoppers to help your business standout this season.
 
Rice Cereal Treats
Cookie cutters aren't just for cookies. They also make a great tool for creating fun seasonal chocolate-covered rice cereal treats. Make the most out of your collection of cookie cutters, by repurposing common shapes to create new and unique designs. After realizing that their gingerbread man treats weren’t selling as well as other designs, Bomboy’s Home Made Candy gave the tired cookie cutter new life by turning it upside down and transforming it into Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This little reindeer proved to be a hit!
 
Make fall and summer designs last into the holidays! If you have cookie cutters shaped like a ghost or even an ice cream cone, just flip them upside down to transform the shapes into cute elves. Did you know a pumpkin cookie cutter can be repurposed to make a jolly Mrs. Claus?
Rudolph byFab Art DIY; Mrs. Claus and Elves,Food Network; Ice Cream Cone Elves,Baker Stockby Bearfoot Baker
Caramel Apples
Traditionally a fall treat, a little creativity can help transform caramel apples into a festive holiday gift. For inspiration, mimic Santa’s jolly belly by adding his signature black belt and big gold buckle around a red caramel apple coated in red sprinkles or luster dust. Bring Frosty the Snowman to life by adding a jumbo marshmallow to the top of a caramel apple before dipping them both in white chocolate. A few chocolate chip “buttons" and a red licorice scarf will help tie it all together. Lastly, add candy eyes, a red nose and antlers, of course, to create everyone’s favorite reindeer out of a classic chocolate-covered caramel apple. There’s lots of ideas online for creating Rudolph’s antlers—from the easiest to the most realistic, you may want to try pipe cleaners, pretzel twists or sugar cookies for your antlers.
 
Santa Apples,Baked with Love;Mrs. PrindablesReindeer and Snowman; Reindeer with Pipe Cleaner Antlers,Design Dazzle
Need help perfecting your caramel apples? Check out these past blog posts for tips on making caramel stick to apples or learn why you should flip your caramel apples upside down.
 
Marshmallows
Jumbo marshmallows make a quick and easy canvas for creating holiday magic. Put three jumbo marshmallows on a stick, coat them in white chocolate and decorate to make marshmallow snowmen pops that are too sweet to pass up. Click here to watch a tutorial by Two Sisters Crafting. All you need to make adorable gingerbread marshmallow pops are, your choice of caramel-coated marshmallows or marshmallows covered in peanut butter confectioner’s coating, some piped white chocolate and tiny sugar decorations.
 
Snowmen,Two Sisters Crafting; Gingerbread Men,Munchkin Munchies
Sandwich Cookies
If you don’t think of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer when looking at your favorite sandwich cookies, changing your perspective may increase your holiday sales. When RCI member Vande Walle’s Candies coated Nutter Butter sandwich cookies in chocolate and embellished them with a pair of candy eyes, pretzel twist antlers and a bright red nose, these cute reindeer treats reportedly “flew out the door,” they were so popular with their customers! For another spin on this idea, try substituting the Nutter Butter cookies with Oreo cookies on a stick.
 
Nutter Butter Reindeer,Vande Walle Candies; Oreo Reindeer,Oh Nuts!
More than ever, consumers are looking to social media for unique and memorable gift ideas this holiday season. Posting photos of your festive holiday treats on social media regularly will help your company capture the attention of consumers while they’re making their shopping list this season.
 
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.

Tags:  Caramel  Caramel Apples  Christmas  Creativity  Elf  Gingerbread  Holidays  Marketing  Marshmallow  Member Ideas  Nutter Butter  Oreo  Reindeer  Rice Cereal Treats  Santa  Snowman  Social Media 

PermalinkComments (0)