Nutcracker Themed Food: Sweet Chocolate Mendiants

These easy chocolate mendiants are topped with sweet treats for a fun Nutcracker themed food idea kids can make themselves.

Today I have another fun Nutcracker themed food idea for you. This yummy sweet topped chocolate mendiants recipe was inspired by the Land of the Sweets scene from the ballet.

I wanted to come up with a treat that incorporated several different sweets, and thought that this variation on my giant chocolate jazzies recipe would work really well for Nutcracker themed party food, party favours or as a homemade edible gift idea for family, friends and teachers this Christmas.

I used candy canes, marshmallows and smarties for my sweet mendiants, but you could use any sweets you like, I think old fashioned sweets such as dolly mixtures, jelly beans or midget gems would look lovely, or maybe chocolate buttons in contrasting colours.  

I also used dark chocolate to keep the recipe dairy free (apart from the smarties of course) but you could use dark, milk or white chocolate or a mixture of all three.

Sweet Chocolate Mendiants

Ingredients: (makes 24)

• 400g chocolate of your choice
• 3-4 candy canes
• 2 tubes smarties
• handful mini marshmallows

Method: 

Start by laying out silicone cupcake cases on an oven tray or large plate.

Roughly crush the candy cane in a bowl with the end of a rolling pin.

Break up the chocolate and pop it into a microwave safe bowl.  Melt the chocolate by cooking at 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between each time. Take care not to burn it!

Once melted and lump free, drop a spoonful of chocolate into each of the silicone cups. Don't worry if it's not completely neat and tidy, any drips will break off when you remove them from the cups later on.

Once all the chocolate has been used up, tap the tray or plate with the silicone cups on onto your work surface to get rid of any air bubbles and to smooth out the layer of chocolate in each cup.

Sprinkle each cup of chocolate liberally with sweet toppings. I used each topping separately but you could also mix them up and sprinkle them all on together if preferred. This step is particularly fun for kids to help with!

Place the tray or plate into the fridge for half an hour or so to allow the chocolate to set.  It helps if the chocolate is really cold for the next step.

Pop the mendiants out of each of the silicone cups and place them on a plate or platter to serve.  If you’re giving them as gifts, wrap them up.  These look lovely in little cupcake boxes or cellophane bags tied with a pretty ribbon!

Store them in the fridge or somewhere fairly cool.

If you enjoyed this post, do check out the rest of our Nutcracker series – we’ve been posting new ideas every few days over the last few weeks. Today Meghan has shared a lovely Sugar Plum Fairy ribbon stick tutorial, and you can find all of the rest our posts over on Meghans Plan the Perfect Nutcracker Party page.  I’ll be putting together a nice round-up of our nutcracker ideas soon too, so watch this space for that one.

You might also like some the ideas in my fun Christmas food section here on the Eats Amazing blog, and if you'd like more easy edible gift ideas for Christmas, have a look at my 2 ingredient fudge, giant chocolate jazzies, chocolate dipped marshmallows and snowflake pretzels, or check out these festive gift ideas from some of my blogging friends:

• Vanille Kipferl from Life at the Zoo
• Meringue Snowmen from Thinly Spread
• Christmas Cookies from The Mad House
• Christmas Peanut Butter Patties from The Resourceful Mama
• Easy Chocolate Truffles from Kids Craft Room
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate Gift Jar from Everyday Savvy
• No Bake Reindeer Cookies from  Learn with Play At Home
• Pretzel Turtles from School Time Snippets

Grace

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Sweet Chocolate Mendiants

Nutcracker themed food idea - sweet topped chocolate mendiants for a nutcracker party - great homemade gift idea too.

Prep Time6 minutes mins

Cook Time2 minutes mins

Setting30 minutes mins

Total Time38 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: British

Servings: 24 mendiants

Author: Grace

Ingredients

• 400 g chocolate of your choice
• 3-4 candy canes
• 2 tubes smarties
• handful mini marshmallows

Instructions

• Start by laying out silicone cupcake cases on an oven tray or large plate.
• Roughly crush the candy cane in a bowl with the end of a rolling pin.
• Break up the chocolate and pop it into a microwave safe bowl.  Melt the chocolate by cooking at 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring in between each time. Take care not to burn it!
• Once melted and lump free, drop a spoonful of chocolate into each of the silicone cups. Don't worry if it's not completely neat and tidy, any drips will break off when you remove them from the cups later on.
• Once all the chocolate has been used up, tap the tray or plate with the silicone cups on onto your work surface to get rid of any air bubbles and to smooth out the layer of chocolate in each cup.
• Sprinkle each cup of chocolate liberally with sweet toppings. I used each topping separately but you could also mix them up and sprinkle them all on together if preferred.
• lace the tray or plate into the fridge for half an hour or so to allow the chocolate to set.  It helps if the chocolate is really cold for the next step.
• Pop the mendiants out of each of the silicone cups and place them on a plate or platter to serve.  If you’re giving them as gifts, wrap them up.  These look lovely in little cupcake boxes or cellophane bags tied with a pretty ribbon!
• Store them in the fridge or somewhere fairly cool.

I hope you enjoyed this fun recipe, please pin it if you did! For more delicious and fun food ideas for the festive season, check out the Christmas Food section here on the Eats Amazing blog or pop over and follow my Christmas Pinterest boards for lots more fun ideas from around the web; Christmas, Cute Christmas Food Ideas and Healthy Christmas Food.

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