If you have a ton of jelly beans left over after Easter, you don't have to just eat them by the handful out of the bag.
In my family, we always have an enormous amount of Easter candy, especially jelly beans, left over until Halloween. Then the cycle repeats. But here are five ways you can put your leftover jelly beans to good use.
5. Jelly Bean Cookies
A simple way to get rid of those leftover jelly beans is to add them to any basic cookie dough. Rather than adding chocolate chips or raisins, substitute your favorite jelly bean flavors. Kids will love the bright colors jelly beans add to the cookies. I suggest sticking with either a basic cookie dough recipe or a sugar cookie dough recipe; peanut butter or chocolate-based doughs will compete with the fruity flavors of most jelly beans, unless you use chocolate or coffee-flavored ones.
4. Jelly Bean Bark
This recipe has to be one of the simplest ways to incorporate leftover jelly beans. Make a basic white chocolate bark by melting white chocolate with a tablespoon or two of butter, then sprinkle in your jelly beans for a splash of color to the white chocolate bark. Starburst jelly beans are probably the best choice if you're aiming for the brightest colors.
3. Jelly Bean Fudge
Who doesn't like fudge? Make this simple fudge recipe by boiling butter, sugar, sour cream and salt in a saucepan. Once the mixture comes to a boil, take the pot off the heat and add white chocolate chips and the ever favorite jar of marshmallow cream. Stir the mixture until everything blends together, then add a splash of vanilla extract and your favorite jelly beans. Once you pour the fudge onto a baking sheet, sprinkle more jelly beans on top. The jelly beans' colors will pop in the white chocolate fudge for a pretty presentation.
2. Jelly Bean Cake
A great way to transform a plain vanilla or white cake into something colorful and perfect for the spring season is to add jelly beans to the batter. Whip up a simple cake recipe, then stir in your favorite jelly beans just before pouring the batter into the cake pan. Make a fun bundt cake and decorate with an easy glaze over the top for the perfect finishing touch.
1. Jelly Bean Martini
This concoction isn't kid-friendly, but it sure is tasty. Mix up a Jelly Bean martini by combining peach vodka, blackberry brandy, Malibu rum, grenadine and sour mix. Finish by placing several jelly beans in each glass for a fun touch to your fruity martini.
