Colts playoff snacks

 

The Colts are in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, so I wanted to share some fun team-inspired snack ideas you could serve during the big game on Saturday.

The first recipe involves one of my favorite treats: puppy chow. If you’re not familiar with puppy chow, it’s Chex cereal coated in peanut butter and chocolate and then showered with powdered sugar.

In order to make the snack more appropriate for a Colts viewing party, I separated the cereal into two bowls, and I used half blue candy melts and half white chocolate chips. I didn’t add as much powdered sugar to the blue Chex pieces because I wanted them to remain blue. I also turned almonds into little footballs by using melted white chocolate to draw “laces” onto the almonds.

Going along with the Colts theme, I used my leftover blue candy melts and white chocolate to make Colts players out of Nutter Butter cookies. I was inspired to make the football players after seeing a pin on Pinterest that showed 40 different treats you could make using Nutter Butters. Who knew these little cookies could be so versatile?!

The last recipe I made is a savory addition to the sweet treat offerings. I cut a football shape out of a sheet of puff pastry, and then I used a pizza cutter to cut strips all along the football, taking care to not cut through the center so it remained intact. I then spread my favorite spinach artichoke dip onto each of the strips and twisted them. I baked the puff pastry until it was golden brown before using cream cheese and sour cream to draw the football laces. The little strips reminded me of the parmesan twists I made in culinary school. It’s so tasty! For a sweet option, you could coat the strips in melted butter and cinnamon sugar or spread Nutella on them. You can’t go wrong with puff pastry. My favorite brand of puff pastry is Wewalka. I promise this isn't an ad—I just really love it. I can't taste a difference between Wewalka and the homemade puff pastry I made in culinary school. Look for it in the refrigerated section, not frozen!

Horseshoe chow

Ingredients

• 6 cups cereal
• 1/2 cup blue candy melts
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips + 2 Tablespoons
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup whole roasted almonds

Directions

1. Separate cereal into two large bowls. Set aside.
2. Melt blue candy melts and 1/2 cup peanut butter together in medium microwave-safe bowl. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt.
3. Melt white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter together in medium microwave-safe bowl. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt.
4. Pour blue mixture over 1 bowl of Chex cereal and stir gently with spatula until cereal is evenly coated.
5. Pour whit chocolate mixture over the other bowl of Chex cereal and stir gently with spatula until cereal is evenly coated.
6. Let the mixtures cool to room temperature, about 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Add 1 cup powdered sugar to each bowl and mix until evenly coated.
8. Let cool another 15 minutes and add more powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, to each of the mixtures until it’s coated to your liking.
9. Melt 2 Tablespoons white chocolate and pour into sandwich bag. Cut very, very small corner of bag and draw football laces on almonds. Allow white chocolate to dry before adding to the rest of the mix.

Recipe inspired by The First Year Blog

Colts Player Cookies

Ingredients

• 6 ounces blue candy melts
• 12 Nutter Butter cookies
• 2 Tablespoons white chocolate
• 24 mini candy eyes
• 2 Tablespoons dark chocolate

Directions

1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil and set aside.
2. Melt blue candy melts in small microwave-safe bowl.
3. Dip the bottom half of each of the cookies in the blue candy melts, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl. 
4. Place cookies on baking sheet to harden.
5. Repeat with the other end of the cookie, taking care to only dip the cookie about halfway toward the center. 
6. Place cookies back on baking sheet to harden.
7. Melt white chocolate in small microwave-safe bowl. Pour into plastic bag and cut small piece off one bottom corner of bag. Use bag to pipe helmet line, collar line, and numbers onto cookies. Also, make two small dots where the eyeballs should go, and adhere the mini candy eyes onto the cookies.
8. Melt dark chocolate in small microwave-safe bowl. Pour into plastic bag and cut small piece off one bottom corner of bag. Use bag to pipe 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines in empty space to resemble face masks.

Recipe inspired by Snack Works

Spinach Artichoke Puff Pastry Football

Ingredients

For the spinach artichoke dip

• 2 cups baby spinach
• 7 ounces artichoke hearts, drained
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dill
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce

For the football

• 1 sheet puff pastry (I only use Wewalka. It's very high quality, and it's refrigerated, not frozen.)
• Egg wash (1 egg + 1 Tablespoon water)
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Directions

For the spinach artichoke dip

1. Place spinach in bowl with 1 Tablespoon water and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
2. Microwave on high for 1 minute; leave covered 15 minutes to cool. Drain spinach well and add to medium bowl.
3. Chop artichoke hearts and add to bowl.
4. Add remaining dip ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

For the football

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Remove puff pastry sheet from packaging and place on parchment paper.
3. Cut corners of puff pastry with pizza cutter to resemble football.
4. Use pizza cutter to make 12 cuts (about 1 inch apart) across football. Repeat on the other side. Important note: Do not cut all the way through the center. Leave at least 1 inch in the center so everything stays together.
5. Spread spinach artichoke dip on each of the strips.
6. Twist the strips in the same direction.
7. Brush egg wash over the entire football. Bake for 15 minutes.
8. While it’s baking, beat cream cheese with sour cream until smooth. Place mixture into plastic bag and cut medium piece off one bottom corner of bag.
9. Remove football from oven and use bag to pipe on football laces.
10. Return to oven and bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes, or until puff pastry is golden brown.
11. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes before transferring to platter to serve.

Recipe inspired by It’s Always Autumn