Grandma’s Christmas Candy
1. Old-Fashioned Peanut Brittle
Ingredients:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups raw peanuts
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Grease a baking sheet with butter or line it with parchment paper.
- In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves.
- Stir in the peanuts and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 300°F (hard crack stage) on a candy thermometer.
- Remove from heat and quickly stir in butter, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. The mixture will foam slightly.
- Pour the hot mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread evenly.
- Allow it to cool completely before breaking it into pieces.
2. Grandma’s Fudge
Ingredients:
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup evaporated milk
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions:
- Line an 8x8-inch pan with foil and butter the foil.
- In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, butter, and evaporated milk. Bring to a rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Stir in chocolate chips, marshmallow creme, vanilla, and nuts (if using) until smooth.
- Pour into the prepared pan and let cool completely before cutting into squares.
3. Chocolate-Covered Cherries
Ingredients:
- 1 jar maraschino cherries with stems, drained
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 8 oz semisweet or dark chocolate, melted
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix butter, corn syrup, and powdered sugar to form a dough.
- Wrap a small piece of the dough around each cherry, covering completely.
- Dip each cherry into the melted chocolate and place on wax paper to set.
- Allow the candies to rest for 1-2 days for the flavors to meld.
4. Peppermint Bark