Sweet Holiday Treats
No visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. Sugar plums? Really? Nah, I much prefer chocolate. Want to know what holiday treat I’m most looking forward to this week? Take a gander to the right.
For those that have been following this blog for a while, you probably remember the wedding desserts I featured back in October. Well, the recipe for my mom’s chocolate peanut butter balls was included then, but I wanted to share again for fear that you might have overlooked. And that would be a shame. A crying shame I tell ya.
2 sticks butter
1 lb peanut butter
1 1/2 lbs powdered sugar
1 large bag chocolate chips
1 bar paraffin
Melt butter and add peanut butter and powdered sugar. Make into 1-inch balls. Melt 1 bar paraffin and 1 large bag chocolate chips over low heat, stirring to prevent sticking. With toothpicks in balls, dip into hot chocolate mixture. Place on waxed paper until chocolate hardens.
Another sweet treat that has become a holiday tradition in our family is this fudge. It’s so rich that I can’t eat much, but that’s probably a good thing, right???
1- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring
12 oz white chocolate chips or bark
3/4 cup chopped pecans
With an electric mixer in a tall mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, slowly adding in powdered sugar and vanilla. In a separate container, melt white chocolate in microwave. Stir in cream cheese mixture. Pour in pecans and stir. Pour mixture into greased 8×8 baking dish. Once cooled, cut into small squares.
And this year I’m introducing a new goodie into the mix. We’ll see how it’s received by the fam. I know I’ve enjoyed taste testing it, but as you might recall, I’m partial to a little sweet-n-heat….
1 lb semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped cashews, toasted
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 tsp cayenne pepper
In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips. Stir in the nuts and cayenne. Spread onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Break into small pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.
What’s your favorite holiday sweet? Do you make it, or does someone else?
My new favorite holiday treat is homemade marshmallows. I made them for the first time, never even had them before, just read a lot about how soft they are. And they are, different, better, and not hard to make.
Mmmm… That White Chocolate Fudge sounds good!
Yummy, I love chocolate, thanks for these great recipes, and you have a lovely blog.