The holiday season is officially here! So what does it mean for our kids? Yes, a lot of sweets and candies! Every time I give my kids a store-bought candy, my heart shifts from the awareness of the composition of these candies. But what can we do? Even if I don’t buy them at all, they can get it at gramma’s house, at a friend’s house, a birthday party…. And I don’t even want to think about Halloween…)))
I know it is impossible to protect them completely from bad sugar candies but I can minimize the use of malicious sweets by making healthy homemade candies. There is an incredible number of options for making healthy candies! All you need are different types of dry fruits, nuts, organic syrups or other natural ingredients and a little bit of imagination.
My kids are in love with these homemade ladybug candies! They are made with only three ingredients: sweet dates, healthy hazelnuts and natural unsweetened cacao powder. The ladybug decoration is optional. It’s made with white chocolate and the only time I use it, is for a holiday or birthday party.
They are super easy to make and you can store them in the refrigerator or freezer. And most important, you don’t have to worry about the health of your kids!
Ingredients:
5 oz. (150 g) hazelnuts
12 dates
3 tablespoons unsweetened cacao powder
½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Black icing writer (optional)
Red food color (optional)
Step 1
In a food processor blend together 12 dates. Add the hazelnuts, unsweetened cacao powder and blend again.
Step 2
From the ready mixture roll small balls and refrigerate them for 30 minutes (I use a tablespoon scoop).
Step 3
Melt the white chocolate using a double boiler, then let it cool for a couple of minutes and add red food coloring. ATTENTION, if you use gel food coloring (like I did), your chocolate will seized. Don’t panic! Just add ½ – 1 teaspoon of boiling water and mix the mixture very well. You will get a smooth and nice consistency.
Step 4
Dip each ball in red chocolate to the half point and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Then, using a black icing writer, draw a line in the middle of each ball and a few dots on either side of the line. Refrigerate the homemade ladybug candies until you’re ready to serve them.
Enjoy!
Notes:
If the dates are to dry, cover them with boiling water and set aside for 10 minutes.
If the candy mixture comes out too dry, just add 1-2 tablespoons of almond milk or regular milk.
From these ingredients, I made 13 candies.
- 5 oz. (150 g) hazelnuts
- 12 dates
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cacao powder
- ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
- Black icing writer (optional)
- Red food color (optional)
- In a food processor blend together 12 dates. Add the hazelnuts, unsweetened cacao powder and blend again.
- From the ready mixture roll small balls and refrigerate them for 30 minutes (I use a tablespoon scoop).
- Melt the white chocolate using a double boiler, then let it cool for a couple of minutes and add red food coloring. ATTENTION, if you use gel food coloring (like I did), your chocolate will seized. Don’t panic! Just add ½ - 1 teaspoon of boiling water and mix the mixture very well. You will get a smooth and nice consistency.
- Dip each ball in red chocolate to the half point and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Then, using a black icing writer, draw a line in the middle of each ball and a few dots on either side of the line. Refrigerate the homemade ladybug candies until you’re ready to serve them.
- If the dates are to dry, cover them with boiling water and set aside for 10 minutes.
- If the candy mixture comes out too dry, just add 1-2 tablespoons of almond milk or regular milk.
- From these ingredients, I made 13 candies.
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