Kids Cooking Thursday: Chocolate Crackles - by request!

Our friend Nick is planning on coming down from Melbourne to terrorise the children, and requested we make him some chocolate crackles. Now, I could have made the "proper", more traditional, recipe, but I don't really like copha, and I think my recipe is a lot nicer. Easier too. (For all my Northern Hemisphere readers, when I say Mars Bars, I mean Milky Ways, or any generic chocolate coated, caramel topped, whipped fluffy nougat type confection. And Coco Pops are chocolate flavoured Rice Crispies.)

Mars Bar Chocolate Crackles
200g chopped Mars Bars
70g chopped milk chocolate
50g butter
3 cups coco pops

Melt first three ingredients, either in the microwave, or in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently to ensure a smooth mixture, and prevent burning. Plus, it will give everyone a turn to stir.

Master Five going so fast you can't see the spoon!


Master One looking adorable

Don't let the mixture cool down too much during stirring, or it will start setting too early. Mix in the coco pops.

Miss Four having fun

Place spoonfuls into patty cases, and refrigerate until set, about 2-3 hours.

Makes 20 mini ones, and 6 full sized ones

If you'd like to join in with Kids Cooking Thursday please leave a permalink to your own Kids Cooking Thursday post, as per the rules.

Mars Bars Monkeys

Mars Bar Monkeys (modified from here)
120g butter
280g Mars Bars
1 1/2 tablespoons golden syrup
4 cups coco pops
white chocolate buttons (3 per monkey)
writing icings, black and red

Set out patty pan cases.

Place butter, Mars Bars and golden syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly, using the spoon to break up the Mars Bars and squish any bits of nougat that are slow to melt. I usually melt the butter first, that way the chocolate melts partly from indirect heat, and has less chance of scorching.
When everything is melted and only little bits of nougat remain, up the heat (but not too high, or the chocolate will burn!), stirring constantly. It'll do that curdling, monkey brains thing you get when adding eggs to creamed butter and sugar. Do not be alarmed. This is not zombie food. Stick with it and keep stirring until it thickens slightly. Take it off the heat when it looks like ganache.

Put coco pops in a large bowl. Pour in your Mars Bar mixture and stir to combine. Place spoonfuls into patty cases and allow to cool slightly.
Put two white buttons in each case to serve as ears. Using melted chocolate or icing, 'glue' two m&ms in place for eyes, and then glue in another white button for the muzzle. It's easiest if you predecorate the muzzles. (as seen in the picture - two dots and a smile)