Sugar-free, Gluten-free Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy (Like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups)

My daughter and I made some really easy, really yummy treats today.  We could have put them into muffin tins, so they would be like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  We didn't though, so the instructions will be for candies that are more like wafers.

Sugar-free, Gluten-free Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy (Like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups)

Line a small baking sheet or similar with parchment paper.  Have ready for when the chocolate is melted.

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, melt

1 cup Hershey's sugar-free chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter

Pour the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper in a rectangle.  Using the back of a spoon, smooth it until it is even and level, about 1/4" thick.  Place into a freezer for about 10 minutes, until it is solid.

After the time is up, in another small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, melt

1 cup natural peanut butter (nothing added)
2 tablespoons butter
12 packets stevia based sweetener (Truvia-type)

Remove the frozen chocolate from the freezer, and spread the melted peanut butter over the top.  Smooth it as with the chocolate layer before.  Place it back into the freezer for about 20 minutes, until it is solid.

Once the chocolate and peanut butter are solid, in the first saucepan that had the chocolate, over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, melt

1 cup Hershey's sugar free chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter

Remove the frozen chocolate and peanut butter from the freezer, and spread the melted chocolate on top.  Smooth it as before.  Place it back into the freezer for at least 1/2 hour, or until the chocolate on top is frozen.

Once the candy is frozen solidly, remove it from the freezer.  Using a knife dipped into hot water, cut it into pieces.  They will break randomly, but it will yield about 24 pieces of candy.  Store covered in the refrigerator.

Yummy!

Blessings,
Sharron

Applets -- Sugar Free, you bet!

Are they Aplets or Applets or Applettes??  Whatever they are, they are yummy, and have no sugar, wheat or soy in them!


If you've been following my blog, this is basically a re-visit of the gummy candies we made the other day.  Those were definitely easier, but the coating worked out better with these.  No one outside the family tried the gummies, but a non-sugar-free friend had some of these and couldn't stay out of them!


Applets -- Sugar Free, you bet!


In a medium sized saucepan, soften (let rest without heat)


3 packets unflavored gelatin 
in
1/2 cup applejuice


for about 5 minutes.  Break up any lumpy bits during that time.


Meanwhile, boil 


2 1/2 cups applejuice
3/4 cups fructose


for about 15 minutes to thicken it.


Combine


1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup cornstarch


Add it and the gelatin mixture to the boiled juice.  Stir it well to combine.  Stirring constantly, boil the mixture for another 10 minutes or until it is very thick.


Add (if desired)


2 cups chopped walnuts


(We didn't do ours with nuts, but the traditional candy always has nuts in it.)


Run cold water over the back of a 9"x9"x2" metal pan, then pour the apple paste into it.  Allow it to set up for a couple of hours, then cut it into 1 1/2" cubes.


In a small zippered bag, combine about


2 tablespoons Stevia in the Raw (measurable)
2 tablespoons cornstarch


Drop the candy, piece-by-piece, into the cornstarch mixture, shaking them gently to cover them with the powder.  Set them on a plate as they are finished.  Continue this process until all of the candies are done.


Makes about 36 candies.

Sugar Free Gummy Candy (Bears, worms, etc.)

This isn't perfected yet, but I don't want to lose it.  Here's where we're at with the development:


Sugar Free Gummy Candy (Bears, worms, etc.)


1 small package sugar-free flavored gelatin mix
2 packets unflavored gelatin (Knox)
1/3 cup water


Put all of the ingredients in a small sauce pan and allow them to rest for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Then, over medium heat, dissolve the mixture, stirring while heating it.  Carefully pour the gelatin mixture into ice cube trays or candy molds and allow them to set up for about 20 minutes.


Once the candy has set up, put 2 tablespoons Ideal Confectionery into a zippered bag.  Shake each piece of candy in the bag to coat it.  Place the coated candies on a plates and serve.  (They were gone before I got that far!)


I found the Ideal Confectionery made the candies taste a lot better, but also made them rather "melty."  I was hoping for something more like Aplets (Applets) and Cotlets.  It's a work in process and we'll keep trying!