5 Easy Winter Holiday Ideas

Spanning from December to March, winter encompasses several notable confectionery holidays. With continued interest in sharing indulgent treats with friends and family in-person and from a distance this holiday season, we’re sharing fun and easy inspiration to capture sales.

Photo credit: Hilliard’s Chocolates

Hanukkah
With limited options for consumers celebrating Hanukkah, RCI member Hilliard’s Chocolates has found success with offering peppermint bark made with crushed blue peppermints. 

Photo credit: American Chocolate Designs

Christmas
Transfer sheets are an easy way to bring color and excitement to bon bons, chocolate bars, chocolate bark and dipped sandwich cookies. Get the look pictured from RCI member, American Chocolate Designs.

Photo credit: Hugs and Cookies XOXO

New Year’s

Help customers ring in the new year with a spirited twist on the ever-popular hot chocolate bombs. Pictured are boozy hot chocolate bombs from blogger Hugs and Cookies XOXO. Check your state’s liquor laws for restrictions. 

Photo credit: Caljava International

Valentine’s Day

Spread the love with hand-piped royal icing toppers which can save time and add value to your products. Snag these sweet toppers from RCI member, Caljava International. 

Photo credit: Candiquik.com

St. Patrick’s Day
Transform your existing truffles into pots of gold fit for teams of leprechauns. This fun idea comes from Candiquik.com.

Here’s to a winter holiday season full of sweetness!

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Transform Truffles into Truffle Pops in 5 Easy Steps

Looking for something fun and different? Cake pops have been popular for years, but what about upping the ante with unique and decadent truffle pops? RCI partner, Birnn Chocolates of Vermont, shares an idea for an easy, grab-and-go option for your storefront or a custom favor perfect for events. Keep reading for 5 easy steps to transform your truffles into truffle pops!

Photo credit: Birnn Chocolates of Vermont

5 Easy Steps to Create Truffle Pops

1. Choose your truffle
2. Choose your stick (candy apple or rock candy sticks are both great options)
3. Warm ice pick with heat gun, stick pick gently into top or bottom of truffle, move in small circles, remove and wipe clean.
4. Heat your stick, slightly, and insert into truffle.
5. Let sit for 2-5 minutes before using the stick to pick up.

Congratulations! You’ve just completed your first Truffle Pop! Finish by wrapping with cellophane and ribbon of choice.

We’d love to see your truffle pops!  Please tag @retailconfectioners and @birnntruffles.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

5 Tricks to Transform Your Existing Treats for Halloween

 

Halloween is expected to look a little different for many communities in 2020. Families may be looking for different ways to treat their kids and close friends this year.

If you already make chocolate-covered pretzels, truffles or marshmallow pops, the following ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Keep reading for five quick and easy tricks to dress up your existing treats for Halloween.

Credit (left to right):RCI member Apple Tree Chocolate and Desserts Now Dinner Later

Ghostly Pretzels

Your fans will scream with delight over these ghostly pretzels. To accomplish this look, cover bowtie pretzels with white chocolate, then pipe white chocolate into top two holes and embellish with candy eyeballs.

Credit: The Suburban Soapbox

Truffle Eyeballs

Transform your white chocolate truffles into eye-catching treats. Use a red edible marker to create veins all over the white truffle. Pipe a dot of colored chocolate or coating for the iris and top with a black M&M or other candy-coated chocolate as the pupil.

Credit: Livingly

Witchy Fingers

It’s the details that transform ordinary pretzel rods into shockingly convincing witch’s fingers. As pictured, blanched almonds were painted with black gel food coloring to achieve this look (dark-chocolate-covered almonds would work too). A toothpick or wooden skewer may be used to imitate the wrinkles of the top and bottom knuckle. Click here to view a step-by-step tutorial.

Credit: Garnish & Glaze

Pumpkin Pretzels

If you’re looking for something less spooky, these cute pumpkin pretzels are as easy as they are cute. Embellish orange coated pretzels with sprinkles and a green M&M or candy-coated sunflower seed as the finishing touch. Click here to see how Simply As That blog, gave their pumpkin pretzels personality by adding faces.

Credit: Bruce's Candy Kitchen

Spooky Sweet Marshmallow Pops

With this spooky sweet display of chocolate-covered marshmallow pops decorated as jack-o-lanterns, googly candy corn and skeletons from RCI member Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, how could you choose just one? Plus, we love how these marshmallow pops are packaged in folded acetate boxes and tied up with festive ribbons.

Even if Halloween hasn’t traditionally been a big holiday for your business, this year may be the exception. Make sure to share photos of your Halloween treats on social media and on your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential.

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