Popcorn | Photo from Pexels
The following dessert recipes are easy-to-make sweet treats that will have any winter fanatic ecstatic for the cold months to come.
Popcorn snowballs
All you need to make popcorn snowballs is a bag of popcorn (or your favorite kernels and a popcorn maker), marshmallows, butter and anything else you may want to include (candy, sprinkles, chocolates etc.)
Start by making your favorite popcorn of choice. Any flavor of popcorn will do, but salted or kettle corn flavorings would work the best. Microwave or prepare the popcorn as the bag instructs you to do so.
As the popcorn finishes popping, melt two tablespoons of butter and one cup of marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl. The best way to do this is by heating the butter in 20-30 second bursts and checking the butter to ensure it has not burnt and the marshmallows are melting down properly. Stir the mixture after each time burst in the microwave until it is completely melted.
Once the popcorn and marshmallow mixture is done, grab a large bowl and combine the two so all of the popcorn is lightly coated. If you wanted to include other candies or chocolates into the mixture, this is when you would add them. Let the mixture cool enough so you do not burn your hands before beginning to work with it.
Lay out a non-stick pan or silicone baking sheet and spray your hands with non-stick spray or water. Take handfuls of the popcorn mixture in your hands and mold them into balls of your size preference. Place the balls down on the sheet and enjoy.
Hot cocoa bombs
Hot cocoa bombs have been trending on social media this holiday season. To make them yourself, all you need is meltable chocolate of your choice, hot cocoa powder, mini marshmallows and a spherical silicone mold (or search online to find more creative mold shapes if you would like).
Start by melting your choice of chocolate. This can be done in the microwave or over the stovetop using the double-boiler method. The amount of chocolate you need to melt depends on how many cocoa bombs you are making, but be sure to melt enough so you can coat the mold generously. Place the chocolate mold in the freezer for around 15 minutes.
If the mold shows no signs of cracking when you remove it from the freezer, very carefully pop the chocolate bomb out of the mold. If the mold is cracking or seems weak, give it another coat of chocolate and freeze it again.
When the chocolate bomb is removed from the mold, fill one half of it with mini marshmallows and hot cocoa powder. To combine the two halves of the cocoa bomb, press the edges of the empty half down on a hot pan for a few brief moments. Quickly combine the two halves to have a completed hot cocoa bomb.
Place the bomb in a glass of warm milk and watch the drink create itself. Feel free to add anything else you would like to make your hot cocoa bomb more extravagant.
