Pistachio Dessert Bites


Pistachio dessert bites for Saint Patrick's day any one?  Yes, Please!

Theses creamy, light, crunchy, bite size treats are easy to make and are prefect for Saint Patrick's Day.  


You'll need; Pistachio instant pudding, Siljans Croustades Crispy Shells, 1/4 cup of chopped Wonderful Lightly Salted Pistachio nuts, Whipped Cream (canned works), and 1 1/2 cups cold milk. 

Tools your need;  Mixer, Icing or sandwich bag (Optional) 1/4 cookie sheet, 


Follow the directions on the Instant pudding but for these sized cups I used 
1 1/2 cups of cold milk.
While your pudding is whipping in the mixer, open you crispy cups. I placed the cup trays on a 1/4 size cookie sheet for support. 
It thickens up just right for these cups. 


Take your icing bag and fill it with your pudding.  
Once the bag is filled, cut a hole just big enough for any nuts in the pudding to squeeze through and start filling your cups.





Once filled, chill for an hour in the refrigerator.  
I had about a half a cup of pudding mixture left and so made a dessert cup. 
Chop your Pistachio nuts if you haven't yet and set aside.

 

Once set, top with whipped cream and chopped Pistachio nut or two. 
Keep refrigerated.


Side Note:  Fill these crispy cups just before serving, otherwise they will soften on you.  


I would love to know if you try these, comment below. 


Sweet & Salty Valentine treats


Looking for a quick and easy treat for your Valentine? These semi-homemade valentine treats are sweet and salty and oh, so easy to make for your sweetheart.  
First, you'll need some pink candy melts and some milk chocolate melts.
Don't forget your favorite soft caramels.  


I love Bequet caramels with Celtic sea salt.


Other tools you'll need are a rolling pin (a mini one worked best for me),
A heart-shaped cookie cutter (I used a one inch sized one),
A small pairing knife,
Food safe gloves (optional),
Food mat or smooth cutting board (a smooth counter will work just as well),
Parchment-lined cookie sheet,
Fork or dipping scoop like Michaels Celebrate It scoop,
Icing bags or sandwich bags. 


Take your caramels out of their wrappers and mold into a ball with the heat of your hands. I wore food safe gloves for this step.
Make a disk like you would with cookie dough and with your rolling pin roll out to about 1/4 inch thick or to your preferred thickness on your mat/cutting board or counter. 
Take your cookie cutter and cut out your hearts.  
Placing them on your parchment lined cookie sheet. 
Place your cookie sheet in the freezer. 
 If your wearing the gloves, I found it protects the caramels from your fingerprints melting into them. 


While your caramels are in the freezer, melt your chocolates and candy melts either in the microwave in 10 second increments or a double boiler method.
(I did the double boiler method.)
Once the melts are ready take out your frozen hearts and one at a time using your fork or scoop dip the hearts into the melted chocolate placing them back on the parchment.  That cold cookie sheet will help set the chocolate.  
Having frozen your caramels it keeps the hearts stiff while dipping into the hot melted chocolate and keeping its shape.
Place your cookie sheet with your coated hearts back in the freezer to set.
This should take about 5 minutes.
Now don't worry about the extra chocolate spillage.


Once set, remove them carefully from the parchment and take your pairing knife and shave the excess chocolate from the hearts.  


Shave it gently, you don't want to take too much off at once. 


You may have a few rough ones, but don't worry we can fix them.




Now take your remaining melted chocolate and place in your icing bags or Sandwich bags. Cut a tiny hole in the bottom to drizzle chocolate across your hearts. Remember I told you we'd fix those rough spots? This can cover any imperfections or opps.  You can leave as is or add candy sprinkles, crushed pretzels, or crushed  freeze dried berries.
I found the nonpareils gave them a more elegant look.


Can you find the crushed fruit and pretzel hearts above?


I found the heart treat box at my local grocery store.



Happy Valentine's Day! 

I would love to know if you make these.  Comment below.

















 

Pistachio Dessert Bites

Pistachio dessert bites for Saint Patrick's day any one?  Yes, Please! Theses creamy, light, crunchy, bite size treats are easy to make ...