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5 Ways to Transform Your Treats for National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day

Posted By RCI, Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Updated: Thursday, September 26, 2024

 

 

Get ready to spread the love for National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day on April 2nd! Keep reading for 5 ways to put a creative spin on your existing confections with a PB&J makeover! It's the perfect time to toast to this iconic duo of flavors--plus, you might even discover a new customer favorite!

 

Photo credit: Mindy’s Munchies

Peanut Butter Cups

Put a twist on the traditional peanut butter cup by adding a generous layer of grape or strawberry jelly on the inside.

 


Photo credit: Landies Candies

 

Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

Transform your chocolate-covered pretzels by filling them with your favorite jelly filling before drenching them in peanut butter confectioners coating.  

 

Photo credit: Peter’s Chocolate®

 

Truffles

Rich and creamy peanut butter filling and ooey gooey raspberry jam come together in this yummy peanut butter and jelly truffle recipe from Peter’s Chocolate. Click here to view the recipe.

 

Photo credit: Shugary Sweets

 

Fudge

Add swirls of strawberry preserves into your homemade peanut butter fudge for the perfect collision of PB&J and fudge.

 

Photo credit: Zanders

 

Trail Mix

For your PB&J on the go, mix any combination of roasted peanuts, dried strawberries pieces, raisins, peanut butter chips, mini peanut butter cups and peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets for a nostalgic trail mix.

In celebration of National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day, let your creativity flow and experiment with incorporating the timeless combination of peanut butter and jelly into your candy creations. Your customers are sure to appreciate the unique and delicious treats you bring to life!

Crave more?Click here  to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's 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.

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Tags:  Candy Holidays  Fudge  Peanut Butter  Peanut Butter & Jelly  Peanut Butter Cups  Pretzels  Trail Mix 

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5 Ways to Add a Pretzel Twist to Confections

Posted By RCI, Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Updated: Wednesday, October 13, 2021

 

From its crunchy texture and salty exterior to its versatility in both sweet and savory applications—what’s not to love about pretzels? Adding pretzels to your existing confections is a quick and easy way to add a new, and interesting twist (pun intended) to your product line up.


Photo credit: River Street Sweets

 

Pretzel Peanut Butter Cup

Add that signature pretzel crunch to your peanut butter cups with chunky, crushed pretzel pieces both inside and out.

 


Photo credit: LiveLovePasta

 

Chocolate Pretzel Toffee

Who needs nuts when you’ve got pretzels? Consider substituting broken pretzel pieces for a yummy, nut-free toffee. Check out this recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

 


Photo credit: Real Housemoms

 

Caramel-Stuffed Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

Take your chocolate-covered pretzels to next-level status by adding a generous dollop of caramel to pretzel twists before coating them in chocolate. If pretzel rods are more your style, consider dunking them in caramel before coating in chocolate. You might have to stock up on more pretzels for this one!

 


Photo credit: Brown Eyed Baker

 

Peanut Butter and Pretzel Meltaways

We’ve already established that peanut butter and pretzels are a winning combination, but in case you need more evidence, try adding a generous portion of crushed pretzels to your peanut butter meltaways or buckeyes and watch them disappear before your very eyes.

 


Photo credit: Real Housemoms

 

Salted Pretzel and Caramel Fudge

This is just another example of taking something already amazing—caramel and chocolate fudge—and turning up that craveable salty and crunchy factor with, you guessed it, pretzels.

Basically, the moral of the story is if you have existing confections that are sweet and creamy—like a rich, chocolate-covered vanilla buttercream or nutty hazelnut meltaway—try experimenting by adding pretzels and see what happens. Invite friends, family and loyal customers to stop by for a test taste in exchange for their feedback.

Crave more?Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's 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:  Caramel  Fudge  Ideas  Meltaways  Peanut Butter  Pretzels  Toffee 

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Freeze Chocolate Without Risking Bloom

Posted By RCI, Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Updated: Friday, August 20, 2021

 

Here's some fun ideas for the Fourth of July! Transform your favorite sweets into your festive treats by adding a whole lot of red, white and ooooh!

 

Plum Crazy
Credit: Plum Crazy

 

Patriotic Pretzels

This sweet and salty treat will be hard to pass up with the addition of colored confectioners coating and sprinkles to resemble the American flag.

 

 

Pop Rocks® Popcorn

Offer a package of Pop Rocks® as an add-on to your festive white chocolate coated popcorn (or really add popcorn treat) for a little unexpected fun this Fourth of July. Click here to read our past blog post with more inspiration, plus a helpful tip for working with Pop Rocks® in confections.

 


Credit: Delish

 

Freedom Bark

Swirls of red, white and blue are a beautiful sight and make for a sweetly patriotic treat. Consider adding dried blueberries, cherries, cranberries or coconut for added flavor and texture while staying true to the color scheme.

 

 

Fourth of July Tie-Dye Fudge

Transform classic white chocolate fudge into a summer holiday hero! Consider a mash-up of blueberry and strawberry flavors to give it a fresh mixed berry vibe!

This Fourth of July will certainly be one to remember! We hope this offers some inspiration for your holiday celebration.

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:  4th of July  Bark  Fudge  Popcorn  Pretzels 

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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 

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5 Tricks to Transform Your Existing Treats for Halloween

Posted By RCI, Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021

 

 

Halloween is expected to look a little different for many communities in 2020. Families may be looking for different ways to treat their kids and close friends this year.

If you already make chocolate-covered pretzels, truffles or marshmallow pops, the following ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Keep reading for  five quick and easy tricks to dress up your existing treats for Halloween.

 

 

 

Credit (left to right):RCI member Apple Tree Chocolate and Desserts Now Dinner Later

Ghostly Pretzels

Your fans will scream with delight over these ghostly pretzels. To accomplish this look, cover bowtie pretzels with white chocolate, then pipe white chocolate into top two holes and embellish with candy eyeballs.

 

 

 

Credit: The Suburban Soapbox

Truffle Eyeballs

Transform your white chocolate truffles into eye-catching treats. Use a red edible marker to create veins all over the white truffle. Pipe a dot of colored chocolate or coating for the iris and top with a black M&M or other candy-coated chocolate as the pupil.

 

 

 

Witchy Fingers

It’s the details that transform ordinary pretzel rods into shockingly convincing witch’s fingers. As pictured, blanched almonds were painted with black gel food coloring to achieve this look (dark-chocolate-covered almonds would work too). A toothpick or wooden skewer may be used to imitate the wrinkles of the top and bottom knuckle. Click here to view a step-by-step tutorial.

 

 

 

Credit: Garnish & Glaze

Pumpkin Pretzels

If you’re looking for something less spooky, these cute pumpkin pretzels are as easy as they are cute. Embellish orange coated pretzels with sprinkles and a green M&M or candy-coated sunflower seed as the finishing touch. Click here to see how Simply As That blog, gave their pumpkin pretzels personality by adding faces.

 


 

Spooky Sweet Marshmallow Pops

With this spooky sweet display of chocolate-covered marshmallow pops decorated as jack-o-lanterns, googly candy corn and skeletons from RCI member Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, how could you choose just one? Plus, we love how these marshmallow pops are packaged in folded acetate boxes and tied up with festive ribbons.

Even if Halloween hasn’t traditionally been a big holiday for your business, this year may be the exception. Make sure to share photos of your Halloween treats on social media and on your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential.

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:  Creativity  Easy  Fall  Halloween  Holidays  Marshmallows  Member Ideas  Pretzels  Seasonal  Truffles 

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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 

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