Whatchamacallit Candy Truffles (gluten free)

Whatchamacallit Candy Truffles. They taste almost like a Willie Wonka brand Whatchamacallit Candy Bar! They are sooooo EASY to make and they don't require "special" expensive ingredients. I love easy recipes that go together quickly, budget friendly, and even the kids (or grandkids) can help make them! I used to make a ton of holiday treats to pass out to friends and neighbors and I combined simple things like these on the cookie plate as well as the more gourmet, time consuming cookies and treats. My conclusion? Everyone seemed to enjoy the simple things the most. They LOVED these candies because they are just a little different than your traditional holiday cookie. If I put these on a holiday cookie platter....they are gone in an instant! They can be dipped in white chocolate, dark chocolate or milk chocolate. Or....if you are really pinched for time.....just roll them lightly in chocolate sprinkles, cocoa powder or powdered sugar. Oh....and did I mention that you don't need to bake them? They are a no bake treat! Simple! :)

They can also be made in advance so it is really convenient during the busy holidays. These are also great for potlucks, tailgating or any type of get together. This is a fun activity to make with the kids on snow days! You can even dress them up by drizzling some melted chocolate on them or pressing a Hershey Kiss in the center and wrapping the filling around it. Be creative! This recipe is so flexible and you can customize it easily! You can even dip them in the colored white chocolate that you buy in the cake decorating/candy sections of stores like Walmart, JoAnn Fabrics, Michael's Crafts, Hobby Lobby, etc for special parties! You can also press them into a 9x13 greased pan and pour the melted chocolate on top and cut into bars. But honestly, most people like to pop the truffles into their mouth for the exploding flavors and it seems like it serves more people when you make them into little truffles! I would also like to mention that these can really dress up some boring brownies! Instead of making them into little truffle balls....just spread the mixture onto the brownies after the brownies have baked and cooled. Then drizzle a little melted chocolate on top. It takes brownies to a whole new level of delicious! 

The original recipe was given to me many, many years ago. I can't remember the name that was on the original recipe card. My kids said they taste just like a Whatchamacallit Candy bar so that is the name that stuck. I know exactly what they are talking about when they request this candy! The original recipe calls for a Rice Crispy cereal but it does contain malt flavoring which is not gluten free friendly. They do make a gluten free Rice Crispy cereal but it never seems to be on sale....so I improvise and use the more cost effective choice: Post Cocoa Pebbles which are gluten free!

I would like to point out that most of the "generic" versions of cocoa pebbles and crispy rice cereals and  rice Chex style cereals are not gluten free since they contain malt flavoring or are processed in a facility that uses wheat. Please read your labels carefully. Post Cocoa Pebbles & General Mills Rice Chex cereals are marked on the front of the box as GLUTEN FREE which makes shopping convenient. You can also substitute the chocolate, vanilla or plain Rice Chex in this recipe but you will have to crush them up so they aren't so chunky!

Whatchamacallit Candy Truffle Recipe:

• 2 cups of peanut butter (I used Jif Creamy)
• 3 cups Post Cocoa Pebbles (or substitute a Gluten Free Crispy Rice cereal or crushed Rice Chex Cereal)
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup melted real butter (or olive oil)
• 2 (12 oz.) bags of any flavor chocolate, melted (optional). I used one bag of semi-sweet and one bag of milk chocolate mixed together for today's batch. You can use white chocolate chips, almond bark, peanut butter chips, etc) OR just roll into chocolate sprinkles, powdered sugar or cocoa powder

Mix together the peanut butter, cereal, powdered sugar and melted butter or olive oil. Roll into bite sized balls. I press mine so they are compact and won't fall apart when dipped in chocolate. (At this point I refrigerate them on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper or parchment paper for at least 30-60 minutes to get them chilled so they stay together when I dip them into the hot melted chocolate).

(If you are planning on spreading this delicious, crunchy filling directly onto cooled brownies or cookie bars then you don't need to roll them or dip them first. Just spread onto the cooled bars and you can drizzle with melted chocolate if desired. It takes brownies or cookie bars to a whole new level of deliciousness! It's a good way to dress up an ordinary brownie!)

Melt your chocolate in microwave safe bowl or in a double boiler until melted and thin. It should drip in a steady stream when you spoon it out. If it appears too clumpy...add a tablespoon of Crisco to thin the chocolate a little more. Dip your candy balls into the chocolate using a fork and let the extra chocolate drip off a little bit before placing them on waxed paper or parchment paper to set. You shouldn't need to refrigerate them to set. (It can cause them to sweat). If you decide not to dip them in chocolate then go ahead and roll them lightly into any of the following items: chocolate sprinkles, powdered sugar or cocoa powder. The recipe makes about 40 truffles, depending on how large you make them.

The bite sized balls prior to dipping them in chocolate

The chocolate should be thin enough that it doesn't clump when you spoon it

I let the truffles sit on the fork for a few seconds to get excess chocolate off

Cooling on the parchment paper after their dip in melted chocolate

Ready to eat Whatchamacallit Truffles!

Variety of coatings on Whatchamacallit Truffles

Yummy! Inside view of the truffle!

Great favor for any type of party!

Below are photos of the same "whatchamacallit" filling but I used it on top of my gluten free plain brownies to dress them up for a party. Everyone LOVED them and couldn't believe they were so easy to make and gluten free! I just made the filling and spread it over my pan of cooled brownies. Melted some chocolate chips and spread on top. I had a little bit of melted white chocolate so I drizzled some of that on top too. It was a deluxe version of a brownie but it wasn't very difficult to make. (It's a good way to dress up a brownie made with a mix!)

Ready to eat Whatchamacallit Truffle Brownie!

Which would you eat? The brownie or truffle? Maybe both! :)

Delicious crunchy Whatchamacallit topping on a rich brownie! Yummy!

I hope you enjoyed one of my family's super easy dessert recipes. We like to do a fun, casual but delicious desserts at our house. This is a recipe that the kids could help me with when they were younger (and still can!) and it is something the rest of our family and friends enjoyed when we took to their house. I have to admit that every once in a while I make a batch of these because we just like to eat them even when it isn't a special occasion! These travel great in the mail. I generally put them in a container with waxed paper between the layers and they arrive intact. (Keep in mind if you are mailing them to a warm climate then consider rolling them in sprinkles, cocoa powder or powdered sugar instead!)

Tanja
Gluten Free Casually