Favorite Christmas Candy

Here are a few of my favorite 

Christmas Recipes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients needed:
2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups graham crackers (We use whole graham crackers and crush them up)
1 box powdered sugar (4 cups)
1/2 peanut butter (Jiff, creamy or crunch depending which you prefer)
1/2 cup nuts (optional, my girls don't like nuts)
1 tsp. vanilla

Chocolate for Dipping: We use Wilton's Chocolate Discs or just any chocolate you prefer in a double boiler. Which in my case is just a large pot filled with water with another pot that will fit down into the bottom pot without touching the water. I really plan to buy a DOUBLE BOILER this year!! 

The butter should be soft, if not soft enough microwave for only a FEW SECONDS, DO NOT MELT! The mixture will be too runny.
 Crush your graham crackers in a plastic baggie, we sometimes use recycled bread bags!
Mix your crushed graham crackers, powdered sugar, soft butter, and peanut butter. Add vanilla. MIX WELL!
Pinch off and roll into balls. Place the balls on a cookie sheet until they are all rolled out.
Place in the refrigerator to cool, they will be much easier to dip when cold.

DIPPING

I've learned that there are a few tricks when dipping my candy.

First, set a piece of wax paper or foil on the counter to place your candy after it's been

dipped.

Next, only take out a plate full at a time from the refrigerator, they become 

soft after setting out. Much easier to dip if they are cold.

Place the water in the bottom pot, add chocolate to the top pot and bring water to a boil.

When it begins to boil stir until melted, then remove from heat! 

Begin dipping the chocolate with a SPOON to cover the balls, pretzels, pecans, or whatever you

are dipping, then take a FORK and gently tap on the side of the pot to remove any

access chocolate, this way you aren't wasting any of that yummy 

chocolate.  

 Here are the peanut butter balls

before the dipping

 

The actual dipping process in action!!

 They look a little messy here but when 
the chocolate dries they are beautiful
inside a cute little Christmas container.

Tea Cakes

These are SUPER EASY and great
for Christmas gifts!

Turn oven to 400 degrees. 
Cream together 1 cup SOFT butter or margarine
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla


Mix 2 1/4 cups flour and 1/4 tsp. salt 
Add this to the cream mixture.
Add in 3/4 cups finely chopped pecans or walnuts.
Mix well and roll into a ball. Cover with wax paper and chill 
for at least 1 hour.
Remove from refrigerator and pinch and roll 
into 1 inch balls.
Bake 10 - 12 minutes and roll into powdered sugar.
Roll again when cool!! 
Voila, You're done!
How easy is that!!