Itsy Bitsy Spiders! - Halloween Treat Tutorial

Sophia and I had some Halloween Fun
making up some itsy bitsy spiders!
This was a fun toddler friendly treat to make 
and sophie was thrilled with the little things!
I even got some "you're the best mommy ever making spiders!"...haha.
Using these in some goodie boxes we are sending out today! 
(posting those tomorrow..ideas for last minute treating!
perfect to leave at your neighbor's doorstep! ding and dash!)
I found this great treat idea via Sprinkled with Flour.
She adapted her version from candyquik.com

Itsy Bitsy Spiders Ingredients:
Makes 15 Spiders (I made a couple extra)
45 Pretzel Sticks... (watch out helpers will sneak some. have extra on hand ;)
30 Ritz Crackers
1 Cup Chocolate chips... (I used a mix of hershey kisses & a bit of chocolate chips..use what you have!!)
1 tsp Shortening
1 cup Peanut Butter... (I have no clue how much I used..I didn't measure.)
30 Mini Reece's Pieces...(I had the large ones for another recipe but they were too big..
so I used medium size sprinkles instead..again, just use what you have!)

--Put chocolate chips and shortening in a microwavable bowl.
Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted and smooth.
My bowl wasn't hot..I let the chocolate cool off a bit so that I could have my little helper there.
--Break the Pretzel Sticks in half..and dip the unbroken side into the chocolate
and place on wax paper to try.

I suppose if you wanted them perfect you would want the chocolate hotter..
.and NOT have a 3 yr old help..

but that wasn't the point here...we are making spiders............

--Dip one side of 15 of the Crackers into the chocolate...
and place on wax paper to dry.
For some of them I used the spoon to spread across the top.
If you are on a time crunch you can place the chocolate covered pieces into the freezer. 
But I left them on the dining room table..took care of babies running around lovingly terrorizing
each other and the house..and then came back to the project a bit later.

--IF you are using mini reese's for the eyes...at this point you would place a drop of chocolate on them for an eye mark..using a toothpick and let them dry.

**I took this step out of it and just used the Betty Crocker Candy Corn Sprinkles I had.

Put them in place before the chocolate hardens too much.

mmm salty sweet!

--Spread Peanut Butter on the remaining undipped crackers. 
Resist the urge to pop one in your mouth. jk. don't resist. go for it.
but just know if your toddler see's you doing this..they will want one too. nothing gets by them.

--Place 3 of the dipped pretzel sticks on each side of the cracker, to make the legs!

veryyyyy....slowly.....haha.
This was like amazing to her..
she was so impressed with herself at this point, seeing what she was creating!

Mommy took over to speed things up. :)



--Take the dipped crackers and put a little peanut butter on the undipped side.
Press on top of the pretzel legs to make the spider!

Sophia was happy to be a taste tester and try one before we send the rest off!

How stinking cute is she?