I’ve def made Christmas Crack! I feel like it doesn’t need extra chocolate on top.
500 cookies is a lot of cookies!
Can chocolate-covered banana chunks be served non-frozen?
A version of this is what we always called (not PC) White Trash. Chex cereal and whatever else you want - pretzel sticks, etc. - coated in white chocolate, with M&Ms mixed in for color. I used to make it all the time for bake sales (very popular!) and class parties. Easy to mix up in a big plastic bag. Portion out into these clear cellophane bags and put your sticker on the front.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wilton-Clear-Party-Treat-Bags-150-Count/52668672
Fudge, or rum balls or buckeyes would work. Perhaps use some other agent to avoid the alcohol? You need some enthused middle or high school student to work on this with you. To avoid the peanut issue in various recipes, it would add to the cost, but almond butter is less allergy provoking.
Your “white trash” is actually what I thought “Christmas Crack” was above - but I’ve made both! Yes, very good and white trash wouldn’t be too much more work than puppy chow.
There are actually puppy chow recipes without PB or any nut butter. I’ll think about that.
Buckeyes are a good idea but I am in Ohio…and I believe that is one thing that will already be on someone’s “menu”!
All this is making me hungry for one of those chocolate fountain thingys with fruit and stuff to dip!
You could bake brownies from mix and throw in chocolate chips. They will be super-chocolatey. Cut into small squares, it’s 5 or 6 pans. The only hassle is that with the chocolate chips in them, you will need to let them cool completely before cutting. But it’d be cost effective and tasty.
I personally would make macrons but 500 small ones wouldn’t scare me, if not then chocolate fudge cut into squares (you can make a couple of big batches) would look nice in a candy cup. https://www.papermart.com/p/glassine-candy-cups/21191?searchitemnumber=8485165&origin=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=product&campaignid=173226304&matchtype=&keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIju2cjeHy5QIVMf7jBx0GywbMEAQYBiABEgJAxfD_BwE
IMO the real time suck is the wrapping, if you can cut that out, I call it a win.
This is the Christmas crack I’m more accustomed to; it’s more of a it cluster. It’s also very easy and could be dressed up with colored sugar.
https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/dessert-candy/crockpot-christmas-crack.html
Do you have to make yourself?
When I was ordering items for wedding goody bags, I found MANY places that sold candy, individually wrapped. I passed up M&Ms, Reese’s peanut butter cups, Hershey’s kisses, etc. (I got champagne gummy bears, which arrived wrapped and with a personalized sticker. This fit the kids’ theme.). Mine came from Beau Coup.
I was thinking Crockpot Candy, but I see MAandMEmom beat me to it in #27. Very easy and people love it. You get a large quantity of pieces from each batch. It would be easy enough to start a batch when you get home from work and then drop on waxed paper to set overnight. Repeat as many nights as needed. The picture in post #27’s link shows large pieces, but you could probably get at least 80 pieces of smaller candy from each batch. Refrigerates well, but not necessarily essential.
Agree with the posts above about making fudge or brownies. Super easy and can be cut up and wrapped individually. You can put m&ms on top (avoid nuts f there are potential allergies) . Yum.
I make chocolate covered Oreos. Labor intensive. I used to put them in individual little bags with a sticker. Recently changed to these foil wrappers. If you made the crock pot candy you could quickly wrap them in these and they would look festive. Search amazon for 500 Pcs 5 Colors Chocolate Candy Wrappers Aluminium Foil Paper Wrapping Papers
A take on the waffle pretzel idea: use a tiny regular pretzel twist(cheaper and more in the bag), use candy kisses or hugs purchased at the after Christmas sale, use an m and m on top. We make these every Christmas and they go faster than the cookies and other treats!! And they take minutes after the kisses are opened. They stay fresh for a few days though they are never around long!!
The foil wrapping papers are a handy item!
https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Wrappers-Aluminium-Packaging-Decoration/dp/B07H2CC1G4
Buckeyes. But then you have the peanut issue.
These are always good. And very easy. As many have said, wrapping 500 of anything you make is the bigger chore. Get help!
Does this raise funds for your organisation? What kind of budget do you have? It really sounds to me like you could approach a store to donate candy?
Spare a thought for those of us who have to eat gluten free?
No this is not a fundraiser. Not for us anyway - it does go back in the community in some form. But a program awareness opportunity which is also very important. Also, giving back to some of the community foundations/United Way that does support us with $$$.
I don’t want to do retail candy. People bought tickets to experience a variety of chocolate treats in unique ways. I don’t want to hand them a bite sized bar!
I’d like to keep my supply costs around $50 if possible.
Mini-cupcakes? It will require some elbow grease to bake them…
https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Perfect-Results-Premium-Non-Stick/dp/B00R7JQDIK