What to make for your child’s cake and candy day

If you’re all out of ideas of what to make for your child’s cake and candy day at school, don’t worry – we have the perfect treat! No-bake pretzel ladybug peanut butter bars are a great choice and are sure to be a hit among your child and their friends.

Here’s how to make them:

*Makes 25

Ingredients for the base

• ½ cup butter, melted
• ¾ cup icing sugar
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• 200g packet pretzels, finely crushed

For the topping

• 200g milk chocolate, chopped
• ¼ cup smooth peanut butter

For the ladybugs

• 40g packet Smarties
• Black and white edible gel pens or royal icing
• 25 pretzels
• 80g red candy melts chocolate

Method

1. For the base, line a 23cm square tin with baking paper, leaving 2cm overhangs for easy removal. Beat together all the ingredients. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan.
2. For the topping, heat the chocolate and peanut butter in the microwave for about 1½ minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Pour onto the base and spread into an even layer.
3. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until firm.
4. For the ladybugs, pipe eyes onto 25 Smarties using the black and white pens or icing. Space the pretzels evenly over the bar.
5. Heat chocolate in the microwave for about 1½ minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle.
6. Pipe into about 5 pretzels and add a Smartie to the wider parts before the chocolate sets. Repeat with the rest. Pipe black dots and a line through the middle onto the bodies. Refrigerate for at least an hour until set. Slice into 25 bars.