Christmas Candy Recipes

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It is a tradition at our house to create Christmas candy recipes and make a beautiful platter to share at parties or as gifts. We make candy throughout the weeks of December or even a month ahead of Christmas.

I cut fudge into individual squares and freeze it. Then take some out as I need it and make a platter of different varieties. Here are some of our favorite homemade candy recipes that you can make with your kids this Holiday season. Just remember to save some for your own family too!!

If you'd like to make homemade fudge check out our easy fudge recipes.

Homemade Christmas Candy Recipes

Homemade Peanut Butter Candy Cups
Filling:
1 Cup peanut butter
½ Cup powdered sugar
Have the kids prepare this part while the adult is heating the chocolate. In small bowl, mix peanut butter and powdered sugar until combined.
Chocolate cups:
milk chocolate chips
shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
In small saucepan, melt 1 pkg. milk chocolate chips, vanilla and 2 Tablespoons shortening over low heat. Stir frequently. Using mini muffin cups spread chocolate with back of spoon along bottom and along sides of muffin cups. Cool in freezer or refrigerator. When firm, drop peanut butter mixture over chocolate cups. Melt more milk chocolate if necessary. Spread chocolate with spoon over peanut butter mixture and along tops of muffin cups to seal.
Tip: milk chocolate chips gives the best flavor semi-sweet chips will not have as good a taste.
* For this recipe, using mini muffin cups, 1 bag of chocolate chips will yield 45-50 mini cups and another ½-3/4 bag to cover the tops. Muffin cup pans are not necessary you can arrange paper muffin cups inside cake pan or cookie sheet.

Check out our Homemade Suckers page

Chocolate Peanut Balls
1 Cup peanut butter
1 7 oz. Jar marshmallow crème
1 ½ Cups crisp rice cereal
1 ½ Cups semisweet chocolate chips
4 teaspoons shortening
Stir together peanut butter and marshmallow creme in bowl until well blended. Add cereal and stir until coated. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in microwave until melted. Stir until smooth. Roll cereal mixture into balls and dip in chocolate. Place on waxed paper and chill until set.

Christmas Candy Recipes for Chocolate Clusters
½ Cup semisweet chocolate chips
½ Cup raisins
½ Cup dry roasted peanuts
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt chocolate as directed on bag. Stir in raisins and nuts. Drop by Tablespoons on waxed paper and chill. You can also substitute raisins and peanuts for coconut.

Pecan Turtles rolo pretzel candy picture

Miniature pretzel twists
1 package (13 oz.) Rolo chocolate candies
Pecan halves
Place pretzels onto foil lined cookie sheet. Place a Rolo candy on top of each pretzel. Bake at 250 degrees for 4 minutes or until candies are softened (candies will retain their shape). Immediately place a pecan half on each candy and press down so candy fills pretzel. Cool slightly and refrigerate until set.

Microwave Caramels Recipe
1/2 Cup butter
1/2 Cup white corn syrup
1/2 Cup white sugar
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup sweetened condensed milk
In saucepan, melt butter. Stir in corn syrup, white sugar, brown sugar and condensed milk. Cook on medium-low stirring constantly. Using a candy thermometer continue cooking until soft ball stage about 238 degrees. You may need an adult's help with this step. Pour into greased 8 inch pan. Let candy set for 20-30 minutes and then cut into bite size pieces.

Learn How to Make Homemade Chocolates

Peanut Brittle
2 Cups sugar
1 Cup water
1 Cup corn syrup
½ teaspoon salt
2 Cups peanuts
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon baking soda
Have younger kids help pour the ingredients together and the adult cook on the stove. In saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup. Cook mixture over low heat, stirring constantly or keep lid on until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring syrup to boil. Cook until temperature reads 260 degrees on candy thermometer. Add peanuts and salt, cook to 300 degrees or hard crack stage. Remove from heat; add butter, vanilla and soda. Pour brittle onto buttered pan. Allow to cool. Kids can help break brittle into pieces.

Homemade Peanut Brittle

Divinity
2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*1 to 2 drops red food coloring
In a saucepan add sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook on medium and stir until sugar is dissolved. Turn to low and continue cooking without stirring until a candy thermometer reads 260 degrees. (you may need an adult's help with this step) Meanwhile in a mixing bowl add 2 egg whites. Beat on high until stiff peaks form. Once candy thermometer reads 260 degrees add the hot mixture to the egg whites while mixing. Add vanilla and red food coloring. Continue to mix until thickens. Lay out a sheet of waxed paper and drop candy by spoonfuls making mounds. Let cool.

*You can make green divinity just by adding green food coloring instead of red. Or leave food coloring out for pure white divinity.

Find more candy and sweet recipes on our Valentine's Recipe Page.

Christmas Candy Recipes: Decorating Fun

Candy Cane Centerpiece
28 ounce empty and clean tin can
Thick red ribbon or Christmas ribbon
27 peppermint sticks or candy canes
If using different size can than a 28 ounce, adjust sticks accordingly. Place a rubber band around the tin can and place candy canes or sticks under the rubber band. When your tin can is filled up all the way around, tie a Christmas ribbon around the can to cover up the rubber band. Add red and white flowers in your can and you have a lovely red and white centerpiece for your holidays.

Candy Filled Wreath
Small candies that are in a wrapper
Wire hanger
Christmas ribbon
Bend the wire wrapper to form a circle. This will be the wreath. Tie a candy by the wrapper with ribbon onto the wire wreath. Continue to tie candies on until completely filled. Hang up and tie a small pair of scissors for when someone wants to sample. This also makes a great Holiday present for a neighbor or friend.

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