Wondering what to do with leftover Easter candy? Make an Easter Candy Freakshake. Ridiculously fun and ridiculously good!
As is the tradition here at Baking Mischief, I like to use this day not as a chance to play a trick on you, lovely readers, but for us all to play a trick on our bodies and make something terrible and ridiculous and insane.
Last year, I made a Salted Caramel Snickerdoodle Milkshake (I still have cinnamon and caramel dreams about that one), and this year, since Easter falls in April, I made an EASTER CANDY FREAKSHAKE!!!
Look at that ridiculous, stupid thing.
I love it so much.
And look, I don’t think there is ever really a good excuse for freakshakes, but I’m going to make an argument that this shake is actually a net positive in the world, because if you make it after Easter and make it to use up leftover Easter candy, you are actually recycling.
Recycling = good. Ergo, so must be this shake.
(I do not stand by this argument.)
Okay, let’s break this thing down because it’s a little overwhelming to take in all at once. The shake itself is a simple ice cream shake–use whatever flavor ice cream you like best– I used mint with a touch of blue coloring to give it a robin’s egg hue.
On the outside, you have vanilla buttercream studded with bunny Peeps and pastel M&Ms. Then you top it off with whipped cream , a chopped up Reese’s Egg, some crushed Robin Eggs, and a chocolate bunny head (because how could you not).
To say this Easter Candy Freakshake is an experience is an understatement, and it is way fun to make and drink.
So make your run this morning an extra long one, enjoy arts and crafts time, and dig in. I did. (And then sugar crashed hard. Drink responsibly, guys!)
Looking for more over-the-top desserts? Try these Buckeye Brownie Cookies , Rich and Thick Hot Chocolate , and Dutch Apple Pie .
Ingredients
Special Equipment
- ▢ Handheld electric mixer
- ▢ Blender
- ▢ Sturdy straw or skewer for the bunny head
Buttercream
- ▢ 4 tablespoons ( 2oz ) butter softened
- ▢ 1 cup ( 120g ) powdered sugar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon milk or heavy cream
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Candy
- ▢ 12 Marshmallow Peeps
- ▢ 1/4 cup M&M’s
- ▢ 1 hollow chocolate bunny
- ▢ 1 Reese’s Egg chopped
- ▢ 4 Robin Eggs crushed
Milkshake
- ▢ 2 cups ice cream slightly softened
- ▢ 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
- ▢ 1/2 cup whipped cream
Instructions
Buttercream
- In a medium bowl, combine butter, powdered sugar, milk (or cream), and vanilla. Use a handheld electric mixer to beat until smooth, adding a little extra milk if necessary.
Candy
- Spread a thick layer of buttercream around the top half of your jar or glass. Add a dollop of frosting to the backs of the peeps and place them over the buttercream. Repeat with the M&M’s, filling in any open space.
- Use a serrated knife to gently saw off the head of the chocolate bunny and set aside.
Milkshake
- In a blender, combine ice cream and 1/4 cup of the milk. Blend until smooth. Add up to 1/4 cup more of milk, until milkshake reaches your desired consistency. Pour into prepared jar.
- Top with whipped cream, chopped Reese’s Egg, and crushed Robin Eggs. Place a straw in the shake and mount the bunny head over it. Serve and enjoy!
These Strawberry and Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie Popsicles are fun, easy, and absolutely delicious!
Heeeeey, I have something a little nerdy and a lot delicious to start off your Monday!
It’s been a little while since I’ve posted a nerdy recipe . After my Creepy Recipes From Fiction series ( Sanguinaccio Dolce and Game of Thrones Frey Pie , anyone?) back in October, it’s been quiet on the nerdy front, but not any longer, because I’m sharing an X-men -inspired recipe today!!
I wasn’t a kid who watched the animated X-men series growing up, but I am a fan of the X-men movies, especially First Class. When the theme was announced, I knew immediately what I was going to make: a chess pie, because the scenes where Erik and Charles sit around and chat over a game of chess are basically the best parts of the movies in any timeline (or with either set of Erik and Charles).
Buuuuut I made a test chess pie, and it was an eggy, too-sweet failure, which was a bummer because you know I do love my word play.
So instead of a punny pie, I decided to make something sweet in the red and purple colors of Magneto’s costume and figured it would be a perfect chance to make smoothie popsicles for the blog. So I made Strawberry and Blueberry Yogurt Smoothie Popsicles, and unlike my mess of a pie, these are so good!!
Smoothie popsicles are super fun and easy to make. They only require a few ingredients, and just in case you don’t feel like making them in Magneto’s colors, you can use your favorite smoothie fruit instead.
How to Make Smoothie Popsicles
You just blend together fruit, yogurt, lemon juice, and a little bit of sugar (more on the sugar later) in two batches, and pour the smoothie into your popsicle mold ( this one’s my favorite ). And since the yogurt gives you a fairly dense smoothie, you don’t even have to freeze the layers separately the way you do with most two-toned popsicles.
A Note on Sugar
The sugar here is optional. You don’t have to add it, especially if you are working with really sweet fruit, but freezing mutes sweetness a lot, so I always like to start with a little extra sweet to make up for that. You can also try the same amount of honey if a natural sweetener is more your style!
Looking for more Popsicle Recipes ? Try these (FABULOUS) Homemade Pudding Pops , Cookies and Cream Popsicles , and Red Wine Popsicles .
