Pecan Pie Candy

These were a fun addition this year to my cookie trays. Just like pecan pie but with chocolate around it! You can't beat that combo. (I do have an awesome recipe for pecan pie with chocolate chips that can be found here.) Anyway....I saw this recipe in a cooking group I belong too and had to give it a try!

We love pecans. I buy them in the huge bags from Costco and keep them in the freezer. I always have them on hand.

Actually I have all the ingredients for these on hand most of the time...uto that could be dangerous..lol!

They were super EZ to make...and eat...lol!

Pecan Pie Candy

1/2 c. graham crackers, crushed fine

1 1/3 c. pecans, toasted and chopped fine

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. plus 1/8 cup maple syrup

1/4 c. plus 1/8 c. butter, melted and cooled slightly

12 oz. chocolate almond bark

Combine and chill for 30 minutes. Roll into 1' balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Chill an hour and dip into melted chocolate. Let sit until set. ( made about 2 dozen)

Chocolate Covered Cherries

One of my friends used to make chocolate covered cherries and bring them to work at the library every Christmas. I could hardly wait! Every year I would get a couple... tucked safely inside a baggie. Each bite...so delicious!

It's been so long since those days, and my friend is now gone. I was thinking about her the other day, and remembering her kindness, and how fun she was. She was always slipping a chocolate inside one of my pockets...lol...always made my day.  I have a couple of her recipes...her toffee is killer! I'll have to dig that out and give it a try too.

 

Chocolate Covered Cherries

 

55 Maraschino Cherries

3 Tbsp. butter, softened

3 Tbsp. light corn syrup

2 cups powdered sugar

1 lb. melting chocolate

Drain the cherries, and dry on paper towels. Mix the butter and corn syrup, add the powdered sugar and mix well. Take by teaspoon and roll around the cherry. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Continue with the rest. Chill until firm and dip in chocolate. Store in air tight container in a cool place. These take about a week or two for the filling inside to liquify. 

English Toffee

English Toffee is delicious, but oh so hard to make. I think anyway!!

There are several things one needs...like a good heavy sauce pan. And a reliable candy thermometer.

And one can't forget patience!! It's a lot of stirring and waiting.

BUT when it all comes together...wow...what a delicious candy!

English Toffee 

 4 sticks of butter (1 lb.) room temp

1 c. sugar

1 c. crushed almonds

1 bag milk chocolate chips (2 cups)

Butter a jelly roll pan well and set aside.  In a large cast iron skillet, melt the butter and sugar. Stir until hard crack stage 300 (peanut butter brown color) watch and stir so it doesn't scorch. Stir in 2/3 c. almonds and pull off heat. Pour into buttered pan. Let sit 5 minutes and sprinkle on a bag of milk chocolate chips. (2 cups) spread with knife and sprinkle with 1/3 c. crushed almonds. Cool. Break into pieces. I store in the frig.

Nanaimo bars

The other day my hubby handed me a recipe from a newspaper that had shared some Christmas goodies. He asked, "Can you make me these...please?"

Well how could I refuse!

I read the recipe...Nanaimo bars...hmmm.

After reading the ingredients I realized I have had them

 many times before..... but have to confess I have never made them myself. They are so delicious I'm not sure why I haven't!

So I got to work and made the 3 layers of yumminess! They turned out great and hubby was happy. I'll have to make them more often.

As we were enjoying one, he asked where the name came from..... so I looked it up on google:

The Nanaimo bar is a dessert item of Canadian origin. It is a bar dessert which requires no baking and is named after the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. It consists of three layers: a wafer, nut, and coconut crumb base; custard icing in the middle; and a layer of chocolate ganache on top.

They sure new what they were doing coming up with this!

Nanaimo Bars

(Treasured Sweets)

Bottom Layer: 

1 stick of butter

1/4 c. sugar

5 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 c. shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped almonds

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in sugar and cocoa powder. Add egg and cook until it starts to thicken. Remove and stir in the vanilla, graham cracker crumbs, coconut and almonds. Press into a 9" ungreased pan.

Middle Layer:

1/4 cup butter

2 Tbsp. instant vanilla pudding mix

2 Tbsp. milk

2 cups powdered sugar

Mix the pudding and butter well, add the milk and powdered sugar. Spread onto the bottom layer and put in frig for 20 minutes.

Top layer:

2/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

2 Tbsp. butter

Melt the chocolate chips, stir in butter until combined and spread on top. Refrigerate until set. (Cut into small squares as they are very rich! I got 36.)

