FAST and EASY candies!

 At this time of year, If I can find a gift that is FAST, EASY, and looks fantastic, sign me up for a dozen!!  On the Better Homes and Gardens website I found these wonderful candy recipes that you can make.  They look like a million bucks but are so easy that your kids can help make them.  These would make great teacher or neighbor gifts or just have a bunch around for when unexpected guests arrive at your door.  I know I will be adding these to my Christmas to do list this year!

Peanut Butter Balls

Makes: about 30 pieces

Start to Finish: 1 hour

  Ingredients

• 1/2  cup peanut butter
• 3  tablespoons butter, softened
• 1  cup sifted powdered sugar
• 8  ounces chocolate-flavored candy coating

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl stir together peanut butter and butter. Gradually add powdered sugar, stirring until combined. Shape into 1-inch balls; place on waxed paper. Let stand until dry (about 20 minutes).
2. Chop candy coating. Place in a heavy saucepan, cook and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Dip balls, one at a time, into coating. Let excess coating drip off peanut butter balls. Place on waxed paper; let stand until coating is firm. Store tightly covered in refrigerator. Makes about 30 pieces.
3. Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare candy as above. Store as directed for up to 2 weeks.

Double-Dipped Caramels

Makes: 48 caramels

Prep: 30 minutes
Stand: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 12  ounces chocolate-flavor candy coating, cut up
• 2  cups finely chopped pistachio nuts or one 10-ounce package almond brickle pieces, crushed
• 1  14-ounce package vanilla caramels (about 48 caramels), unwrapped

Directions

1. Heat candy coating in a heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly just until melted. Remove from heat.
2. Place nuts or brickle pieces in a bowl. Dip one caramel into coating; turn to coat. With a fork, lift caramel out, drawing fork across rim of pan to remove excess coating. Place dipped caramels in nuts, turning to coat. (Or, dip a caramel halfway into coating. Place dipped caramel into nuts, turning to coat.) Transfer caramel to a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining caramels. Let stand 30 minutes or until firm. Store tightly covered up to 1 week. Makes 48 caramels.

Peppermint Sticks

Prep: 20 minutes
Stand: about 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 4  oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1  tsp. shortening
• 2/3  cup pecans or your favorite nuts, chopped
• 16  3- to 4-inch soft peppermint sticks

Directions

1. In a small saucepan combine chocolate and shortening; cook over low heat just until melted. Transfer to a bowl. Place pecans on waxed paper.
2. Dip one end of each peppermint stick into melted chocolate and then roll in chopped nuts. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Wrap each individually to give as a gift. Makes 16 gifts.

Candy Cane Bark

Prep: 25 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes

  Ingredients

• 6  ounces chopped chocolate-flavor candy coating
• 3  ounces chopped milk chocolate bar
• 6  ounces chopped vanilla-flavor candy coating
• 3  ounces chopped white chocolate baking squares
• 1/4  cup crushed peppermint candy canes

Directions

1. Line a large baking sheet with foil. In a small, heavy saucepan, melt chocolate-flavor candy coating and milk chocolate bar, stirring over low heat until smooth. Pour onto baking sheet and spread into a 10x8-inch rectangle; set aside.
2. In another small, heavy saucepan, melt vanilla-flavor candy coating and white chocolate baking squares, stirring over low heat until smooth.
3. Slowly pour white mixture over chocolate mixture on baking sheet. With a thin spatula, swirl white mixture into chocolate mixture. Shake baking sheet gently for even thickness.
4. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Chill 30 minutes or until firm. Use foil to lift candy from baking sheet; break candy into pieces. Makes 1-1/4 pounds.
To Store: Layer pieces between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days. Serve at room temperature.

Candy-Box Caramels

Prep: 40 min.
Stand: 1 hr.

 

Ingredients

• 12  ounces chocolate- and/or vanilla-flavor candy coating*, coarsely chopped
• 1  cup toffee pieces, crushed; finely chopped pistachios; and/or nonpareils
• 48  short plastic or wooden skewers (optional)
• 1  14-ounce package vanilla caramels (about 48), unwrapped
• 2  ounces chocolate- and/or vanilla-flavor candy coating*, coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions

