Description
A joyful collection of simple and comforting candy recipes perfect for the holiday season.
Ingredients
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Bittersweet chocolate
- White chocolate or candy melts
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Heavy cream
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Light corn syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Sea salt
- Peppermint extract
- Cocoa powder
- Nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Dried fruit like cherries or cranberries
- Graham crackers or shortbread crumbs
- Powdered sugar
- Caramel candies or homemade caramel base
- Marshmallows
- Cream cheese
- Gold or colored sprinkles
- Prepared toffee bits
- Edible glitter or sanding sugar
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients and tools. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats and chill any bowls for truffle rolling.
- Make a simple chocolate bark. Melt semi-sweet chocolate in a double boiler until smooth. Spread on a lined baking sheet, sprinkle with chopped nuts, dried fruit, and sea salt. Chill until firm and break into pieces.
- Prepare classic fudge. Combine sweetened condensed milk and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth, add vanilla, then pour into a lined pan. Cool until set, then cut into squares.
- Cook a batch of toffee. Melt butter and sugar in a heavy pan, stirring until it turns deep amber. Pour onto a prepared tray, sprinkle with chocolate chips, spread when melted, and add toasted nuts. Chill and break into shards.
- Make caramels. Combine cream, butter, and sugar, cook to the firm ball stage, pour into a buttered pan, let cool, and cut into pieces.
- Assemble peppermint bark. Melt white chocolate and spread on a sheet. Top with cooled dark chocolate, then press crushed peppermint candies into the top while warm. Chill and break into pieces.
- Roll truffles. Heat cream and pour over chopped chocolate to make ganache. Chill until firm, then scoop and roll into balls, coating in cocoa, chopped nuts, or melted chocolate.
- No-bake clusters. Melt chocolate, stir in cereal or nuts, drop onto parchment, and chill until set.
- Finish with garnishes like sea salt or edible glitter just before candies fully set.
- Package and label in small boxes or clear bags for gifting.
Notes
Use good quality chocolate for the best flavor. Feel free to customize ingredients based on preference or availability.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking, No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg