Jokerz vs. Snickers and Mahalo vs Almond Joy!

Jokerz

Mahalo

Having recently read a description of Go Max Go's vegan candy bars and after recently having an insane craving for a Snickers bar, I decided that I must try a Jokerz bar. I have never been a big candy person and eating even a piece of a candy bar can satisfy my desire for one for months. Keeping this in mind, understand that as a teenager, I LOVED Snickers bars. I remember eating one once and thinking, how can anything possibly taste this delicious!? I also love coconut and almonds so the Mahalo bar sounded appealing as well.

The Jokerz bar was my first choice for taste testing. Upon opening the wrapper, I thought that perhaps somebody may have misrepresented the candy bar as a snickers alternative. It does look slighlty different. First bite. HEAVEN. Just what I remembered. It may have even been better than I remembered. I have not had an actual snickers bar in years and I have been told that my food memory stinks...but this candy bar ROCKED. I am not advocating candy bars as a healthy snack in any way. Candy is candy. Yes, this one is made from healthier and cruelty free ingredients but it is still candy. But for a once in a blue moon treat of an old childhood favorite, or something to put in a Christmas stocking, an Easter basket..or heck, even a valentines day package, it fits like a sumptuous vegan glove. ..so to speak, ; )

The Almond Joy version, Mahalo, was my second choice. It was also delicious. It was slightly sweeter than I remember an Almond Joy being. I actually didn't have any desire to finish the entire candy bar in one sitting. A piece here and a piece there was more than enough. I think that was because of the richness and sweetness of the coconut. Making it a great candy bar to share with a friend. I think I am candied out so I don't think I will be trying the other bars any time soon. Based on the two out of four being delicious, I am sure the others will be equally as wonderful.

My overall opinion of Go Max Go! candy bars is that they are wonderful replicas of childhood favorites. That perhaps are even better than their non-vegan counterparts. I think as a once in a while treat or for a special occasion they can be a convenient, cruelty-free indulgence.

Not at all healthy in any way, shape, or form post....

I just had an urge to make hard candy with agave instead of corn syrup. It worked. The end result is not very fancy but I was just messing around anyway so I didn't really mind. And seriously, it will get eaten regardless of how it looks. I wish I would have had my lollipop sticks ready because it would have made some great lollipops. The round ones in the picture of obviously for sucking but the nesty looking candy is going to be used for decoration on top of frosted cupcakes! I think it will look really pretty. Obviously you can flavor them however you would like.







Agave Hard Candy (in the microwave)

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup agave syrup
1/4 -1/2 t flavor of your choice (vanilla, peppermint, spearmint, coconut, anise, whatever!)
coloring if desired
powered sugar for dusting

Oil a baking sheet or lollipop molds

Place sugar and agave in a 4 quart microwave safe glass bowl. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Remove from microwave. It will be boiling and extremely hot. Carefully move plastic wrap so that you can give it a stir, being ery careful of the steam. Cover with plastic wrap and place back in the microwave and cook for another 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir again. Add flavoring and coloring and stir well. Pour into molds or onto baking sheet. You can score candy with a knife and break once it is cool or shape into ropes and cut up into smaller pieces or roll into little balls or leave in the little pieces. Do what ever you want with it. It is pretty fun. Once it starts cooling you will have a harder and eventually impossible time shaping it so work quickly. When completely cool dust with powered sugar to keep them from sticking together. Have fun.

* If you are not sure about the strength of your microwave and the timing...the candy needs to reach 300 degrees f. So you can use a candy thermometer to test it when you take it out to add the flavoring.