1. In a microwave-safe 4-cup measure, place the 12 ounces candy coating. Microwave on 100% power (high) for 3 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
2. Place toffee pieces, nuts, or nonpareils in a shallow dish. If desired, insert a skewer into each caramel. Dip one caramel into melted candy coating; turn to coat as much of the caramel as desired, allowing excess coating to drip off caramel. (If not using skewers, use a fork to lift caramel out of candy coating, drawing the fork across the rim of the glass measure to remove excess coating from caramel.) Place dipped caramel in toffee pieces, nuts, and/or nonpareils, turning to coat. Place coated caramel on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Repeat with remaining caramels. Let caramels stand about 1 hour or until coating dries.
3. If desired, microwave 2 ounces of a contrasting color of candy coating in a microwave-safe bowl on 100% power (high) for 2 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Cool slightly. Transfer coating to a small, heavy plastic bag; cut a small hole in one corner of bag and drizzle additional coating over coated caramels. Let caramels stand until set. Makes 48 pieces.
4. To Store: Layer caramels between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
5. *If desired, substitute milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and/or white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter for candy coating.

Double-Dipped Dominoes

Makes: 24

Prep: 20 min.
Chill: 10 min.
Stand: 30 min.

 

Ingredients

• 6  ounces semisweet chocolate squares or pieces
• 2  tablespoons shortening
• 12  graham cracker squares, halved
• 6  ounces white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter or white baking pieces
•   Small white candies
•   Miniature semisweet chocolate pieces

Directions

1. In a microwave-safe 2-cup glass measure, place the 6 ounces semisweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon shortening. Microwave chocolate mixture on 100 percent power (high) for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
2. Dip half of each halved cracker in the melted chocolate; use a small spatula to smooth out chocolate, if necessary. Place cracker on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. If desired, while chocolate is still soft, lightly press small white candies into chocolate to resemble dots on dominoes. Chill crackers for 10 minutes or until set.
3. In another microwave-safe 2-cup glass measure, place the white chocolate and remaining 1 tablespoon shortening. Microwave chocolate mixture on 100 percent power (high) for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or just until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
4. Dip plain half of each cracker in melted white chocolate. Place on a cookie sheet with waxed paper. If desired, while chocolate is still soft, press miniature semisweet chocolate pieces into white chocolate to resemble dots on dominoes. Let crackers stand until set. Makes 24 cookies.
TO STORE: Layer crackers between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

Marshmallow Truffles

Makes: about 40 truffles

Prep: 1 hr.
Chill: 1 hr.
Freeze: 20 min.
Stand: 15 min.

Ingredients

• 1  7-ounce jar marshmallow creme
• 1/3  cup butter, softened
• 1/4  teaspoon almond extract or vanilla*
• 1/4  teaspoon salt
• 3  cups powdered sugar
•   Toasted whole almonds, toasted pecan halves, toasted macadamia nuts, toasted hazelnuts (filberts), quartered pitted dates, and/or dried cherries
•   Powdered sugar
• 8  ounces semisweet chocolate squares, chopped**
• 1  tablespoon shortening
•   Finely chopped toasted nuts, toasted coconut, or candy sprinkles
•   White baking chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper; butter the paper. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine marshmallow creme, butter, almond extract, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add the 3 cups powdered sugar, beating until well mixed. Cover and chill about 1 hour or until mixture is easy to handle.
2. Lightly dust your hands with additional powdered sugar; shape marshmallow mixture into 1-inch balls, forming the mixture around a whole almond, pecan half, macadamia nut, hazelnut (filbert), date piece, or dried cherry (you may need more marshmallow mixture to completely cover the pecan halves and almonds). Place balls on prepared baking sheet. Cover lightly; freeze for 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine semisweet chocolate and shortening. Heat and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
4. Line another large baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside. Remove balls, a few at a time, from the freezer; dip balls in chocolate and use a fork to lift balls out of chocolate, drawing the fork across the rim of the saucepan to remove excess chocolate. Place balls on waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle tops with finely chopped nuts, toasted coconut, or candy sprinkles. Let stand at room temperature about 15 minutes or until completely set. If desired, drizzle truffles with melted white chocolate. Makes about 40 truffles.
*Test Kitchen Tip: If you prefer, omit the almond extract or vanilla and add 1 tablespoon desired flavored liqueur (such as raspberry or orange) to the marshmallow mixture; increase the 3 cups powdered sugar to 3-1/4 cups.
**Test Kitchen Tip: You may use 8 ounces vanilla-flavor candy coating instead of (or in addition to) the semisweet chocolate. If using both, in separate small saucepans, combine the candy coating or semisweet chocolate with the shortening; melt, dip, and decorate truffles as directed. (You will have leftover melted candy coating and chocolate, but use 8 ounces of each so you get enough depth to dip truffles.) If desired, drizzle white-coated truffles with melted semisweet chocolate.
TO STORE:Layer truffles between pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

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