If you’re a fan of Ghibli movies, you may remember the cute Susuwatari or Soot Sprites from Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. These easy-to-make chocolate covered treats are also known as haystacks or tumbleweeds. They’re often made with shredded coconut or chow main noodles. I love using potato stick snacks for a delicious, crunchy salty-sweet snack.
In Spirited Away, the cute sprites are fed handfuls of Japanese konpietō candy. If you aren’t able to find it, candy star sprinkles are a nice substitute for decorating your Soot Sprites. (See the links below.)
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treats
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Ingredients
- 5 cups (210g) potato stick snacks
- 2/3 cup (65g) chopped toasted salted cashews or peanuts (optional but recommended)
- 2 cups (340g) semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup (170g) butterscotch chips
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil or neutral oil of your choice
- A few drops black oil based food coloring (optional)
- 48 Candy eyes
- Konpeitō candy or pastel star candy sprinkles
Ingredients
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Instructions
- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper. In an extra-large bowl, combine the potato sticks and nuts.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and the oil. Heat in the microwave for 20 second bursts, stirring gently between each burst, until melted and smooth. Stir in the food coloring if using.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the potato stick mixture. Stir gently with a spatula until the mix is completely coated with the melted chocolate.
- Scoop or spoon rounded 2-tbs-size portions of the mixture onto the baking sheets. Add candy eyes and stars. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
Recipe Notes
*To find black oil based food coloring, click here.
**To find candy eyes, click here.
***To find Konpieto candy, click here.
****To find pastel star candy sprinkles, click here.