This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MMsCarrotCake #CollectiveBias
Spring themes are graced with the good fortune of arriving on the scene just when family gatherings and outdoor activities begin making a comeback from their wintery hibernation. People start the season on the lookout for new party ideas, new ways to wow their guests, or just the surest way of surviving the familial onslaught with their sanity intact.
Easter is an inseparable cornerstone of the Spring mix, the first ‘big holiday’ following the ‘big thaw,’ and features what is perhaps one of the year’s most endearing traditions – Easter baskets. Baskets are a childhood favorite for the goodies, while still beloved by adults who enjoy the sentiment and craft involved in the exchange – though the included confections don’t hurt either.
Exchanging Easter baskets is one of my family’s traditions, and my Easter baskets include all of the usual items, from assorted marshmallow candies to chocolate-cream eggs and chocolate bunnies. However, I also pack mine with a homemade treat – a dense white chocolate fudge packed with cranberries, candies, and chopped almonds. Unexpected, delicious, and seasonal, it puts a small but welcomed twist on the baskets, while still keeping with the spirit of the season.
This year, while browsing the candy selection at my local Walmart for Easter basket goodies, I happened upon a new style of M&M's®, M&M's® Carrot Cake. Yes, my curiosity was instantly piqued, so much so in fact that I couldn’t – and didn’t – wait to get home before trying a few, munching on them in the car. A very unique candy, I can only describe them as oversized M&M's® with a carrot cake flavored ‘cookie dough’ type center.
It was an obvious addition to this year’s Easter baskets.
However, after starting on the white chocolate fudge blocks, it dawned on me. Why relegate these delicious morsels merely to being additions to the Easter baskets? Why not incorporate them into the star piece of the event, the fudge?
With just a hint of cinnamon spice behind the carrot cake center of these new M&M's®, I knew that the M&M's® Carrot Cake would meld instantly and effortlessly into the fudge, as well as enhancing its seasonal flare.
Once solidified, this white chocolate fudge is a richly dense confection. Chopped almonds and M&M's® perforate the fudge with bits of crunch, while offerings of dried cranberries help to offset the sweet-on-sweet tones of the fudge and adjoining candies. The addition of M&M's® Carrot Cake provide the confection with spiced notes and milder shades of sweetness, in addition to another layer of crunch.
Sliced into blocks, the fudge can either be wrapped and added as gifts into your baskets, or served as a compliment to your favorite Easter dessert, or on their own.
I cued you into one of our traditions, as well as one of our recipes, but what are some of your Easter traditions or recipes? Do you exchange baskets? We would love to hear from you.
M&M's® Carrot Cake Fudge
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 2 hours or overnight
Ingredients:
1 lb. white chocolate melting candies
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup chopped dried craisins
1/2 cup M&M's® Carrot Cake, chopped and whole
1/4 cup M&M's® dark chocolate, chopped
Instructions:
Line an 8 x 8 in. square pan with parchment paper or foil, with ends extending over sides and set aside.
In a double-boiler or microwave melt the chocolate.
In a large bowl mix together melted chocolate and condensed milk.
Fold in chopped nuts, craisins and M&M's®. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and cover. Refrigerate the fudge for at least two hours; until firm or up to overnight.
Carefully, lift from the pan and peel the liner away. Slice the fudge into desired shapes and sizes. Serve and enjoy!
Enjoy with Love,
Catherine
xo
Comedy Plus says
Oh my goodness Catherine. I would love to get one of these for Easter. What a lovely idea. All the work too. You are so very talented.
Have a blessed day my friend. Big hugs. ♥♥♥
tanna says
I can't believe I missed the carrot cake M&Ms at the store the other day! This looks so good, Catherine. I think we will be doing Easter on our own this year... Evan and I probably won't have baskets. ha!
I would sure love to join y'all at Macy's for Martha Stewart's new book! So fun! Hope you have a wonderful week! blessings ~ tanna
speedy70 says
Quanto i piacciono, perfetti e genuini fatti in casa, complimenti!!!!!
Sandra Czosek says
So tell me this dear friend - how in the world do you stay so thin - that was sinfully good!
Lily Lau says
Makes me so excited to start preparing everything for Easter! 😀
sharon says
I love the idea of using the M&Ms® Carrot Cake in the fudge. Bet it turned out super delicious! #client
Dottie Sauchelli-Balin says
Dear Catherine,
I wonder if white chocolate is under the umbrella of giving up chocolate for Lent?...TI guess it is all the same, chocolate is chocolate...This is the hardest part of giving something up, when I see your delightful and delicious creations. I want one sooo bad! But it is not too much longer...Then I will be in a chocolate frenzy...This idea of yours is splendid! I never had these flavors all together, it must be an explosion of flavors and chocolate all in one bite... I love the tradition of still giving Easter Baskets..I always did that for my son as well as my nieces and nephews when they were younger. Thanks for sharing...Boy I will have many recipes of yours to try, after Easter...Have a blessed and beautiful week..
Dottie 🙂
Alice says
Walmart always has the craziest flavors of everything! 🙂 What a fun thing to put in your Easter baskets! 🙂
Medeja says
Looks so nice.. all of those colors!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
Carrot cake FUDGE?! Wow, I need this right now! Perfect for Easter or well..for myself 😉
Shelby says
I absolutely love this recipe idea! Grumpy's favorite cake is Carrot Cake and he will request it for his birthday. I will have to find these M&M's and get this made to surprise him!
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
Now if you come over to my house and make these for my kids they would love you for ever.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Carrot Cake Fudge??? I'm in love 🙂
Peter @ Feed Your Soul Too says
What a creative and fun idea.
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
This is really neat and creative! Here is to hoping I can find those M&Ms!
Big Daddy Dave says
Catherine, Wow! What a combination! Lots of good stuff going on for sure... My better half would love this fudge. Thanks and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner? says
Can't say I've tried Carrot Cake M&Ms, but this fudge is super fun!
AnnMarie says
WHAT??!! There is actually a carrot cake M & M? I thought I'd seen it all when my husband bought me candy corn
M & M's last Fall! This looks so good that I must try it and then decide if I will share with the EAster baskets! I want to go shopping with you sometime to Walmart to see what goodies we can come up with to make something delicious!
Sheryl @Lady Behind The Curtain says
Looks delicious! Great Easter recipe.
Melissa @ Treats With a Twist says
Such a cute idea for a gift!
Diana Rambles says
These look so tasty!
April J Harris says
This looks gorgeous, Catherine! Oh how I wish that we could buy this kind of M&Ms in the UK! I'm going to see if I can find some to take back with me from California so I can make this yummy treat!
[email protected] says
These sound wonderful Catherine!
Nibbles By Nic says
What's better than a 10 minute treat? Especially one that includes fudge with chocolate candy??
amanda @ fake ginger says
Oooh, I'm heading to Walmart first thing tomorrow to find those M&Ms! This fudge looks so delicious!
manu says
Wow, it looks so delicious!!
Love it
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer says
Loving this! I definitely want some of this fudge in my Easter basket!
Jerusha (@TheDisneyChef) says
I love this too! Thank you for the ideas!
All that's Jas says
Perfect treat for my sweet tooth! Thanks for linking with us Thursday Favorite Things!
Mary Frances says
Oh I do love a good fudge! This one is extra special, with the different MnMs and the white chocolate. Love it!
Laura@ Baking in Pyjamas says
Oh I love these, they are perfect for Easter. Great idea giving them as gifts, they look so pretty all wrapped up. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!