Christmas Candy Recipes

When you think of the word “Holidays”, so many memories, smells, sights and thoughts come to mind. One of the most common, aside from Turkey, Ham and cranberry sauce, is probably Christmas candy. Everyone loves the delicious taste of a sweet dessert after a large, salty meal. Christmas candies are the lasted to be enjoyed during the dinner, and the first of the left-overs to be finished. Here are some easy Christmas candy recipes for you to enjoy this year:

Probably one of the most popular Christmas candies is Fudge. There are so many ways to make it, both easy and difficult. You can add just about anything to it, from caramel to nuts or Rice Krispies. A wonderful combination of sugar butter and milk, this is a holiday favorite for every get-together. Here is a no-fail, easy Christmas candy fudge recipe for you to enjoy with your friends and family during the holidays.

Perfect Fudge

You will need:

9×9 or 13×9 baking pan

Aluminum foil

Large sauce pan

Wooden or strong stirring spoon

Tooth pick

Large knife

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Margarine or butter

2/3 cup Evaporated milk

1 Jar (7 oz.) marshmallow cream

2 c Semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup Chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Yields: 3 pounds, about 38-46 squares.

1. Line a 9 inch square pan or 13×9 inch square pan with aluminum foil. The foil should extend over the sides of the pan.

2. Butter the foil so the fudge doesn’t stick. You can use Baker’s Joy or Pam cooking sprays as well.

3. In the large saucepan, combine sugar, margarine (OR butter) and evaporated milk.

4. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.

5. Boil for 5 minutes, continuing to stir constantly.

6. Remove from heat. IMMEDIATELY add marshmallow cream and chocolate chips.

7. Blend until smooth, stirring in the vanilla.

* If you wish, now is the time to add walnuts and other additives such as a crushed candy bar. You can be creative and add almost anything – edible – you can think of.

8. Pour into the buttered, foiled pan. Cool to room temperature.

9. Cut fudge into 36-48 squares, using the tooth pick. Refrigerate until firm.

10. Remove the fudge by the overlapping foil in the pan.

11. Using the large knife, cut all the way through lines made by the tooth picks.

12. Store in refrigerator.

                Another holiday favorite, Christmas Rock Candy, is a dish at almost every holiday feast. The great thing about Christmas rock candy is that it can be broken into as many pieces as you want, so there’s no need to worry about having enough.

Christmas Rock Candy

You will need:

4-5 Cookie Sheets

Large sauce pan

Large spoon

Extra-large mixing bowl

Candy Thermometer

Glass jar

*If making as a gift, choose the gift packing and decorations, as well.

Ingredients:

4 cups Granulated Sugar

1 cup White Corn Syrup

1 cup Water

Food Coloring

2 or more Candy Flavorings

Confectioner’s (powdered) Sugar

 ** Be aware of allergies your family members may have to certain ingredients and flavorings in Christmas Rock Candy. If you have relatives allergic to nuts or certain dyes, make note and seperate that candy batch from others than contain the allergen.

1. Lay the cookie sheets side by side. Spread the confectioner’s sugar along the bottom of each sheet, about ¼” deep.

2. Mix sugar, syrup, and water in large pan and boil to 300°F, stirring frequently. Take off burner, stir in several drops of food coloring and flavoring.

3. Pour boiling mixture onto cookie sheets. Use large spoon to scrape rest of mixture out of pan. Let sit until candy hardens.

4. Once hardened, crack into bite-sized pieces.

5. Place pieces in the extra large mixing bowl.

6. Repeat Steps 2-5 to make each new batch with a different color and flavor. Once all desired batches are in the bowl, stir together to create a pleasing array of colors.

7. If you are gift packing, place the pieces in the glass or other clear jar, add ribbons and bows to make a sweet, homemade Christmas gift to share and enjoy.

Christmas rock candy is perfect for gifts, because not only can you make so much, it’s cheap and the receiver can really feel special when they know how much time you put into it. It’s a real gift from the heart anyone can enjoy.  

Now, let’s not forget about christmas cookies. Christmas is the most exciting time to create Santa and reindeer shaped sugar cookies. Baking and decorating christmas cookies is something that everyone of all ages can help with in the kitchen, and is a wonderful opportunity to spend time together. Sugar cookies are amongst the most popular christmas cookies because of the younger children’s ability to help decorate.

Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

You will need:

2 cookie sheets

2 Mixing bowls

Whisk or electric mixer

Rolling pin

Christmas cookie cutters

Pam or Baker’s joy cooking spray, if not using butter

 

Ingredients

4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

White Icing

Food Coloring

Candy Sprinkles, optional

Yields: 24 cookies

1. In a bowl, stir together flour and baking powder.

2. In another bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

3. Stir in flour mixture, a third at a time to make stiff dough.

4. Divide dough into 4 pieces.

5. Roll out a portion of cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.

6. When you run out of space of any more cookies cutters, roll the dough into a ball and roll it out again. Continue this until you have none or very little left, and add the rest to the next portion of cookie dough.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all dough has been made into a Christmas shapes.

8. Place on lightly greased or nonstick cookie sheets and bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Rotate baking sheet halfway through cooking time.

9. Cool completely on pans about 5 minutes, transfer to cooling racks and cool completely before decorating.

If you’re having a hard time with the dough, you can buy your own sugar cookie mix and follow the instructions on the bag or box on how to make it. Cut them into the Christmas shapes, bake for the time listed on your mix box, let cool and decorate. No one will know the difference except you!

 

Remember, not all Christmas candy recipes are as easy. A lot of hard work is put into the making of delicious Christmas candies and cookies. Christmas candy recipes come in all sizes. If your family has a traditional christmas rock candy or cookie recipe, make a copy to keep the tradition going past your generation.