5 Sweet Ideas to Boost Sales for St. Patrick’s Day

 

St. Patrick’s Day is a golden opportunity for candy businesses to attract customers with fun, festive treats. Here’s five creative ideas that are sure to bring a little luck (and extra sales) your way!

Photo credit: Bruce’s Candy Kitchen

Snackle Box – A Treasure Chest of Treats

Turn a compartment-style container into a festive "Snackle Box" filled with green, gold and rainbow-themed goodies. Think chocolate coins, rainbow licorice, green gummy bears and green foil-wrapped chocolates. Add a St. Patrick’s Day tag and ribbon for an extra special touch. This is a great grab-and-go item for families looking to treat their little leprechauns!

Photo credit: Rosalind Candy Castle

Chocolate Shot Glasses – A Toast to the Irish

Make St. Patrick’s Day celebrations extra sweet with edible chocolate shot glasses! Decorate the rims with green and gold sprinkles to mark the occasion. Customers can fill them with Irish cream or a non-alcoholic dessert drink. These make for a fun and delicious party addition.

Photo credit: Fazio’s Chocolate

St. Patty’s Chocolates – A Touch of Irish Magic

A themed chocolate collection is a must for St. Patrick’s Day. Take inspiration from RCI member Fazio’s Chocolates with flavors like:

• Luck of the Irish: White chocolate filled with Irish cream ganache.
• Leprechaun’s Lime: A creamy lime ganache center.
• Hearts of Gold: Butter rum-filled milk chocolate with a shimmering gold exterior.

With creative names and unique flavors, these chocolates will have customers coming back for more!

Be sure to check your local liquor laws before selling alcohol-infused products!

Photo credit: BruCrew Life

Lucky Popcorn Mix – A Colorful, Crunchy Delight

This simple yet festive treat is easy to make and hard to resist! Mix popcorn with Lucky Charms™ marshmallows, pastel chocolate candies, mini pretzels and festive sprinkles. Package it in clear bags or decorative cups for a cheerful, ready-to-sell snack. Perfect for parties or a fun family celebration!

Photo credit: Sweet Ali CustomConfections

Candy Cones – A Pot of Gold in Every Bite

Create an edible pot-of-gold by filling waffle cones with an assortment of chocolate-covered treats made festive with drizzles of green chocolate and plenty of sprinkles. Wrap them in cellophane with a ribbon and label for a charming, gift-worthy presentation.

Get Ready to Go Green!

By incorporating these fun and festive ideas, you’ll not only boost sales but also create an exciting St. Patrick’s Day experience for your customers. So, start prepping your treats and get ready for a little extra luck in your sales this March! ☘️🍀

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Irish Potato Candy for St. Patrick’s Day

This may come as a surprise, but Irish potato candy did not originate in Ireland, nor does it typically contain potato. These miniature potato wannabes are often made with cream cheese or a coconut-flavored cream filling moulded into the size of a small potato and rolled in cinnamon and/or cocoa, giving the illusion of a dirty potato.

Despite any likely link to Ireland, these deceiving little candies can help create interest within your customer base and social media followers, while being relatively easy for many candy makers to incorporate into their product line leading up to St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. 

Check out this video to see how RCI member Marie’s Candies makes Irish potato candy.

Interested in trying your hand at making these sweet "potatoes?" Try the following recipe for Irish Potato Candy courtesy of Peter’s Chocolate^® by Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate.

Photo credit: Peter’s Chocolate^®/Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate

Irish Potato Candy

• 44 oz. Peter’s^® White Icecap® Confectionery Coating
• 12.5 oz. Irish cream liqueur
• 2.5 oz. corn syrup
• 2 oz. each powdered sugar, cinnamon and cocoa powder

Blend together powdered sugar, cinnamon and cocoa powder. Set aside. Melt white confectionery coating to 100°F. Heat Irish cream and corn syrup together to 90 F. Whisk melted coating into cream/corn syrup mixture until well mixed. Allow to cool to room temperature. Portion with a #70 scoop and roll into potato shapes. Immediately roll into powder mixture. Yield: Approximately 72 pieces

There are lots of different ways to put your own spin on Irish potato candy. Click here for inspiration from RCI members in a past RCI Blog post. 

Spread the luck o’ the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day by sharing these humble, but tasty spuds with your customers.  

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 Creative Beer-Themed Confections

The continued popularity of beer in confections has led to many creative applications, which may very well be the golden ticket for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. If beer and confections don’t seem like a natural pairing, keep reading for inspiration to concoct your own beer-inspired confections.

Photo: Delish / The Liddabit Sweets Candy Cookbook © 2013

Beer & Pretzel Caramel

Few things pair with beer like pretzels, but why eat plain old pretzels when you can eat pretzels drenched in beer caramel?!

Photo: Food52

Beer Marshmallows

Pillowy homemade marshmallows spiked with dark stout beer, enveloped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed pretzels may fill the dreams of a true beer enthusiast. Considering adding this flavor and texture bomb to your product lineup.

Photo: Jelly Belly

Beer Jelly Beans

Expand your beer-themed offerings with these fun beer-flavored jelly beans packaged in a clever keepsake tin.

