Recipe Roundup - cookies, bars, candies

I have yet to begin my holiday baking (yes, I'm running a tad bit behind this year), but once I get going, there's no stopping me. This year, I am making some of my husband's favorites - peanut patties and orange cream candy (things his mama has made all of his life) for our Christmas Eve celebration at his mama's house. Plus, I'm making some of my own favorites - peanut brittle, haystacks, and graham cracker cookies. If you have not ever tried graham cracker cookies...oh my stars...you HAVE to try this recipe! Mouth watering, flavorful, delicious...and easy!

Here are a few of our family's favorites, try 'em!

Orange Cream Candy
2 c cugar
1/2 c coffee creamer
1/2 c Karo
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 c chopped nuts
1 lg orange rind, grated

Cook sugar, creamer, Karo and orange rind until it form soft ball stage. Add vanilla and beat until thick, add nuts and beat until creamy. Pur into buttered pan and cut when completely cooled.

Microwave Peanut Patties
1-1/2 c sugar 2 cups raw peanuts
1/2 c water 2 T butter
dash salt 1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c Karo syrup 4-6 drops red (or green) food coloring

Combine sugar, water, salt and Karo in a 2 quart glass microwavable dish. Cook on high in microwave for 3 minutes. Stir in peanuts and cook on high for 9 minutes. Add last 3 ingredients (butter, vanilla and food coloring) and stir until mixture is creamy. Pour onto buttered foil and break apart when cooled.

Microwave Peanut Brittle
1 c peanuts 1 tsp butter
1 c sugar 1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c Karo syrup 1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt

Combine peanuts, sugar, Karo and salt in 2 quart glass microwavable dish. Cook 4 minutes on high. Stir, and then cook for another 4 minutes. Add butter and vanilla -- cook 2 minutes more on high. Add baking soda and stir until foamy. Spread on buttered foil and break apart when cooled.

Butterscotch Haystacks
1 can Chun King noodles (chinese crispy noodles)
1 pkg Nestle's butterscotch morsels
1 cup peanuts

Melt butterscotch morsels in a double broiler (do not overcook, as the mixture will become crumbly). Mix in noodles and nuts and spoon out little "stacks" onto foil.

Graham Cracker Squares
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
12 oz semi-sweet choc chips
1 c chopped walnuts
1 pkg graham crackers (one sleeve, not the whole box)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Break graham crackers into fourths and lay on cookie sheet. In heavy saucepan, melt butter and sugar together and cook until carmelized, stirring continuously. Pour mixture over graham crackers. Sprinkle nuts over top and place in oven until the carmel mixture is bubbly and frothy (about 3-5 minutes). Take pan out and sprinkle 12 oz of choc chips over top of cookies and let cool. Break apart before completely cooled and remove from pan. Enjoy!

So there you have it. A sampling of our favorite Christmas candies...and I'm telling you right now, if you don't try the graham cracker bars, well...you just don't know what you're missing out on! They are slap yerself silly good. Truly. They are.

Head on over to Rebecca Writes for more delicious Holiday cookie, bar and candy recipes, or to add your own!




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