Chocolate Covered Jelly Beans

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I’m certain I mentioned my mom several million times around Mother’s Day this year. I probably mentioned how awesome she is. I know, most people think their mom is awesome. But mine really is, even if she isn’t your mother.

That’s my mom. You know, the chick on the right. (I am in the middle and yes, something funny is going on with my eye. Sister on the left. She’s almost as funny as me. Almost.)

A little over a year ago, my mother lost her sister to cancer. It was a long and painful battle. About a month ago, she lost her mother. She used to speak to her sister and mother everyday, so now there is this sort of empty gap.

My mother, is quite possibly the last person to deserve this pain. She is constantly giving to others. If I asked her for the shirt off of her back she would give it to me because she places her children’s happiness above her own. I know that most people say they would, but she legitimately would give up anything to her children or loved ones if they were in need. She would do anything for her family. ANYTHING.

I decided to dedicate this post to my mom. She happens to be a lover of chocolate and Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. These chocolate covered jelly beans make a wonderful gift, party favor, a sweet treat on each of your guest’s place settings, or a fun project with the kids. In my case this was a project with other 20-somethings. Yup, no kids, but thankfully chocolate and jelly beans work for any age.

There are a plethora of uses for these chocolate covered beans. Don’t fret if you think the combination is too sweet. Some combinations were exceptional.

My mom couldn’t care less, so long as Jelly Bellies are involved.

All that you need are:

– Jelly Bellies

– milk, dark, or white chocolate

– toothpicks

–  something to stick the toothpicks in, such as styrofoam or an orange

Okay so this is so simple that if you comment about how this is too much work for you, then I suspect you have been wedged (stuck) into your loveseat for several years, watching infinite DVRed reruns of The Jerry Springer Show. Like one of those people who complains about having to turn an oven on to cook a premade frozen meal.

This is easy peasy. Or whatever.

Here is what you do:

-Pick out your beans.

This is a mixture of pina colada and margarita Jelly Bellies. Not a conventional pick of jelly bean flavors to go with chocolate, but it actually worked out well.

I also tried dipping…

 very cherry + milk chocolate =

                      Chocolate covered cherries. I kid you not they tasted remarkably close.

orange sherbet + white chocolate=

Creamsicle. No need for the ice cream truck to come around the neighborhood.

Speaking of, since when does it cost over $3.00 for an ice cream bar from the ice cream man (or woman)?? I had to smack and push masses of little kids to get first in line when the ice cream truck pulled up to my street. Handed the ice cream man my dollar (or pennies that added up to a dollar, but really, who is keeping tabs anyway) only to have him give me the look of death. Damn you, inflation.

coconut  + dark chocolate =

Mounds bar. The combination did not occur until I actually bit in. Holy crap. I don’t even like Mounds or coconut all that much but these were good.

Some other Jelly Belly flavors that could also taste good dipped in chocolate:

cappuccino

toasted marshmallow.. like a s’more!

strawberry cheesecake… this would go very well with white chocolate.

French vanilla

raspberry

caramel corn

chocolate pudding.. with chocolate it would be double chocolate pudding, with white chocolate it might be like a black and white.

Or just visit a candy store and see what you can experiment with.

Once you have picked out your flavors:

-Stick a toothpick into the jelly bean. I know, mind boggling.

-Pick out a flavor of chocolate. Dark, milk, or white. I choose depending on the flavor of the jelly bean I am using.

-Melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. If you melt in microwave, only heat it in 20 second spurts and stir the chocolate with a spoon until smooth.

-I let the chocolate cool for a few minutes. Then I dip the beans into the chocolate.

-Tap the toothpick against the side of the bowl to shake off excess chocolate

Then stick the toothpick into a piece of styrofoam or even a fruit, such as an orange.

Wait for it to dry. This is so hard.

I dipped my margarita and pina colada jelly beans in both milk and white chocolate.

You can put them into a canning jar (you know, the ones everyone uses in craft and food photos to make everything look “natural” and “pretty”) and give them as a gift. This would be wonderful for mother’s day. If you have kids this is something they can make as a gift for family members for the holidays.

You can make them into centerpieces or decoration for the bajillion kinds of parties in existence….Such as, a shower. Or a bachelorette party. Or one of those parties people have for Sex in the City movie premieres. Are they making more of those?

See that little olive?

I used a toothpick and pink candy melts to dab on a little pink dot.

Then spear them with a toothpick.

You could use shot glasses that look like mini martini glasses.

Because the mini version of everything is always better than the original.

If you are aiming for something more suitable for children or a more general audience you can make something like this:

Umm yes that is a sundae. I made the whipped cream portion by gluing together white jelly beans using melted white chocolate.

I made a base, then added smaller circles on top of each layer.

Use a paint brush or a toothpick to get rid of any excess white chocolate as it is drying.

My mom is cool. She should get Jelly Bellies every day because she deserves it. You should be jealous.

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