Chocolate Billionaires are full of crispy, crunchy, caramel goodness covered with a rich chocolate coating. One taste, and you'll agree that the name is appropriate!
These easy-to-make holiday treats are a favorite candy to make during the holiday season for enjoying with friends and also for gifting.
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Why You Should Make This Delicious Recipe
Some years ago, I came across a recipe for chocolate billionaires in a pamphlet. The recipe looked good and easy, so I tried it. That was the first of many times I've made chocolate billionaires for the holidays.
Many people have told me chocolate billionaires have been their favorite candy for years. Who wouldn't go crazy over crispy, crunchy caramel goodness covered in chocolate? I typically close my eyes to savor the first bite!
In addition to being a favorite, chocolate billionaires are easy to make.
You should give them a try!
Ingredients
Only five ingredients are used to make these extraordinary confections.
- The Caramel: An 11-ounce package of store-bought caramel bits lightly thinned by a tablespoon of water forms the basis of the chocolate Billionaires.
- The Crunch: One and a half cups of Rice Krispies and one cup of toasted pecan pieces provide the crunch for this awesome candy.
- The Chocolate Coating: Two cups of Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers are my favorite for the chocolate coating. It tastes great and forms a sturdy coating for the candy.
Making the Chocolate Billionaires
Chocolate Billionaires are one of the easiest candies you can think of to make.
- Prepping the Caramel Bits for Melting: First, I added the caramel bits and water to a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Melting the Caramel Bits: I occasionally stirred the caramel bits and water with a wooden spoon until the bits were melted. This took about 12 minutes.
- Adding the Crunch: Once the caramel bits were fully melted, I added the toasted pecans and Rice Krispies. I stirred the mixture together until everything was fully incorporated.
- Portioning the Mixture:Then, I used a 2-teaspoon ice cream scoop to portion the candy onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
Because the candy was quite sticky at this point, I would have had a sticky mess without the parchment paper. I could also have used a well-buttered piece of wax paper.
- Flattening the Candy: With the ice cream scoop, I ended up with rounded pieces of candy. I prefer a less round candy. Therefore, after it had cooled a bit, I flattened each piece of candy with my hand.
- Melting the Chocolate: Next comes the time-consuming part of making the Chocolate Billionaires - dipping each piece of candy in the chocolate coating. I started by melting the chocolate melting wafers in a double boiler.
- Dipping the Candy: I've tried different techniques for dipping the candy. However, I keep returning to using a toothpick to hold the candy while dipping and another toothpick to remove the coated piece of candy from the first toothpick.
Is the effort worth it? Absolutely! I usually end up with between 3 and 4 dozen incredibly delicious little morsels.
Chocolate billionaires are one of my most requested holiday treats. They will surely become one of your most requested holiday treats as well. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Chocolate Billionaires will keep for several weeks if stored in an airtight container.
Refrigeration is unnecessary if you use a candy coating like Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers. The candy coating hardens nicely out of the refrigerator.
I've found through the years that the taste of whatever I make, including pecans, is greatly enhanced if the pecans are toasted. It doesn't take long to toast the pecans, and the resultant candy is an order of magnitude better with the toasting.
You can certainly melt the melting wafers in the microwave according to the package directions. However, I like to use a double boiler because it keeps the chocolate nicely melted while dipping the candy.
Tips for Success
Tips for Success
Creating Chocolate Billionaires is a fun and rewarding experience. To ensure your treats are a hit, consider these helpful tips:
- Melting Chocolate: Use the double boiler method to melt chocolate wafers smoothly without burning. This technique provides gentle heat, keeping the chocolate glossy and perfect for dipping.
- Toasting Pecans: Toasting the pecans before adding them to your mixture elevates their flavor. A quick toast in the oven or on a skillet brings out their natural oils, creating a richer taste.
With these tips, your easy recipe will yield delicious results every time.
Other Edible Holiday Gifts
If you're looking for other edible holiday gifts, try the following:
- Chocolate-Covered Cookie Dough Bites
- Easy Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls (Perfect Holiday Gift)
- Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies (Classic Christmas Cookie)
- Festive Swirled Christmas Peppermint Bark
- Chocolate Pecan Toffee Clusters
- Chocolate Christmas Mice
- Easy 5-Minute Cranberry Pistachio Holiday Bark
- Homemade Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle
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Recipe
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Chocolate Billionaires
Ingredients
- 11 ounce package caramel bits (See Tip 1)
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 1 ½ cups chopped pecans, toasted (See Tip 2)
- 1 cup Rice Krispies
- 2 cups dark chocolate melting wafers (See Tip 3)
Instructions
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or well-greased wax paper. Set aside. (See Tip 4)
- In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the caramel bits and water; cook and stir over medium-low heat until smooth, about 12 minutes. Add toasted pecans and Rice Krispies; stir until well coated. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared pans.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate candy coating in a double boiler over simmering water, ensuring that the bottom of the pan with chocolate does not touch the water. Be careful not to boil the water. Dip each piece of candy into the chocolate, coating all sides. Place on prepared pans. When fully set, store in an airtight container. Yield: 3 to 4 dozen, depending on the size of each piece.
Video
Tips/Notes
- May also use store-bought caramels that have been unwrapped.
- To toast the pecan pieces, place in preheated 350°F oven for 8 to 9 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid over-toasting.
- I like to use Ghirardelli dark chocolate melting wafers, but you could also use 3 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips carefully melted with 1½ teaspoons of Crisco in place of the chocolate candy coating. However, if you heat the chocolate chips too much, they will not harden.
- The candy is quite sticky. Therefore, it's important to use either parchment paper or well-greased wax paper. Otherwise, you'll have a sticky mess.
