Sweet and Salty "Ice Cream" Snack

Seems we all love ice cream.  For many,  it's the first sweet treat sampled as a baby.  It's usually served alongside birthday cake and is the quintessential summer sweet. Many years ago (when I was 21), I spent the whole summer living with a friend in Laguna Beach. We had an ice cream cone at Swensen's every single day:)  When my husband and I were young-marrieds, we may or may not have, each eaten our own pint of Haagen-Dazs ice cream every weekend once in awhile. 

With the warmer weather I have noticed ice cream all over the blogosphere...sometimes the real deal, and sometimes a treat that just looks like ice cream:)  This snack falls into the latter category.

The "scoops" are mini marshmallows dipped in candy melts and topped with sprinkles:) Of course, you can eat them just like this for a yummy snack.

In the past I have made clown hats and elf hats out of Bugles. They've been fun, tasty snacks. The other day I had a mini "Aha moment" when I thought of making tiny ice cream cones out of Bugles.  They're the perfect shape!  I dipped them in peanut butter candy melts and even used a toothpick to etch lines in the cones so that they would look more authentic:)

I found these cute bags at World Market the other day and knew they would be perfect for serving up this snack. Such a cute treat for a summertime get-together or ice cream social!

Sweet and Salty "Ice Cream" Snack

Ingredients: 

12 cups salted, popped popcorn
24 original Bugles
4 ounces Wilton peanut butter candy melts
8 ounces of vanilla almond bark
4 ounces each of four colors of Wilton candy melts
24 mini marshmallows
1/2 cup mini m&m's
1/4 cup multi-colored jimmies (sprinkles)
Wooden skewers or toothpicks
Sprinkles

Directions:
Ice cream cones:  Place some wax paper on a work surface. Set the marshmallows and Bugles on the wax paper. Melt the peanut butter candy melts.  Use a skewer to pick up a Bugle and dip it in the peanut butter melts until completely covered.. Hold the Bugle over the bowl and let the excess candy drip off. Set on the wax paper to dry.  Repeat with each Bugle. When they're dry, you can use a toothpick to etch diagonal lines in the cones to make them look more realistic.
Place each of the colored candy melts in a microwave-safe, small bowl and melt as package directs. Use a toothpick and dip a mini marshmallow in one of the colors (it's okay if it has a bit of excess candy on it, to make it look more like a rounded scoop). Set the marshmallow on top of one of the Bugles and hold it there for a moment. Apply the sprinkles.  Place the mini cone gently on the wax paper to dry. Repeat until you have 2 dozen mini ice cream cones. Let dry.
Popcorn: Line 2 jelly roll pans with wax paper.  Distribute the popcorn between the two pans.  Melt the vanilla almond bark and drizzle over the popcorn (or you may mix it more evenly with a wooden spoon if you prefer).  Immediately sprinkle with the jimmies and mini m&m's.  Lastly, place all the mini cones on both pans of popcorn.

ENJOY!

  

Linked to:

Crazy Sweet Tuesday
I'm Lovin' it Fridays 
Inspiration Friday 
Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday 
Weekend Wrap Up Party