Take 5 Bites

Let’s talk texting.

I have a love-hate relationship with texting. Sure, it’s convenient sometimes when calling someone is not possible, but most of the time, I really hate typing everything and I REALLY hate when things are misinterpreted.

Like sarcasm, which dies a miserable death during texting.

Or everything’s-okay-isms, which are annihilated by a few choice words or lack of emoticons.

Like “k.” If I ever send just “k”, you better bunker down with protection because I am hating your guts. “k” is the equivalent of you  are the worst person known to man right now and I hate your face, so here’s a friggin letter as a response since even typing the ‘o’; requires more care than I would like to give. If Jessie sends me ‘k’, I automatically start bawling, open up a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and expect the worst. Though usually, he’s just busy and it means nothing but actually “okay” (weird).

Or lack of punctuation. Sometimes, texts can be read as so… hostile, even when they’re not. I feel like “What do you want for dinner” can be easily perked up by a stupid smiley or at least two question marks. Because one question mark makes it sound so… bitchy. Two perks that question right up. This also works well with “Yes, I would love to go to Disneyland!!”, “Call me ” and “Mom, can I please bid on that Betsey dress??”

And I don’t know about you, but if you must call someone and the call goes straight to voicemail, it’s basically like purgatory. Your superimportantomg message is left in some nook of cyberspace being represented by a non-threatening envelope on their screen which they may or may not ignore.

I always freak out when I can’t reach Jessie because god forbid he’s actually busy in the day when I have a superimportantomg message to give him. Or to say hi in my baby voice.

Also, Jessie never checks his voicemails which is silly. So basically, if I were on my last dying breath and he didn’t answer, there’s no way I could leave him a voicemail since he’d never check it. And assuming I was bleeding out because I’d lost my thumbs in a tragic accident, then I couldn’t send a one-last text to him, either. Hey, stranger things have happened.

Anyway, I generally ponder these things while I’m eating. Eating consoles my soul when I’m too angry to text someone, just received a dreaded “k” text, or am currently in girlfriend purgatory, aka, the voicemail box message.

And when that trifecta of sucky happened a couple days ago, thankfully I had some of these Take 5 Bites to console myself with.

You probably will think I’m cray-cray, but I’ve never had a Take 5 bar before I made these bites. I was so intrigued by them on the Halloween candy aisle that I snatched up a bag and fell in love. I knew I had to make my own, and when I found THIS recipe at Sweet Little Bluebird, it was settled.

Make them. K?

Take 5 Bites *adapted from Sweet Little Bluebird’s Take 5 Copycat Recipe 

1 bag butter snaps pretzels (the square grids)
1 bag Rolos, unwrapped
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 pkg chocolate Candiquik or milk chocolate bark

1. First, make your PB filling. In a medium bowl, beat together the butter + peanut butter until fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar until creamed and well blended. Set aside.
2. Next, preheat your oven to 250 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place the pretzels in an even layer on the foil (remove any broken pieces).
3. Top each pretzel with a Rolo. Place the pretzels carefully in the oven, no more than 5 minutes (really watch them–you want the Rolos to just start to melt and look shiny and soft on top, but still have their shape). Remove from the oven + turn off the heat.
4. Immediately top each par-melted Rolo with a pinch of peanuts. Then, using your fingers, gently form a square-shaped disk of peanut butter filling and very carefully press to adhere to the peanut-topped Rolos. Once all the candies have been covered, pop them in the freezer to set for about 15 minutes.
5. Prepare your candy bark according to package directions. Dip the candies in the chocolate, coating completely, allowing excess to drip off. Place on the foil-lined baking sheet. Allow the chocolate to set before serving. Store these bad boys in a ziploc, at room temperature.
**Note: This recipe makes about 50 or so, but it’s easily doubled or halved if needed.**

Who knew making a Take 5 would be so easy?! (and delicious!) The pretzels and peanuts provide a nice texture against the smooth caramel and creamy peanut butter. I love the contrast in flavors + textures, from sweet to salty, rich to creamy, and crunchy to smooth. These are totally delicious and taste identical to the original!

I hope you enjoy!!

xo, Hayley

 

Tagged: candy, caramel, chocolate, peanut butter, sweet and salty