Peppermint Bark!

This "Peppermint Bark" is one of my son's favorites during the holidays and I really like it also!!!  This is probably one of the easiest homemade candies you can make!!!  It's a great for gift giving!!!  Here is all you need:

1 lb. white candy coating, chopped

1 Tbs. butter

1 Tbs. vegetable or canola oil

1/2  tsp. peppermint oil
1 cup crushed hard peppermint candy ( you can use candy canes or hard candies)

Melt the bark in the microwave using 1 minute intervals and stirring after each minute.  When it's melted stir in the butter, oil and peppermint oil.   Add the crushed candy.

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil and pour the mixture over it evenly.  Refrigerate until firm, about two or three hours, then break into pieces.   Store in a airtight container.

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies!

When my son was little, we always made sugar cookies for the holidays!!!  We had so much fun with it!!!  I have tried many different recipes and this one is one of the best tasting ones I have tried.   The dough is really tender and delicate which makes a delicious cookie. 

There is a key to working with this dough, it needs to chill overnight or all day long at least to get very cold.   Then you only need to roll half at a time and refrigerate the other half until you are ready.  As long as the dough is very cold it's easy to deal with.  

 Here is what you will need:

1 1/4 cups white sugar

1 cup butter, softened to room temperature

4 oz. cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla flavoring

1 egg yolk

2   1/4 cups all purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar, butter, and cream cheese until it's well blended.  Add the salt, vanilla flavoring, egg yolk and flour and mix until a soft dough forms.   Pull the dough off the sides and form a ball.  Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for 8 hours.

When you are ready to bake, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Roll half the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness.   Refrigerate the rest of the dough until ready to use.  Cut into shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters.  Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  I like to use parchment paper or nonstick foil on my cookie sheets.   You can sprinkle with colored sugar or leave plain to decorate after baking with icing.   Bake  on center rack for 8 to 10 minutes or just until slightly brown.    Cool completely before frosting.

Easy Peasy Butter Toffee!!!

I love butter toffee candy and if you do also, you won't believe how easy it is to make!  It's just a few simple ingredients and very little time!!!  This would be great for gift giving!!!  The trickiest part of this is not burning the toffee mixture!!! 

 Here is what you will need:

2 cups butter (do not use margarine)

2 cups sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla flavoring

1  1/2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts

2 cups milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate  chips

Cover a large sheet pan with nonstick foil or parchment paper.  Sprinkle evenly with the chopped nuts.

In a heavy, large sauce pan melt the butter, sugar and salt together over medium heat.  Bring to a boil stirring constantly.  After it comes to a boil turn the heat down just a little so it doesn't burn and cook, stirring constantly until it turns the color of peanut butter.  If you are using a candy thermometer it should reach 285 degrees.  Once it thickens and turns the color of peanut butter, remove from heat and add the vanilla flavoring.   This will burn quickly at this stage so be sure to get it off the heat now.   Pour mixture over the chopped nuts and spread it out evenly.  It might seem thin, but that is ok.

Let it sit for a minute or two and then sprinkle the chocolate chips even over the top.

 Let the chips set for about 5 minutes to get soft.  

When they are melted, spread the chips like icing with knife.   Then place in the refrigerator and chill for about an hour or two.  Then peel it off the paper and break into pieces.  Store in an airtight container!

It doesn't get much easier or more delicious than this!!!