Easy Homemade Christmas Candies

December is a great time to introduce candy making to your children. You can start new family traditions and add spunk to your existing ones. Every year we make plates of homemade cookies for our friends and family, homemade candies add that little something extra to the plate. Candy making can be intimidating if you are new to it but don't worry! I am going to share two of our very easy Christmas Candy recipes that the kids can help you make.

Christmas Fudge
3 cup sugar
¾ cup butter
2/3 cup (or one 5 ½ oz can) evaporated milk
1 twelve ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 jar Marshmallow Fluff
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Begin by combining sugar, butter, and evaporated milk in a medium pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, make sure to stir constantly to prevent the milk from scalding. Continue boiling the mixture for 5 minutes over medium heat- remember to keep stirring!

Remove the pot from heat and stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir until all the chocolate is melted. Next add in the marshmallow fluff, vanilla, and chopped pecans. Stir well, combining all of the ingredients. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan and stick into the refrigerator until cool. Cut into squares and enjoy this melt in your mouth delicious Christmas Candy!

Christmas Marshmallow Creams
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup cold water
2 packages Knox gelatin
2/3 cup tepid (lukewarm) water

Soak the gelatin in the lukewarm water while you are preparing the sugar mixture. For the sugar mixture: Cook sugar and cold water until boiling. Continue stirring until the mixture spins a thread. This is a somewhat technical term that is actually very simple. Stop stirring and let liquid drip from the spoon into the pan; when the last drop "holds on" to the spoon it will look like an elongated drop that gets thread thin as it falls into the pan. Once you reach this phase you remove the pot from heat and stir to cool it down. After it has cooled down (it should stop boiling) add the gelatin mixture.

I use a stand mixer, but you can use a hand mixer or even beat the mixture by hand. Continue whipping for 10 to 15 minutes or until it is white and fluffy. My children love watching the changes that occur in the bowl! Rinse a pan with cold water. I use a 9 x 13 pan, but you can use a smaller pan to make thicker pieces. Rinsing the pan with cold water before you pour in the marshmallow will prevent them from sticking.For a Christmas variation I have my kids crush candy canes to put on top of the marshmallows. You can do this by unwrapping candy canes and placing them in a zip top bag. Seal the top of the bag and let the children use a meat mallet or rolling pin to crush the candy canes. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the still warm marshmallows. Rinse your hand with cold water and press the pieces into the marshmallow. Cover the marshmallows with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 4 hours, or until firm. Cut into squares or use cookie cutters sprayed with cooking oil to made fun shapes!