Easy Christmas Treats

Christmas is a time of year when many people turn their thoughts to giving gifts and making treats for loved ones. Sometimes the two pursuits can be combined, for nearly everyone appreciates an edible surprise. What looks to be a complicated delight may indeed be quite simple to produce. Below are some tried and true recipes for easy Christmas candy that will enable even the novice cook to produce something of excellence.

There used to be a secret to making excellent fudge, but with today's equipment and ingredients nearly everyone can turn out perfect fudge, time after time. Flawless peanut butter fudge can be made with just four ingredients; sugar, milk, peanut butter, and vanilla. To make this treat, bring two cups of sugar dissolved into half a cup of milk to a slow boil for about three minutes. Keep stirring it to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning. Take the pan off the stove and add the vanilla and the peanut butter. Mix well, beating it with a wooden spoon until smooth. Pour into an eight inch square pan, and when it is completely cool, cut into one inch squares.

Marshmallow treats made with crisped rice have long been a favorite snack for kids of all ages. It is very easy to make individual treats that look elegant yet has a similar taste and texture to the cereal bars. Crush some crisped rice cereal into a shallow bowl. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, mix together a bag of caramels (14 ounces) with a cup of butter and a can (14 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk over a low heat. Stir constantly until the caramels are melted and everything is creamy and smooth, and then add half a teaspoon of vanilla. Place a toothpick into a marshmallow; dip it into the warm caramel mixture so that it is completely coated, then into the rice cereal, making sure the lower edges of the marshmallow are well covered. Stand the candies on a sheet of waxed paper and let them cool thoroughly.

Nut brittles are another holiday treat, and the microwave in the kitchen makes this easy and successful to make. Combine a cup of sugar with half a cup of corn syrup into a bowl that is both heat resistant and microwave safe, and cook on high power for five minutes. Add about 12 ounces of dry-roasted peanuts-only dry roasted peanuts will do for this recipe. Microwave again, for another three minutes, or until the mixture is just starting to turn golden brown. At this point is it is time to add a tablespoon of butter, two teaspoons of vanilla, and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Care needs to be taken when stirring as this will be quite foamy and it is very, very hot. The mixture then needs to be spread on a cookie sheet that has been lined with butter parchment paper, and left to cool. It will be ready to be broken into pieces when it is completely cold.

Chocolate turtles are long-standing favorites for holiday candies, and with just three ingredients, even children-with adult supervision-can make tasty treats for their friends. All that is necessary to make these is to place mini pretzels onto a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper, and place a chocolate covered caramel on top of each pretzel. Bake these in a moderate oven for about four minutes, just enough to soften the caramel. While the caramel is still soft, press a pecan half into it. Cool completely, and they are finished.

If adults were asked what they most remember about their childhood Christmases, many would say that it was the smell of home baking and candy-making that they recalled with the most favor. Taking the time to make these items in the home showed care and attention, and a time when families were together. Modern mass-produced items may be more convenient, but they simply don't seem to compete when it comes to making easy Christmas candy, and sweet homemade memories.