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What 100 Calories Look Like: Easter Candy

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:14:08 PDT

Whether the Easter Bunny brings you marshmallow Peeps, Cadbury Creme Eggs, and jellybeans - or you go out and buy your own - like Halloween, this holiday surrounds us with delicious, crave-worthy candy. It's only one time of year, so don't hesitate to indulge, but before you do, check out how many nibbles of your favorite Easter goodies add up to 100 calories.

7 Must-Have Easter Candy Classics

Anna Monette Roberts — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:16:29 PDT

Easter offers countless ways to satisfy our childhood candy nostalgia. Beyond delicious Easter renditions of your favorite candies - like Sweet Tart bunnies and Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs - this holiday has its own roster of iconic treats. Peeps, jelly beans, and chocolate bunnies are just a few candies you should stuff in your Easter baskets. Click through to see our Easter candy must haves.

Source: Flickr User tboard and Photo: Jenny Sugar

Say Goodbye to the Reign of King-Size Candy Bars

Susannah Chen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:12:05 PST

Mars Inc., candy-maker and Willy Wonka to your favorite checkout counter candy bars, has announced it will stop selling any candy over 250 calories by the end of 2013. This includes king-size editions of favorites, such as Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, M&M's, 3 Musketeers, Dove, Mars, and Galaxy.

Although there's speculation that this move is financially motivated, Mars maintains it's a movement towards a healthier eating effort: "Mars has a broad-based commitment to health and nutrition, and this includes a number of global initiatives," the company said.

It's hard to know whether this'll make a difference, considering studies show portion-controlled packs might actually make people eat more. Will you be stocking up on king-size candy?

Cooking Basics: How to Make Caramel Candy

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:03:19 PST

Making caramel may seem like a daunting task, but it is an exhilarating (and delicious) science project that requires a little preparation, patience, and timing. Challenge your candy-making skills by trying out this soft caramel recipe by a chef from the Culinary Institute of America.

As you cook the caramel on the stove top, you will notice the sugar, butter, and evaporated milk will slowly deepen in color and flavor. Caramel expands and bubbles as it cooks, so use a larger pot to avoid a hot, sticky mess from boiling over. As you cook, your flame should be high enough to allow the caramel to bubble yet low enough to allow the caramel to slowly develop its flavors.

When you reach the magic number, work quickly and don't delay! Even a few degrees can completely change the texture, consistency, and flavor of a caramel. But use extreme caution, because caramel burns are dangerous and painful; keep a bowl of ice water nearby just in case.

Allow the caramel to cool completely before you use a chef's knife to cut the slab into strips, then into square pieces. Use your fingers to mold the individual pieces into perfect squares.

Click here for the caramel recipe.

What 100 Calories Really Looks Like: Valentine's Day Treats

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:58:01 PST

The day of love is almost here, and besides exchanging Valentine's Day cards and romantic glances, this is a huge day of sweets. We're talking boxes of chocolate, heart-shaped sugar cookies, and other decadent treasures. You should definitely enjoy some bites of your favorite desserts, but before you do, find out how many calories those little bites will run you.

Can You Spin Through the History of Cotton Candy?

Anna Monette Roberts — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:36:52 PST

Chances are, you weren't aware that today's National Cotton Candy Day - but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate. After all, what's not to love about this special-occasion, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth, spun-sugar treat? Now's the time to test your knowledge; this carnival, circus, and fair favorite is older than you might think. Take our quiz to see what you know.

Source: Flickr User chispita_666

Take the Quiz

3 Ways to Make the Most of Your Halloween Candy

Lizzie Fuhr — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:08:54 PDT

It's been only two days since the trick-or-treaters hit the streets, but I'm already feeling the leftover candy overload. While those fun-sized candies really hit the spot, there's only so much one stomach can handle. You can always store those Halloween goodies and save them for a rainy day, or you could try a different approach.

There's no better way to make use of leftover Halloween goodies than cooking up a delicious dessert everyone in your house can enjoy. If you have a trick-or-treater living under your roof, it's even sweeter if you get them involved. Here are three recipes that will help make the most of your Halloween candy.

Use leftover peanut butter cups to make these delicious Halloween blondies.
Shortbread bars can be topped off with any leftover chocolate candy you have on hand.
Curious about channeling your inner chocolatier? Basic chocolate bark is a great place to start. This recipe utilizes leftover candy corn, but the sky is the limit here. Don't be afraid to get creative with your candy choices!

Have any favorite recipes or traditions that use leftover Halloween candy? Be sure to share them in Savory Sights. Who knows? We may feature your recipe!

Source: Flickr User respres

Infograph: Results For the Best Candy of All Time!

YumSugar — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:15:06 PDT

We've wrapped up the results of our exclusive Best Candy of All Time Bracket! We asked over 7,000 readers to pick their all-time favorite candy out of a star-studded lineup of some of the world's most popular candies. See the candy breakout by the numbers and find out what chocolate confection won the top spot. Check out the infograph below and then tell us your thoughts and favorite sweets in the comments.

What Healthy Choices Will You Be Making This Halloween?

FitSugar — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 03:06:00 PDT

Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't the only overly indulgent holidays. Halloween gives them a run for the caloric title spot. Between candied apples, trick-or-treating stock, and Halloween-inspired cocktails, it can be hard to resist the constant temptations. But anything helps, whether it's bringing a healthier treat to your neighborhood Halloween party or limiting the amount of Halloween candy you consume, so what healthy choices will you be making? If you need ideas, check out our healthy Halloween survival guide for tips!

Trick or Treat: What's the Healthier Halloween Choice?

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:43:41 PDT

I'm not going to tell you not to eat Halloween candy this year, because we all are a little psyched for Snickers and Reese's! When you head to the office bowl or snag a treat from your kid's stash, it's nice to have a list of candy you know is slightly healthier either because it's trans-fat free or contains a little fiber or protein. Based on info from nutrition labels on bags of Halloween candy, check out the lists below to find out how to choose your fun-sized treats wisely.

If you're avoiding hydrogenated oils, go for:
Candy corn
Heath Bar
Hershey's Bar
Kit Kat
M&Ms
Peanut M&Ms
Peanut Butter M&Ms
Mounds
Mr. Goodbar
Nestle's Crunch
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
York Peppermint Patty

If you want a little bit of fiber, check out the fiber content in the candy below:
Peanut M&Ms: 0.5 grams
Mounds: 1 gram
Mr. Goodbar: 0.5 grams
Peanut Butter M&Ms: 0.5 grams
Snickers: 0.5 grams
Snickers Peanut Butter: 1 gram

Keep reading to find out which fun-sized treats offer protein and which are lowest in calories and sugar.