Halloween Edible Eyeballs

Fall is my favorite time of year... the leaves are changing to beautiful colors, the air is crisp, and the family is spending more time inside! Which means it is a great time to try new recipes and maybe even have the family help! This one was one I just couldn't pass up, edible eyeballs.... right at Halloween time. When I received this recipe, and realized that they are peanut butter balls, It made it that much more yummy sounding! I have a feeling these may become a new family tradition!






INGREDIENTS:

Edible Eye Balls with Tootsie Roll eyebrows,
Peanut Butter Kiss nose, and wax lips!

• 1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter 
• 1/2 cup butter, softened 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar 
• 24 ounces white candy coating, chopped 
• 2 TBS shortening 
• 20 blue milk chocolate M&M's 
• 20 brown milk chocolate M&M's
• 20 green milk chocolate M&M's 
• Red decorating gel

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl, cream peanut butter and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Shape into 1-in. balls. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt half of the candy coating and half of the shortening; stir until smooth. Dip peanut butter balls into coating (I used toothpicks to help make this a little less messy!); allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper. Place M&M's, plain side up, on top. Let stand until set. Use red gel to create "bloodshot" eyes.

I recommend taking the balls out of the refrigerator maybe 10 at a time, they tend to fall apart while you are trying to dip them in the candy coating if they aren't cold enough... I learned this the hard way! Also recommend melting half of the candy coating because it tends to get a little unmanageable, the original recipe only called for one bag of candy coating, but I bought 2 thankfully because I nearly used both bags! So while melting the second bag I did it in portions.

Mine made about 60 pieces