Deborah Stauch of the Once Upon A Pedestal blog created this simple and clever tutorial on how to create cute little chocolate candy acorns! You might already have the ingredients in your pantry, and in nine easy steps these acorns will be ready for munching.

Materials

Harvest Blend Peanut M&M’S® (one 12.60 ounce package)
Paring knife with sharp pointed end
Tootsie Roll Midgees (one 3.73 ounce package; about 17 per King Size pkg, only 13 needed)

Makes about 75 acorns.

Note: The M&M’S® can be substituted with chocolate covered almonds although they are a bit more costly than the candies.
If you’re not a Tootsie Roll fan, try caramels or pre-made caramel apple sheets as an alternate.
For fun brightly colored acorns, use regular colors of peanut m&ms and Starburst candies.

Instructions

1. Separate M&M’S® and set aside yellow and red candies for snacking. You should have about 75 rust and brown candies remaining. Unwrap 12 of the Tootsie Rolls. Cut the Tootsie Rolls into 6 equal segments by slicing the log in half and cutting each half into thirds.

2. Roll each segment into a ball.

3. Flatten each ball into a disk about 3/4” in diameter. Adjust the size if needed for any smaller M&M’S®. A smooth surface like a tile or granite countertop is great for this. Waxed paper can also be used as a nonstick surface. Use the paring knife to score criss-cross lines across the top of each disk, about 8-10 lines in each direction. Use the flat blade of the paring knife to loosen and release the disk if needed.

4. Unwrap one Tootsie Roll and slice in half. Roll the cut half into a long, narrow rope about 1/8″ – 1/4″ in diameter.

5. Slice the rope into tiny segments. The segments should be no larger than 1/4″ since it just takes a tiny amount to form the stems.

6. Look for the fatter end of the M&M. This will be the top or cap end.

7.  Attach the scored disks to the tops of the M&M. The stickiness of the candy will act as the glue but if you’re having trouble, use a tiny piece of Tootsie Roll as adhesive. Center the disk over the top of the M&M and use your fingertips to gently form the cap to the candy. Try not to press or rub so much as to remove the criss-cross pattern.

8.  Pierce a small hole in the top of the cap with the sharp end of the paring knife, puncturing the Tootsie Roll, not the M&M. Roll one of the tiny segments into a stem shape in the palm of your hand. Place one end of the stem inside the hole and press very gently. The stem will adhere best when the hole is freshly cut and the stem is still slightly tacky and warm from being formed.

9. Repeat until you have enough acorns for whatever project you want to use them for!

Enjoy your tiny treasures and the splendor of Fall!

-Deborah Stauch