Thursday, November 30, 2017

Christmas Candy Recipes - Divinity

My grandmother would divine the shit out of this recipe.  It's really just whipped meringue fudge, but it's the whipping that makes it sooooo freakin' good.  Get a friend to help beat it, and you'll do yourself proud with this divine deliciousness.

2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 light corn syrup
1/2 cup water*
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup chopped walnuts

Heat sugar, corn syrup and water in 2qt saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved.  Cook, without stirring to 260 degrees on a candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hard ball.  Remove from heat.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; continue beating while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites.  Add vanilla; beat until mixture holds its shape and become sightly dull (mixture may become too stiff for mixer - this is where your friend comes in).  Fold in nuts.  Drop mixture from the tip of buttered spoon onto waxed paper.  Store in refrigerator.

*Use 1 tablespoon less on humid days

Christmas Candy Recipes - Toffee

My dentist loved that I loved these candies.

1 cup chopped pecans (cashews work, too)
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Grease an 9-inch square pan.  Heat sugar and butter to boiling in 1qt saucepan, stirring constantly.  Boil over medium heat, stirring constantly for 7 minutes (your biceps will love you).  Spread mixture in pan.  Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot mixture and place a cookie sheet over the pan (to help hold in heat) until the chips are melted.  Spread out the chocolate so it covers the candy.  While still melty, sprinkle the nuts over the top.  Cut into squares while still warm.  Refrigerate until firm. 

Christmas Candy Recipes - Creamy Caramels

I'm sure if I thought about it long enough, I could turn this into chocolate salted caramels, but let's start with the basic recipe.  Before you begin, cut about 40 3-inch square pieces of waxed paper.  When the caramels are cool, you can wrap them separately.

The key with caramels is stirring.  Constant.  Overall.  Stirring.  You can't let the sugar get to hot or it will burn.  Like the fires of hell.  I'm not kidding around.  Stir it.  Stir it NOW!

2 cups sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
2 cups half & half

Grease an 8-inch square pan.  Heat sugar, corn syrup, butter and 1 cup of the half & half to boiling in a 3qt saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in remaining half & half.  Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, to 245 degrees on a candy thermometer or until a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a firm ball (this is called a cold water test).  Immediately spread into pan and cool.  Cut into 1-inch squares.   Store in a cool place (not the fridge).

Christmas Candy Recipes - Angel Cookies (Forgotten Cookies)

This one is actually from my ex mother-in-law.  Just don't completely forget about them until you preheat the oven for the next batch.  True story.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Beat 2 egg whites until stiff
Beat in 3/4 cup sugar
Fold in 1 small package of chocolate chips and 1.25 tsp vanilla

Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Put in oven and TURN OFF HEAT.  Leave in oven until cool, 2-3 hours

Christmas Candy Recipes - Ribbon Fantasy Fudge

Not much can compete with peanut butter and chocolate...especially not with peanut butter and chocolate fudge.

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
6 oz package semi-sweet chocolate morsels
7 oz jar marshmallow creme
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter (either style, but I love the creamy)

Combine 1.5 cups sugar, 6 tbsp butter and 1/3 cup milk in heavy saucepan; bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Continue boiling 4 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat and stir in chocolate morsels until melted.  Add 1 cup marshmallow creme and 1/2 tsp of vanilla; beat until well blended.  Pour into greased 13x9 inch pan. 

Repeat with remaining ingredients, substituting peanut butter for chocolate pieces.  Spread over chocolate layer.  Cool at room temperature and cut into squares. 

Christmas Candy Recipes - Green Things

I know, the name sucks.  But these little candies are super easy and look sooooo pretty strewn around a candy tray.

1/4 lb butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp green food coloring
35-ish jumbo marshmallow (I suppose you could use marshmallow creme)
4.5 cups plain cornflakes
Cinnamon red hots

Melt butter and marshmallows in saucepan over low heat.  Add vanilla and coloring.  Stir.  Pour over cornflakes in large bowl and mix until flakes are covered.  Drop mixture onto wax paper in spoonfuls and decorate with red hots.  Let stand overnight.

The idea here is that the candies will look like evergreen bunches with red berries.

Christmas Candy Recipes - French Chocolate

These look really special, but they're simple.  And REALLY rich.

1 12-oz package semi-sweet morsels
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 tsp. vanilla
1.5 cups shredded coconut

Melt the semi-sweet morsels in the top of a double boiler set on low heat.  Remove from heat and stir.  Add the sweetened milk, the walnuts and the vanilla and stir again.  Let the mixture cool.

Put the coconut in a medium bowl.  Butter your hands and roll the cooled chocolate into small balls (about the size of a peach pit).  Then roll the balls in the coconut.  Store in the refrigerator.

If you like, you can toast the coconut, or use cocoa instead to coat.