8 Things to Do with Those Reese's Mini Unwrapped Candies Besides Just Eating Them by the Handful

Reese's is one of those brands that I will always give the benefit of the doubt when it comes out with a new product. Because let's be real: Pretty much anything involving peanut butter and chocolate is likely going to be awesome. I have long believed that company's single best product was Miniature Cups: Those perfect one-bite cups struck the ideal balance between chocolate outside and peanut butter inside (better than the original cups), and at their one-bite size kept me from getting melted chocolate all over my fingers. Always a good thing. 

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But then the new Reese's Minis Unwrapped hit the market and now, I am obsessed with these tiny little niblets of perfection. About the size of the cap on your toothpaste tube, they come in either a single serving bag or a resealable shareable sack, and while you can and should absolutely eat them by the handful, they are super useful for actual recipes. Which means, theoretically of course, that you could stock up even more for these crucial kitchen projects. Just saying. 

Here are my favorite ways to use Reese's Minis (besides gobbling them up!): 

Ice cream with mini cups is an indulgence of epic proportions, and you don't even have to make your own. Buy vanilla, chocolate, or peanut butter ice cream, let soften, fold in cups and re-freeze. Bliss. Also, use them as a stopper in the bottom of a cone to prevent melted ice cream from leaking out the tip, or layer into your next hot fudge sundae with roasted salted peanuts for a take on a Peanut Butter Parfait that will make you swoon.

These little babies can essentially go anywhere a chocolate chip can go. From cookies and muffins to brownies and loaf cakes, just fold them in wherever a chip might go and get ready for little pops of chocolatey peanut flavor. My favorite use might be the fussiest: I make a batch of shortbread style dough, turn half teaspoons into balls, stuff with the mini cups and seal up, then bake. Perfect little mini cookie balls you can put in a bowl for fabulous snacking, ideal with coffee.

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Any blend you are putting together can be really improved with the addition of these mini cups. From mixing with nuts and dried fruit for snacking on a hike or outdoor activity, to mixing with your favorite Chex mix or other savory or salty blend for a terrific pop of sweet and nutty, just be sure to put in more than you think you need, because people will absolutely start picking them out.

Just because you don't put the mini cups into the dessert, doesn't mean you can't put them ON the dessert. These adorable things make for a perfect fun garnish on cupcakes, frosted cookies, milkshakes, cheesecakes... any dessert that is peanut butter friendly!