Frito Candy

As I previously mentioned, I went a little overboard with food for our Beirut finals. In addition to the pizza roll that I made, I also made this Frito Candy.

When you say Frito Candy, people look at you kind of funny, like what the heck is Frito Candy. But, if you have a piece in your hand to give them to try, they will love you. I have always enjoyed mixing sweet and salty together so I knew it would be a hit. I opened the candy container and this stuff was gone within 5 minutes.

Sweet Salty Frito Candy (from Cookie Madness)
2 cups pretzels
1 cup Fritos
8 mini peanut butter cups
1 stick unsalted butter (8 tablespoons)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips – I used dark chocolate chips
Optional: Chopped peanuts for the top

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 13×9 inch pan with parchment paper or no-stick foil.

Crush pretzels. You can use a food processor to chop, or just throw them in a ziploc bag and crush with your hands or a meat tenderizer. Add Fritos to processor/bag and break them up with pretzels. Dump into pan. Unwrap peanut butter cups and throw them in the mix (I broke them in half first).

Place butter in a non-stick saucepan and melt over medium heat. When butter is melted, stir in brown sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring once or twice. Pour over Frito mixture and bake for 8 minutes.

Remove pan from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over hot candy. Return to oven for 1 minute to soften chips. Spread softened chocolate chips over bars. Add chopped nuts if you would like to.

Cool at room temperature until you feel the pan is cool enough to be transferred to your refrigerator, then transfer to refrigerator to set the chocolate. When chocolate is set, lift from pan and break the candy up as you would almond toffee. You can eat it cold or let it come back down to room temp.

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13 Responses to “Maple Syrup and Birthday Cupcakes”

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    1
    Brisbane Baker — March 29, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Mmmmm I love one dish cupcakes!

    http://www.brisbanebaker.blogspot.com

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    Carly — March 29, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Those cupcakes look delish! Can you tell me more about the “dipping in ganache” technique? Does the ganache need to be a certain consistency first?

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    3
    yumventures — March 29, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    I have seen some maple cheesecake around the blogs, maybe that would be awesome use for the sugar? Or to top maple sugar cookies 🙂

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    4
    Joanne — March 29, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    I made a seriously awesome maple mousse cake to go with Christmas dinner this year and it used maple sugar. It was one of the best desserts I’ve ever eaten. The link to the post is: http://joanne-eatswellwithothers.blogspot.com/2010/01/frozen-maple-mousse-pie-with-chocolate.html.

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    5
    KV — March 29, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    Go Butler!! I think I’m going to use your “go to” cupcake recipe to make some Final Four treats for the office Friday

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    6
    Kelly — March 29, 2010 at 10:05 pm

    Wow that maple syrup event looks really cool, I wish I had known about it- it looks like they only do it once a year!

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    7
    Jen — March 30, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    Carly – I dipped the cupcakes in the ganache while it was still very liquidy. I did it a few minutes after making the ganache and then let it set up on the cupcakes. Hope that helps.

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    8
    Cara — March 30, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Jen, the maple syrup experience sounds like so much fun and I’ve always wanted to do it! I wonder if it’s too late this year.

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    9
    Lila — March 31, 2010 at 7:50 am

    Those cupcakes look so pretty. Can you tell me what kind of liners you’re using? They stay so nice and bright.

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    10
    stephchows — March 31, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    ooo I love sugar houses!!! The tastings are always the best 🙂

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    11
    Jen — March 31, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Lila, I get the liners online. Here is the link for the colored ones, and I also get brown liners as well.

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    12
    Memória — April 9, 2010 at 5:02 am

    The cupcakes look beautiful and festive!! I love real maple syrup!

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    Kyle — April 15, 2010 at 2:14 am

    I should have a birthday more often. So good…

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