The late-1960s brings us a couple of tasty mid century dessert recipes perfect for repurposing any leftover Halloween candy bars you might have laying around! (These treats were created specifically for the old-school MARS Almond Bars, but more on that below.)
Just melt down candy bars of your choice for either a rich, rum-flavored tart filling and/or a heavenly mocha dessert sauce (that particular recipe uses it as a cream puff drizzle, but perhaps also consider it in the context of an ice cream topping, hmmm?).
What happened to MARS Almond Bars?
Oh boy, things have gotten complicated since these recipes were offered up by Mars, Inc. back in 1969.
For one thing, this specific candy bar — which featured nougat, caramel and toasted almonds all coated with milk chocolate — doesn’t actually exist anymore in its original form.
While the product was discontinued in 2002, the company introduced a replacement just one year later: the SNICKERS Almond bar. (Phew!)
There are some minor differences (the nut texture is different, for example), but the good news is that it’s still a suitable ingredient replacement for these recipes.
Now you might be able to find the gourmet or European versions online or in some grocery stores.
But take note: The former doesn’t have caramel, and the latter has no almonds (it’s basically a Milky Way, which is what inspired the original, circa-1930s MARS Bar over in the UK in the entire first place).
Now with all that said, obviously you can use any candy bar with chocolate, caramel, nougat and nuts (or any combination of these ingredients, as you prefer) to generally replicate the following recipes. Enjoy!
ALSO TRY: A party-perfect decorated dessert: The Milky Way ice cream log from the ’60s & ’70s
Pretty party tarts retro recipe (1969)
Leftover Halloween candy bars can make a pretty sweet Thanksgiving treat, don’t you think? These party tarts are darling!
Pretty Party Tarts
A classic recipe made with MARS Almond Bars
Ingredients
- 4 MARS Almond Bars (or 9 Fun-Size bars)
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1-1/4 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- Dainty Tart Shells
Instructions
- Cut MARS Bars into small pieces.
- Beat egg yolks in a small bowl.
- Blend cornstarch with milk In a saucepan: add bar pieces. Heat slowly, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and bubbles 2 minutes; remove pan from heat.
- Beat about 1/2 cup of the hot mixture into egg yolks. Stir back into saucepan. Cook and stir 1 minute. Cool: add rum extract. Fill DAINTY TART SHELLS. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, if you wish.
Dainty Tart Shell
Combine 1 package (about 11 ounces) piecrust mix with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 beaten egg to make a soft dough. Divide dough into 8 portions. Press 1 portion into each of 8 four-inch tart pans. Chill 1 hour. Bake in hot oven (400 F) 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.
Notes
You won't find MARS Almond Bars on the market these days, but fortunately SNICKERS Almond was introduced a year after the MARS Bars were discontinued. You can use those instead!
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 278Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 116mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 7g
Click Americana offers approximate nutrition information as a general reference only, and we make no warranties regarding its accuracy. Please make any necessary calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, and consult with a qualified healthcare professional if you have dietary concerns.
Mocha puff pyramid classic recipe
We grant that there are many cuter ways to style these cream puffs than in a pyramid with chocolate sauce inelegantly plopped on top — do your own sophisticated thing here.
Nevertheless, this recipe looks like a delicious take on cream puffs that stands the test of time.
ANOTHER SWEET ONE: Snickers bar chocolate rice pudding recipe (1969)
Mocha Puff Pyramid
A retro recipe made with MARS Almond Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
- 1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 4 MARS Almond Bars, chopped (or 9 Fun-Size bars)
- 1/4 cup hot coffee
- 1/4 pint cream for whipping
Instructions
- Heat water and butter or margarine to boiling in a saucepan.
- Add flour all at once. Stir rapidly over heat until mixture forms a ball and follows spoon around pan.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating until mixture is smooth.
- Press mixture through a pastry bag, into 18 small mounds 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.
- Bake in hot oven (400 F) 30 minutes, or until puffed and brown.
- Remove from cookie sheet; cool.
- Melt bars with coffee in a small saucepan over very low heat: Cool.
- Beat cream until stiff in bowl. Fold in half the melted bars mixture.
- Split puffs; fill with mixture.
- Pile puffs in serving dish. Spoon melted bars mixture over top.
Notes
You won't find MARS Almond Bars on the market these days, but fortunately SNICKERS Almond was introduced a year after the MARS Bars were discontinued. You can use those instead!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, qualifying purchases made via our links earns us a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 99Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 27mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g
Click Americana offers approximate nutrition information as a general reference only, and we make no warranties regarding its accuracy. Please make any necessary calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, and consult with a qualified healthcare professional if you have dietary concerns.
