Easter Crack

If you are like me, you have a slight obsession with Cadbury Mini Eggs.

I mean, such a beautiful sight!

Every year I can't resist buying a bag - like, a big bag - and then I spend the rest of the season dreaming up ways to eat them, like HERE and HERE.

Well, this might be my favorite mini egg-themed treat thus far. I call it: Easter Crack. I know, that name sounds...wrong...but believe me, it's oh so right.

If you haven't had "crack" (well, dessert crack - the other crack is WHACK, ya hear?), it's basically saltine crackers or matzo with a layer of caramel followed by melted chocolate. Once it is all set, you break it into random bite sized pieces. And it is soooooooo addictive. Hence...crack. It can be jazzed up in all sorts of ways. The star of my Easter Crack is, of course, Cadbury Mini Eggs, but I also added pretzels and kettle corn for that perfect salty/sweet combo. 

It's quite silly saying this is a recipe as it takes almost no effort, but here ya go:

Easter Crack

1-2 sleeves saltine crackers (depending on pan size)

1 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 package chocolate chips (I like semi-sweet, but you do you)

Cadbury mini eggs, smashed

Mini pretzels*, kettle corn, or whatever your little Easter heart desires

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange a layer of crackers so they fill your baking sheet. In a saucepan, heat the butter and brown sugar, stirring until boiling and slightly thickened and then remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour the mixture over the crackers, using a spatula or back of spoon to spread evenly over the crackers. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and as it cools, melt the chocolate chips (whatever your preferred method). Spread the melted chocolate over the entire surface. While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle any chosen toppings evenly over it, making sure they are settled into the chocolate. Cool for 2 hours in the fridge and then break into pieces. Enjoy!

*The only thing I would change is the shape of pretzels - the sticks easily popped off the surface when I broke it apart. Regular mini pretzels broken up or those round shaped ones would probably fare better.

Let's recap in pictures:

I would say how to store it, but honestly - this crack won't last. 

Friday Feels: Volume II

Feeling enchanted by one of my favorite summer flowers and its ability to produce so many variations of color within one plant.

Hydrangeas

Feeling shocked that Spicey is out.

Exclusive - Goodbye, Sean Spicer: The Daily Show

Feeling like a kid again (but with alcohol) at the MN Zoo's Adult Night.

Bear Talk - Minnesota Zoo

Feeling my abs ache after laughing so hard at this homage:

d3@r ev@n OH NO - YouTube

Feeling like mac & cheese makes everything better

O'Cheeze Food Truck - Minneapolis, MN

Feeling like these remarkable creations are almost too pretty to eat!

Patisserie 46 - Minneapolis, MN

Feeling relieved to have someone give a sensible answer to this ongoing worry (thanks, Pope!)

The Pope on Panhandling: Give Without Worry - NY Times

Feeling remembrance of a wise man with wise words.

St. Patrick's Day 2017 - Guinness Chocolate Pudding With Bailey's Whipped Cream

Ohhhhhhhhh gee. 2016. There is so much to say, yet hard to find the words. And then came 2017. Where someone arrived uninvited to my party. For four years, supposedly. But, we are going to swallow all of that for now (this blog has never been about the real, serious issues in life) in order to talk about a wee little holiday - St. Patrick's Day. My mom, who has been quite the family genealogist for the past decade, informed me that our Irish roots stem from the: Rafferty, McCartney, Fitzgerald, Farrell, Ryan, Barry, Budd and Taylor clans. (Did you just find out you are related to me?) A few of those lads and lassies made a new life for themselves in the expansive Midwest of the United States. You know, immigrants. Oof, there we go with the current complicated life problems that I'm trying to avoid...back to silly, fun, observations and frippery. Like alcohol! And chocolate! Everything is OK! 

Mmmmm

Is there any dessert more comforting than pudding? I'm not sure if it is the texture or the name or the fact that you eat it with a spoon, but I don't know one person who doesn't release a little bit of stress when they hear pudding is in their future. In case there is still some tension hanging on, let's add some adult beverages to the mix. Ahh...now we are feeling all is good, right?

Friends

I had seen some version of this recipe floating around every year and finally had the resolve (and the ingredients) to make it.

The stout brings out the depths of chocolate and will cook off enough not to make any under-aged partakers loopy. You can substitute plain whipped or chantilly cream for those young folk, but for the elders, you are in for a treat with this addition! I will give you fair warning: the Bailey's-laced whipped cream is so addictive. You will want to dollop it on anything you ever put into your pie hole from this day forth.

You can serve this dessert via any vessel, but my favorite for the occasion were these mini pint glasses - shout out to North River Hops & Brewing! The pudding is so decadent and rich, that the small portion tends to be just the right amount for a special lucky treat. You can find similar tasting glasses on Amazon.

I used THIS simple recipe for the pudding and THIS (with the addition of vanilla) for the whipped cream "foam". Finished them off with some chocolate shavings, but I imagine green sprinkles or decorative sugar would be even more festive. Cheers, my friends!