Christmas Avalanche Candy

These are amazing! I first tasted them at a Christmas party a few years ago. I asked for the recipe and have been making them ever since. I usually prefer CHOCOLATE candy of course, but wow these are yummo! And believe it or not, there are some people who don't care for chocolate...lol....I don't understand that, but I'm ok with it, and I'm happy to add these to my Christmas goodies tray.

Now people ask me for the recipe all the time, so I thought I'd share it today. You can find many variations of this, but I prefer how my friend has made them, chock full of nuts and marshmallows. That sweet and salty combo gets me every time!

I know...... at first 2 1/4 lb. of white melting chocolate seems like alot, but it is correct. I didn't have the extra 1/4 this year, and they turned out fine though. I actually added extra nuts too. I think this is one of those recipes that you can monkey around with to your liking.

The bonus is that this makes a TON. I like to make them a cookie size, but sometimes I drop them into candy liner cups so they look FANCY...lol!

Christmas Candy (AKA Avalanche)

2 1/4 lb. white melting chocolate

2 1/2 cups salted peanuts

3 cups rice krispies

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 cups mini marshmallows

Melt the white chocolate and peanut butter. Stir well and fold in the rest of the ingredients. Drop onto wax paper until set and store in air tight containers. These freeze well.

Chocolate covered cinnamon bears

Time to get going on some Christmas treats!

First up are some cinnamon bears....we buy them in bulk as they are Brent's favorite.....then I just melt some chocolate wafers and dip away!

Festive and fun!

Halloween Toffee with Graham Crackers

I haven't made these delicious treats in quite awhile, and there is a good reason for that. I eat the entire batch. Just ask Brent....he has to be quick to get any of these...lol!

I made them all the time when the kids were home. First...we all loved them...second I always had the ingredients on hand, and third...they are just SO quick and easy. I made them with soda crackers, and while I had tried them made with grahams (yum) I never made them that way myself. It was always soda crackers...I like the sweet and salty combo.

But I accidentally bought 2 boxes of grahams and needed to use some up. This recipe came to mind, and I talked myself into making a batch! (that didn't take long..lol)

I lined a cookie sheet with some parchment paper, and then added a layer of grahams. In a sauce pan I added a cup of brown sugar and a cup of butter, brought it to a boil and then simmered it for about 4 minutes. Then I poured it onto the grahams and baked them at 350 for 8 minutes. (The crackers move and bubble up, but don't worry) I took them out of the oven and dumped on about a cup and a half of chocolate chips. It takes a minute or two for them to melt. You can either kind of swirl them with a knife, of you can spread them out smooth. 

I always put them in the frig and let them set, them brake them apart into chunks. I also store them in the frig in a Ziploc bag.

Since I was serving them for a party, I added some Halloween candy google eyes and M & M's. 

Spooky!

AND SO TASTY!!!!

Whichever cracker you use, you will love them!

EZ Toffee with Graham Crackers

15 to 16 full size graham crackers

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 -2 cups of chocolate chips

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Layer with graham crackers. In a saucepan, bring the butter and sugar to a boil and simmer for 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour onto grahams and bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let sit a minute until melted and then spread. Let set and break into pieces. Store in frig.

Halloween Smore Munch

My daughter has been talking about the new white chocolate M & M's and how hard they are to find. Her hubby loves white chocolate, so he was pretty excited when he found a package at a gas station on his way to work one day. Well of course I had to try to find some too!

I looked everywhere.

 Finally while Brent and I were out for breakfast the other day...there they were...right on the counter of a tiny restaurant in a tiny town.  It was the last place I'd think to look for them...lol!

I grabbed a pack and took them home thinking I would chop them up to add to my Halloween Munch.

Halloween Munch is for SERIOUS candy snackers. It's loaded with all sorts of fun things.

First, you layer a pan with parchment paper, then dump on a layer of Golden Grahams, mini marshmallows,candy corn,chocolate chips, and the new white chocolate M &M's. Then you melt some white chocolate and drizzle it all over.

 Nope...it's not done yet...then you melt some milk chocolate and drizzle that all over the top too.

Put it in the frig for awhile until it sets, and then break it into chunks. I like to store it in a ziploc bag.

You can pretty much add or delete anything you want, and make as much or as little as you want too!

It's addicting!

Peanut Clusters

Leftover peanuts?

Make a small batch of these!

Nothing is better than chocolate and peanut butter!