Ingredients
Special Equipment
- ▢ Blender
- ▢ Popsicle mold*
- ▢ Popsicle sticks
Strawberry Layer
- ▢ 1 1/2 cup strawberries fresh or frozen
- ▢ 1 (5 to 6-ounce) container sweetened yogurt (any complementary flavor*)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon sugar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Blueberry Layer
- ▢ 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen
- ▢ 1/2 cup strawberries fresh or frozen
- ▢ 1 (5 to 6-ounce) container sweetened yogurt (any complementary flavor)
- ▢ 1 tablespoon sugar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine strawberry layer ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Divide among popsicle molds.
- Repeat with the blueberry layer, making sure to leave a little space at the top for the popsicles to expand. Add sticks and freeze for at least 4 hours.
- Run mold under warm water and gently remove popsicles. Wrap individually in freezer or parchment paper and store in an air-tight container or freezer bag. Enjoy!
Notes
What to do with leftover pesto, including instructions on how to freeze pesto and leftover pesto recipe ideas.
Welcome to another installment in my Waste Not series. In these posts, I tackle food waste and try to find ways to use up leftovers so we are throwing away less and using more! So far in this series, I’ve written about:
What to Do With Leftover Buttermilk What to Do With Leftover Pumpkin Puree What to Do With Leftover Pie Dough
Today, Pesto!
When it comes to leftover pesto, you have two options: make something else with it or freeze it–Did you know you could freeze pesto? You can, and it’s the best.
I don’t like to eat back to back pesto dishes, so I almost always end up freezing my pesto (or cooking with frozen pesto) and it works so well. I feel good about not wasting food, and it’s nice knowing I always have pesto on hand.
How to Freeze Pesto
For larger amounts, simply spoon pesto into a freezer bag, freeze flat, mark the amount and date on the bag. If you’re like me and tend to use smaller amounts of pesto, freeze it in tablespoon-size portions in an ice cube tray. Just line your tray with plastic wrap for easy removal and clean up, and freeze cubes of pesto. Store them in a freezer bag. If you don’t have an ice cube tray, a mini muffin or even regular-size muffin tin works great.
How long does frozen pesto last?
Frozen pesto is best if used within 3 months of being frozen.
How to defrost frozen pesto.
If you plan ahead and pop your pesto over to the fridge, it will defrost in 12 to 24 hours, depending on how it’s frozen. But pesto will defrost pretty quickly on the counter, especially if frozen flat in plastic bags. If you are putting it into a sauce, you don’t even need to defrost it. Frozen cubes can be dropped right into sauce. Just make sure everything stays on the heat long enough to get hot.
When you are ready to use your pesto, some things to make with leftover pesto:
Pesto Salmon Milano Recipe from Wholesome Yum
Recipes that use 1/2 Cup of Leftover Pesto
Pesto Salmon Milano Recipe from Wholesome Yum Basil Pesto Hummus from Three Olives Branch Zucchini Stir Fry Recipe With Beef & Pesto from Wholesome Yum
Pesto Chicken Caprese Salad from Nutmeg Nanny
Recipes that use 1/4 Cup of Leftover Pesto
Pesto Chicken Caprese Salad from Nutmeg Nanny Pesto Chicken Sandwich of Sourdough Multigrain Pesto Swirl Bread from Herbivore Cucina Easy Vegan Pesto Tortilla Pizza from Veggie Inspired
Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta for Two With Oven Roasted Tomatoes
Recipes that use 3 Tablespoons (or Less) of Leftover Pesto
Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta for Two With Oven-roasted Tomatoes Grilled Veggie Sandwich with Pesto Mayo from Cozy Home Cooking Slow Cooker Potato Soup With Pesto From Peas and Crayons Easy Cheesy Vegan Spinach Pesto Grilled Cheese from Peas and Crayons Pesto Breakfast Rolls from Savory Tooth Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Leftover Easter Candy Freakshake
Ingredients
Special Equipment
- Handheld electric mixer
- Blender
- Sturdy straw or skewer for the bunny head
Buttercream
- 4 tablespoons ( 2oz ) butter softened
- 1 cup ( 120g ) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon milk or heavy cream
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Candy
- 12 Marshmallow Peeps
- 1/4 cup M&M’s
- 1 hollow chocolate bunny
- 1 Reese’s Egg chopped
- 4 Robin Eggs crushed
Milkshake
- 2 cups ice cream slightly softened
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup whipped cream
Instructions
Buttercream
- In a medium bowl, combine butter, powdered sugar, milk (or cream), and vanilla. Use a handheld electric mixer to beat until smooth, adding a little extra milk if necessary.
Candy
- Spread a thick layer of buttercream around the top half of your jar or glass. Add a dollop of frosting to the backs of the peeps and place them over the buttercream. Repeat with the M&M’s, filling in any open space.
- Use a serrated knife to gently saw off the head of the chocolate bunny and set aside.
Milkshake
- In a blender, combine ice cream and 1/4 cup of the milk. Blend until smooth. Add up to 1/4 cup more of milk, until milkshake reaches your desired consistency. Pour into prepared jar.
- Top with whipped cream, chopped Reese’s Egg, and crushed Robin Eggs. Place a straw in the shake and mount the bunny head over it. Serve and enjoy!
