Fun and Decorative Treats for the Holidays
There is absolutely nothing Irish about these fun, little treats. I just thought I’d share something easy to make with family and kids that would also add a little merriment to the holiday season. This is my favorite way to make them because I love the rich, chocolatey flavor, but with just a few twists to the ingredients, you can change-up the flavor profile.
Homemade Edible Pinecones
Makes approximately 16 medium pinecones.
Ingredients
- 1½ bags bag Dark Chocolate Chips approximately 18 ounces.
- 1 ½ cups Heavy Cream
- 16 small Braided Pretzel Twists
- 1 box Chocolate Cereal Squares
- 1 teaspoon Vanila Extract
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 2 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
- Extra Powdered Sugar for garnish
Directions
- Line a baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper and set aside.
- Place the chocolate chips in a heat safe bowl. In a medium saucepan, heat the heavy cream until simmering and just about to boil.
- Pour the cream over the chocolate and let stand for 3-4 minutes. Stir vigorously until you have smooth, melted chocolate. Set aside until completely cooled and thickened. This may take a few hours.
- Place the cooled chocolate in a mixing bowl with the powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla and beat until blended and you have stiffer, but pliable chocolate.
- Take the pliable chocolate ganache and form around a pretzel braid making a cone that is wider at the bottom and pointed at the top. Flatten the bottom so it sits on the lined tray.
- Using the cereal, stick the cereal pieces into the chocolate on the cone winding around from the bottom to the top in a spiral pattern. Repeat until covered and full. Add 2-4 smaller pieces of cereal to the top to form the center of the pinecone.
- Sprinkle the extra powdered sugar on the finished pinecones to resemble snow.
Note: Wait to sprinkle the powdered sugar until right before eating or using to decorate. It will become sticky if you store or freeze it sugared.
- These will keep in an airtight container for 5 days and freeze well.
- The beauty of these is you can change-up the ingredients to create lots of different flavors and sizes.
- For smaller ones, make the pretzel cone smaller and adjust the size of the cereal pieces.
- You can exchange the homemade ganache for Nutella, or chocolate spread or even add peanut butter.
- You can change the flavor of the pretzel braids.
- The cereal can be changed as well. Use some that have cinnamon in them or a different texture.
- You can sprinkle some gold edible dust or glitter on them to garnish for a decorative effect.