Peanut Clusters

5 oz. chocolate chips

1 c. dry roasted peanuts

1/3 c. peanut butter

Melt chocolate and stir in peanut butter until melted. Add peanuts and drop onto parchment paper until set.

Patriotic Cinnamon Bears

These are SO addictive!

So cute!

You can't eat just one, not even just two..so make plenty for the holiday!

Patriotic Cinnamon Bears

cinnamon bears

white chocolate

sprinkles

Melt chocolate, dip bears and set on parchment paper. Sprinkle and let set.

4th of July 'Smore Party

Another fun idea from Pinterest!

This is a great way to serve up 'smores for the 4th. Everything is in a cup just ready to grab and head to the fire. Looks so festive too!

4th of July 'Smore Party

Ice cream parfait glasses, or any cone shaped container

red white and blue napkins

graham crackers, cut in half

Hershey bars, cut in half

large marshmallows, 2 per container

Fireworks Oreo Bark

Pinned it and tried it!

First of all let me say the new Fireworks Oreos are awesome! It reminds me of when I was a kid and loved to eat Pop Rocks. They are SO fun inside of an Oreo. Who comes up with this stuff? Great idea!

This bark is fun to eat too, and to make.  Lots of interesting tastes and textures.

Perfect for celebrating the 4th!

Patriotic Oreo Bark

1 package Vanilla almond bark ( I use Ghirardelli white melting wafers)

3/4 c. Patriotic M & M's 

8 patriotic Oreos, broken in pieces

red, white and blue candy sprinkles

Melt the wafers and pour onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Spread to desired layer of thickness. Add the rest of the ingredients, pushing gently into the bark. Let set and break into pieces.

Heath Peanut Clusters

I've been busy cleaning my pantry and trying to use up bits and pieces of things. I keep everything, even a few tablespoons of rice in a bag! It got to a point I couldn't see what I had.

 I also buy new and forget about what's in the back. So I cleaned and sorted and checked dates. I need to make sure I rotate better and not be in such a hurry. What a mess!

It's been fun though, coming up with recipes to use up things before expiration dates. I think it is anyway..not so sure about Brent. But he usually eats whatever I make!  I had half a jar of dry roasted peanuts and half a bag of Heath bits, so I made half a batch of Heath Peanut Clusters. I KNEW he would like these!

I melted some chocolate and just dumped the nuts and bits in. Then I dropped spoonfuls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet until they were set.

He loved them, but said next time.... add even more Heath bits!

Heath Peanut Clusters

1 1/2 lb. Chocolate candy coating ( I use Ghirardelli melts)

16 oz. jar dry roasted peanuts

8 oz. package of Heath Toffee Bits

Melt chocolate in microwave and stir in peanuts and toffee bits. Drop onto parchment paper until set. 

Fannie Farmer Fudge....Monday's with Mom

I was NOT going to make fudge this year.

 It's not a safe thing to do....I'll eat the whole pan myself!

But....what if I just made a quick recipe, in a smaller pan, and I shared most of it with my friends?

It didn't take long to talk myself into it, as you can see!

I usually make a 9 x 13 pan of Fantasy Fudge, it's the the one my mom and I always made when I was growing up. She would store it in the back porch along with several other Christmas goodies. I would grab a knife on my way out the back door and cut a hunk every once in awhile. It was freezing out there, and I never stopped to put boots or a coat on! But the fudge was worth it. You know, she never said a thing when over half the pan was gone by Christmas Eve! LOL!

Sometimes on rare occasions during the rest of the year, though, she would let me make a small pan of fudge with ingredients we always had on hand. She would find this recipe in her book and dig out the ingredients, and before we knew it we had a 8" pan of chocolaty fudge! It was called, "Fannie Farmer Fudge."

I have never had the real Fannie Farmer fudge, so I have no idea if it's the same or not! But I have had plenty of Fannie Farmer boxed candies, and they are delish! I think this fudge is too.

So I dug out all the ingredients and made a pan. I thought about mom, and all the wonderful Christmases we had together making fudge. It was a great day!

Then the next day, I boxed it up and brought it over to my friends!

Fannie Farmer Fudge

2 c. sugar

2 Tbsp.butter

2/3 cup carnation milk

10 large marshmallows

6 oz. chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. chopped nuts, optional

Boil the sugar, butter, milk, and marshmallows for 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Take off the burner and add the chocolate chips,nuts, and vanilla. Stir until the chips are melted and pour into a buttered 8" square pan.

