Vegan Top Hat Treats [chocolate dipped marshmallows] are an adaption of traditional top hat school dinner puddings and party treats that were very popular during the 1990s and early 2000s in Scotland and Northern Ireland. They are called top hats because they look like the old English top hats that were popular during the 19th Century.
You can adapt these easy treats for any special occasion with sparkly cake sprinkles for the festive season, red-white-blue sweets for the American 4th of July, vegan mini eggs for Easter, pink or red sweets for Valentine's Day, or scary jelly candies for Halloween or Day of The Dead. For a Father's Day or Mother's Day treat that kids can prepare these top hat treats are ideal.
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What is a Top Hat Treat?
A top hat treat is a marshmallow that has been dipped into melted chocolate and then placed into a mini cupcake case. A small sweet, typically a chocolate Smartie, is dipped in chocolate and placed onto the top of the marshmallow.
Top hat treats were once very popular in Scottish and Northern Ireland schools and were served as an option for school dinner dessert or at the morning break school tuckshop during the '90s and early 2000s [perhaps earlier as well]. They sold for about 10-20p and were often the highlight of the day for many school kids, including me!
Our Vegan Top Hat Treats are topped with Skittle sweeties and Jelly Tots, as the Smarties, for sale in the UK, are not vegan-friendly.
Vegan top hat treats
It is easy to prepare a top hat treat and the only difference between ordinary top hats and vegan top hats is that dairy free chocolate is required, along with vegan marshmallows and a vegan sweetie for the top. As ordinary smarties sweets, which have chocolate inners and a crispy colourful outer shell, are not vegan a different vegan friendly sweet or candy needs to be used.
Although the brand Doisy and Dam do have a vegan smarties type sweet available 'Dark Chocolate Drops with a Cheeky Crunchy Coating' [made with all natural vegan and gluten-free ingredients] which are available for bulk buy at Amazon, UK or single bags from Asda, Sainsbury's, and the health store Holland & Barrett.
How To Prepare Vegan Top Hat Treats
The marshmallows used for this recipe are the Dandies brand that are available from Asda [UK supermarket] as well as many other stores. However, any vegan marshmallow can be used except perhaps mini marshmallows.
First melt the vegan chocolate using either a microwave [place in microwave-safe bowl and heat for 20 second bursts until chocolate melts] or stove-top [pot with simmering water and a small heat-proof bowl, with the chocolate in the bowl, placed in the pot].
Set out mini paper cupcake cases[patty pan/mini baking cups] and using a teaspoon carefully drop the melted chocolate in to create a thick bottom layer.
Gently press a marshmallow into the melted chocolate.
Next dip a little sweetie/candy such as a Skittle, Jelly Tot or a vegan chocolate sweet similar to smarties into the melted chocolate and press it down to stick onto the top of the marshmallow.
All that's left to do now it to let the chocolate set.
That's all there is to it!
So simple and easy yet very effective and looks amazing at any party, buffet or get-together.
Or prepare a batch for a gift for a special someone.
Recipe Notes
What's the best way to store Top Hat Treats?
Store within a covered container and place somewhere cool and dry within the kitchen or pantry, or place in the refrigerator. The main consideration is to keep the chocolate from melting.
Store for up to 7 days, possibly longer.
Can Top Hat Treats be frozen?
Surprisingly yes. Marshmallows cope well with being frozen so these tasty treats can be frozen for up to 3-4 months.
If your having an Alice in Wonderland themed party these little Top Hat Treats would be perfect to serve at a Mad Hatters Tea Party!
For more vegan recipes that are perfect for sweet treats and parties check out our vegan cake recipe collection, especially good are these British Fairy Cakes and this Old-school Chocolate Sponge Traybake.
📖 Recipe
Vegan Top Hat Treats [Chocolate Marshmallows]
Equipment
- tray/plate for treats to sit on
- heat-proof bowl for melting chocolate
- Saucepan for stove-top method of melting chocolate, optional as can melt chocolate within a microwave
- mini cupcake cases such as petits fours size
Ingredients
- 18 medium marshmallows vegan-friendly variety [can use less or more marshmallows]
- 250 grams dark chocolate broken into even sized small pieces
- 18 little vegan sweets/candies such as Jelly Tots, Skittles, vegan Smarties type candy, etc
Instructions
- Set out the mini paper cupcake cases onto a tray or large plate. Set out the marshmallows and sweets.
- Melt the dark chocolate.
Microwave method
- Add the dark chocolate broken into even sized pieces into a microwave safe bowl.
- Set the microwave for 20 seconds and continue the short bursts until the chocolate melts. After a few bursts give the chocolate a stir to check to see if its melting.
- Once the chocolate has nearly melted completely remove from the microwave and stir quickly and it will continue to melt. Be careful to not over heat the chocolate in case it seizes up into a clump!
Stove-top method
- Heat an inch or so of water in a saucepan and place a heatproof bowl in the pan. Add the broken chocolate. Give it a little stir now and again to check the chocolate is melting.
- Don't allow the water to fast boil and once it is simmering switch the cooker ring off as the chocolate will melt in the heat.[be careful not to drip any water into the melting chocolate or allow any hot steam to get near the chocolate as it could seize up]
- Once the chocolate has nearly melted stir it quickly until completely smooth.
Assemble top hat treats
- Using a teaspoon carefully cover the base of each paper case with melted chocolate.
- Gently press a marshmallow into each chocolate case.
- Dip the base of each sweet/candy into the leftover chocolate and press lightly but firmly onto the top of each marshmallow.Or add a blob of chocolate to the top of each marshmallow and press it down lightly. Sprinkle cake sprinkles over. [As well as a sweet topping or cake sprinkle topping, sprinkles can also be added to the chocolate that the marshmallow is sitting in.]
- To finish, leave the chocolate to set before enjoying. Either place the treats in a cool, dry area of your kitchen or for faster setting place in the refrigerator or freezer.
Notes
- Nutritional information is not exact as it is calculated via a computerized programme and ingredients vary.
- This recipe is enough to prepare 18 top hat treats but if preferred more or less chocolate can be melted to prepare less or more treats.
- Store top hat treats within a covered container in either the refrigerator or a cool, dry area of the kitchen, so as to prevent the chocolate melting.
- Top heat treats will store for up to 7 days if well covered, possibly longer.
- Or freeze for up to 3-4 months. Place somewhere in the freezer where the marshmallows will not get squashed!
- Top hat treats are perfect for an after dinner treat, afternoon tea, birthday parties, buffets, and special occasions.
- Jazz up the top hat treats by scattering cake sprinkles over the chocolate base for a festive treat, red, white and blue sprinkles for the 4th of July, a vegan mini egg top for Easter, red or pink candy for Valentine's Day, a scary jelly sweet top for Halloween or a little skull candy for Day of the Dead.
- Instead of a candy topping use vegan cake sprinkles.
- A top hat treat is perfect for leaving out on Christmas Eve for a treat for Father Christmas or enjoy one with your festive hot cocoa.
- Top hat treats are the perfect easy bake for kids to prepare for a Father's Day or Mother's Day treat.
- Any vegan-friendly chocolate that melts well can be used. Check the supermarkets own brand of inexpensive dark chocolate as many are accidently suitable for vegans. Such as some of the Lidl dark chocolate bars and the Co-op own brand of dark chocolate.
Nutrition
Prepared these tasty vegan Top Hat Treats?
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So we can admire your good cooking!
Thanks so much
Jacq x
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