Christmas candy recipes

O. K., I thought there was a thread like this, but I couldn't find it, so here we go with a new one !
The hubby and I always do lots of candy at Christmas for family and friends, and I thought it would be nice to share some of the recipes with those of you who make candy too. I'll post the first, then lets see what you guys can come up with.
Homemade Orange Gumdrops
1 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
3/4 c. water
1 1 3/4 oz. pkg powdered fruit pectin (shur=gel
1/3 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. orange extract
1 tsp finely shredded orange peel
4 drops yellow food coloring
1 drop red food coloring
Sugar

1. Line a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan with foil,extending foil over the edges of the pan. Butter the foil, set pan aside.
2. Butter the sides of a heavy 1 1/2 quart saucepan. In the saucepan combine the 1 cup sugar and the corn syrup. Cook over medium-high heat to boiling, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar. This should take about 10 minutes. Avoid splashing mixture on sides of pan. Carefully clip candy thermometer to side of pan.
3. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, till the thermometer regisers 280, soft-crack stage. Mixture should boil at a moderate, steady rate over the entire surface. Reaching soft-crack stage should take about 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in a heavy 2 qt saucepan combine water, pectin and baking soda. (Mixture will be foamy.) Cook over high heat to boiling, stirring constantly. This should take about 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat, set aside.
5. When sugar mixture has reached soft-crack stage, remove the saucepan from heat: remove candy thermometer from saucepan. Return pectin mixture to high heat: cook till mixture ust begins to simmer. Gradually pour the hot sugar mixture in a thin stream (@1/8 of an inch in diameter) into the boiling pectin mixture, stirring constantly. This should take 1 to 2 minutes. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute more.
6. Remove saucepan from heat, stire in orange extract, orange peel, and yellow and red food colorings. Pour candy mixture into prepared pan. Let stand about 2 hours or until firm.
7. When firm, use foil to lift candy out of pan. Usa a buttered knife to cut candy into about 3/4 inch squares. Roll squares in additional sugar. Store loosely covered. Makes about 72 pieces.Homemade Orange Gumdrops

What a yummy thread! I love to make (and eat ) Christmas candy. I´m gonna check my ideas and post some of them. Most of the candy I make is very easy, but sometimes I go overboard and make something that takes a lot of time and the spend alot of time decorating it, but I feel better about eating the ones that didnt take a lot of time making.

I make potato fudge- if you want the recipe, you will have to buy the TCS Cookbook (HINT HINT!)

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...threadid=29186

I don't have any unique Christmas goodie recipes but I would love to try some out! I hope more people post some! I'd like to try peanut brittle if anyone has a good recipe.

Originally posted by mzjazz2u
I don't have any unique Christmas goodie recipes but I would love to try some out! I hope more people post some! I'd like to try peanut brittle if anyone has a good recipe.

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I think my mom has a good recipe - I'll check and post it if she does. I know she has wonderful peanut brittle each year, I just don't know if she's the one who makes it!

I don't have a recipe for peanut brittle myself but I searched Recipe*zaar for you and it brought up 940 different recipies! Some of them are graded out of 5 stars. This one had 5 stars. If this isn't what you're looking for this is the Url for the Peanut Brittle search I did. Hope this helps.

Peanut Brittle#37044
by Kannwilson

This is the best peanut brittle ever. It does take some time to make but it's worth it.

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
3 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 lb shelled unroasted peanut

1. Butter 2 cookie sheets, 15 1/2 x 12 inches; keep warm.
2. Mix baking soda, 1 tsp water and the vanilla; set aside.
3. mix sugar, 1 cup water and the corn syrup in a 3 quart saucepan.
4. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, to 240 degrees F on candy thermometer.
5. Stir in margarine and peanuts.
6. Cook, stirring constantly to 300 degrees F.
7. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn.
8. Remove from heat immediately; stir in baking soda mixture.
9. Pour half of the candy mixture on each cookie sheet and spread quickly until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
10. Cool and break into pieces.