Patriotic M & M flag treats

I made some of these with the pastel M and M's for Easter,and everyone loved them.

So I decided to make some for Memorial Day with the patriotic M and M's.

I made some into flowers, 

and some into flags. They are fun to make AND eat, and look so festive on a tray!

Patriotic M & M Flags and Flowers

square pretzels ( I use Snyder)

white candy melts ( I use Ghirardelli)

red and blue M & M's

Place pretzels on a microwave safe plate. Top with white candy melts. Microwave 45 seconds to 1 minute, until slightly melted. Arrange M & M's on top.

Tumbleweeds

My mom used to buy potato sticks in a can every once in awhile to make a tuna salad dish...which I loved. Sounds strange I know...but it was really good!  I remember sneaking the potato sticks out of the can to snack on before she made the salad:)

Today though, I'm sharing a simple candy recipe that I like to make with them.( If I don't eat them all first!)

 Sometimes I make them with chocolate chips instead of the butterscotch. Both are delicious, but I do prefer the butterscotch. 

It's hard to resist this sweet and salty treat!

 Tumbleweeds

(T of H)

1 c. butterscotch chips

1 c. creamy peanut butter

1 (9 oz). can potato sticks (6 cups)

Melt the butterscotch chips and peanut butter, stir in the potato sticks and drop by tablespoons onto waxed paper until set.

Cinnamon Thins

Here's a fun treat to add to holiday cookie trays this year!

If you like cinnamon, you will love these. 

I really liked the sweet and salty combo, and the cinnamon really added a fun and festive flavor!

Cinnamon Thins

(Taste of Home)

12 oz. white candy coating

1 tsp. cinnamon extract

30 Ritz crackers

hard cinnamon candies, crushed

(red colored sugar if desired)

Melt the white candy coating in the microwave until smooth. Stir in the extract and dip crackers. Place on wax paper and sprinkle with crushed cinnamon candy or red sugar. Let set and store in airtight container.

Pecan Coconut Clusters

This is a simple and fun candy to make. Only 4 ingredients and you can have a sweet treat in minutes!

I bought a huge bag of pecans to make pecan pies for the holidays, and still have quite a bit left over, so I thought I'd make a few of these. After I toasted the pecans, I let them cool a bit. It was SO hard to stop eating them to save for the candy...I love nuts when they are toasted, such great flavor! 

I spooned them into some mini muffin liners, and since it's February, I sprinkled a few hearts on top...so festive and fun! 

Pecan Coconut Clusters

1 c. chopped pecans, toasted

1 c. Rice Krispies

3/4 c. flaked coconut

1 package vanilla chips, melted ( I use less)

Mix all ingredients and drop by teaspoonful into candy liners. Let stand until set.

Rocky Road Candy

Did you ever make this recipe as a kid? I did many times! It's SO easy.... being no bake!

I was thinking about it the other day and decided to make some for Christmas, but I couldn't find my recipe. I googled it and came up with a ton, all with slightly different variations. Some had less nuts, some had less marshmallows, some had no butter....I decided to try this one.

While it was not the one I had made when I was young, it was very similar, and just as delicious! One can't go wrong with that combo. Every bite full of nuts and marshmallows.

I remember more fudge in the one I used to make, so next time I try it ....I will cut back to 2 cups of peanuts and maybe a half a bag of the mini marshmallows. That should be about perfect for the chocolate lover in me!


Rocky Road Candy

2 c. chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp. butter
3 c. dry roasted peanuts ( I'm going 2 c. next time)
1 bag of mini marshmallows ( I'm going with half a bag or so next time)

Stir the chocolate chips, butter and sweetened condensed milk on low heat until all melted together. Add the mini marshmallows and the peanuts. Spread in a slightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Refrigerate.

Bugle Bites...pinned it and tried it!

Oh, Pinterest, how did I ever live without you?

I find so many fun ideas that I just HAVE to make.....like these adorable Bugle Bites!

You just dip the end in melted white chocolate, press on one M&M, and set them on a wax paper lined cookie sheet to dry.

EZ and SO fun! And who doesn't like the crunchy sweet and salty combo? They looked cute in a bowl set out for Christmas. I grabbed one every time I walked by.

Which was often!!!

Hmmm...these would be fun with Valentine M&M's too....



Bugle Bites
( dandelions and lace)

Bugles
Christmas M&M's
white chocolate ( I like Ghirardelli's melting wafers)

Melt the wafers in the microwave, dip the bugle, and add an M&M. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheets to dry. Store in an air tight container.