Ting-A-Lings are a fun, quirky, crunchy, vintage American candy treat. Traditionally enjoyed during the festive season but also tasty for movie or games day snacks, afternoon tea, parties, buffets, pot-lucks, picnics, pack-lunches.Decorate for Halloween with jelly sweets or sprinkle with red, blue and white cake sprinkles for the 4th of July, or for Easter stir through some crushed mini eggs.
Melt the chocolate, either using a microwave or on the stove-top.
200 grams dark chocolate [semi sweet]
Microwave method: break the chocolate into even pieces and place into a microwave safe bowl. Using the high setting, switch the microwave on for 20-30 second bursts, until the chocolate has nearly melted. Remove the bowl and quickly stir the chocolate until it melts completely.
Stove-top method: break the chocolate into even pieces and place in a heat-proof bowl. Place the bowl into a pan with about an inch of water simmering in the pan. Turn the heat off and the chocolate will melt in the heat. Once the chocolate has nearly melted, remove the bowl from the heat, and stir it quickly to help it along.
Pour the melted chocolate into the mixing bowl and quickly stir all the ingredients together.
Using a teaspoon scoop up the mixture and dollop onto the baking tray or fill up paper cupcake cases. Continue until all the mix has been used.
Place the tray into the refrigerator until the Ting-A-Lings are set firm -usually takes a few hours.
Notes
Nutritional information is for guidance only and is not a strict calculation as ingredients vary.
Store Ting-A-Lings within the refrigerator, but if preferred a little softer, remove from the refrigerator few minutes before eating.
Freeze for up to 2-3 months.
Almonds can be replaced with salted, roasted, or toasted peanuts or any nut variety.
Or sub the nuts for dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, glace cherries, apricots, pineapple, dates, etc. Chop up larger pieces of dried fruit.
Instead of vanilla sub for almond extract.
Bran cereal can be replaced with deep fried and dried chow mien noodles, which is a traditional ingredient.
For gluten-free Ting-A-Lings use a certified gluten-free breakfast cereal such as rice or corn flakes, or Freee Supergrain hoops, etc.
For vegan Ting-A-Lings use a vegan-friendly chocolate and a vegan-friendly breakfast cereal such as Tesco High Fibre Bran cereal.
Any chocolate that melts well, can be used for this recipe including flavoured chocolate.
For ting-a-lings that are similar to the outside of a chocolate Bounty bar sweet, sprinkle the ting-a-lings with extra desiccated coconut before the chocolate sets.
For a Halloween treat try adding some jelly eyes to the ting-a-lings before they set, to create scary spider or monster shapes.
For the Fourth of July scatter over some red, white and blue cake sprinkles.
For Easter press in a mini chocolate egg on to the unset ting-a-ling.
For Christmas dust the set ting-a-lings with powdered/icing sugar.