Photo: Vosges Haut Chocolat

Smoke and Stout Caramel Chocolate Bar

This chocolate bar by Vosges Haut-Chocolat appeals to the senses with the addition of stout beer, smoked salt and burnt sugar caramel.

Photo: Surprising Recipes

Guinness Pretzel Truffles

This truffle recipe trades the cream for Guinness stout beer and adds an element of crunch with…you guessed it, crushed pretzels.

Not only would these hoppy confections be a great match to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but they would also add to your repertoire for Father’s Day, Oktoberfest and creative and unique gifts for beer lovers. Cheers!

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.

Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with Irish Cream Caramels Recipe

This week’s sweet idea is proof that you don’t need rainbows and green food coloring to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in proper fashion. Transform your caramel recipe by adding a splash or two of Irish cream flavor to add familiar hints of cocoa and vanilla found in Baileys^® Irish Cream liqueur.  

Photo credit: LorAnn Oils

Take your caramel up a notch with this recipe for Irish Cream Caramels from LorAnn Oils. Enjoy layers of indulgent sweetness with drizzles of white and milk chocolate, followed by sprinkles of crushed toffee pieces—yes, please! 

If you fancy plenty of rainbows and green food coloring for your St. Patty’s Day celebration, we’ve got you covered! Click here for 5 sweet treats for St. Patrick’s Day. Share your favorite St. Patty’s inspired treats on RCI’s Facebook page.

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.

Spread Luck with Irish Potatoes

Photo credit: Martha Stewart

This may come as a shock, but Irish potato candy did not originate in Ireland nor does it even contain potato, typically. These miniature potato wannabes are often made with a coconut-flavored cream filling moulded into the size of a small potato and rolled in cinnamon and/or cocoa, giving the illusion of a dirty potato.

With much regional appeal found in Philadelphia, it is believed Irish potato candy is actually a variation of a coconut-flavored cream dubbed “Irish” as the city experienced an influx of Irish immigrants. According to an article by Daniela Galarza published on Eater.com, “Prior to the Great Famine [in Ireland], which occurred between 1845 and 1852, America’s Irish population was fairly low. But during and after the tragedy, Philly’s Irish population boomed as families immigrated to the United States looking for a more stable future.”

Despite any likely link to Ireland, these deceiving little candies may be worth a try on your customer base for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Stir up interest by introducing your potato candy as a limited-time offering and get creative to tie in with the Irish centric holiday.

Photo: Dolle’s Candyland

RCI member, Dolle’s Candyland of Ocean City, Maryland makes their Irish potatoes extra decadent by coating coconut cream in rich, dark chocolate before rolling that in a blend of cocoa and cinnamon.

Photo: Burke Candy & Ingredients

Milwaukee-based RCI member, Burke Candy & Ingredients uses a not-so-surprising, surprise ingredient to their Irish potatoes. For added texture, they combine shoestring potato sticks with their coconut dough before rolling the mixture in cinnamon and sugar.

Spread the luck o’ the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day by sharing these humble, but tasty spuds with your customers.

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!

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.

Catch a Leprechaun with Sweet St. Patrick’s Day Treats

Try your luck this St. Patrick’s Day with treats so tempting, you might just lure a leprechaun into your candy shop…along with new and returning customers too!

Photo credit: Reids

Blarney Bark

What leprechaun could resist a bite of “Blarney Bark” from RCI member, Reid Candy & Nut Shop, of Cambridge, Ontario. These festive treats are made with green compound coating and bits of rainbow stripe candy, colorful candies and clover sprinkles.

  

Photo credit (left to right): Dolle’s Candyland, Burke Candy and Ingredient

Irish Potato Candy

A popular St. Patrick’s Day treat, Irish potato candy was neither invented in Ireland nor does it typically contain potatoes. RCI member, Dolle’s Candyland of Ocean City, Maryland makes their Irish potatoes extra decadent by coating coconut cream in rich, dark chocolate before rolling them in a blend of cocoa and cinnamon. Milwaukee-based RCI member, Burke Candy & Ingredients combines shoestring potato sticks with their coconut dough before rolling their version of Irish potatoes in cinnamon and sugar.

Photo credit: Candiquik.com

Pot of Gold Truffles

Transform your existing truffle or meltaway recipe into pots of gold fit for teams of leprechauns. Create the flat top of the “pot” by flattening or trimming one side of the round center before coating it in chocolate. Once set, pipe chocolate onto the flat top of the pot and use it to adhere rainbow candy and gold sprinkles.

Photo credit: OHMY! Creative

Leprechaun Cookies

These leprechaun cookies are so clever, they’re likely to leap right off your shelves and into customers’ shopping baskets. With a little green and orange confectioners coating, some candy eyeballs and a pinch of finesse with the piping bag you’ll have yourself an army of jolly good leprechauns.

Photo credit: Delish.com

Chocolate-Covered Pickles

If you dip it, they will come. This salty and sweet combination is just bizarre enough it is sure to catch the attention of the more adventurous consumers looking to try something new. Malley’s Chocolates of Cleveland has had success (and garnered plenty of media attention) over the years coating dill pickles in chocolate exclusively for St. Patrick’s Day.

Anyone who receives treats like these is sure to count themselves lucky this St. Patrick’s Day! Share your favorite St. Patrick’s Day treat in the comments below.

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