Sunday, January 1, 2012

3 Homemade Candy Recipes That You Can Make For Holiday Gifts

3 Homemade Candy Recipes That You Can Make For Holiday Gifts

When it comes to making homemade food to give as holiday gifts, I think we all will agree that candy is at the top of the list. All three of these recipes are easy to prepare and will take less than 15 minutes to make (not including set up time).

You can make the candies and then package them in cellophane food-safe bags, metal cookie/candy tins or decorative holiday plastic containers.

You can safely make these recipes up to 1 week before you plan on giving them as a gift.

Holiday Marble Bark

6 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate

6 squares premium white baking chocolate

1 cup crushed peppermint candies

Using 2 different microwave-safe containers, melt the semi-sweet and white chocolates in separate bowls. You should use the high power setting, stirring the chocolates at 30 second intervals until they are melted. I find that using a silicone nonstick spatula works best for this task.

Stir 1/2 cup of the peppermint candies into each container. Alternately spoon melted chocolates onto waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Swirl chocolates together with the spatula to give it a marbled effect. Refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours or until firm. Break into bite-sized pieces.

Double Peanut Clusters

2 cups peanut butter morsels

1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

2 cups salted peanuts

Melt the peanut butter morsels and shortening in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling water. Carefully stir in the peanuts until they are well covered by the mixture. Line a baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper. Drop mixture by the teaspoons onto the baking sheet. Cool until firm.

Pecan Pralines

1 lb. bag brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup whole pecan halves

Using a medium-sized saucepan, combine the brown sugar with the whipping cream. Simmer this mixture over low for 10 minutes, stirring often with a nonstick silicone spatula. Remove from heat and stir in the butter, vanilla extract and pecan halves. Beat this mixture by hand for 3 minutes. Line a baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper and drop the mixture onto the sheet by rounded tablespoons. Cool until firm.

3 Homemade Candy Recipes That You Can Make For Holiday Gifts

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