Homemade Candy Recipes

Growing up, the holidays always found the house filled to the brim. Mother's Day was no exception. And when there was lots of family, there was also lots of food. Desserts were the best, and I had some aunts that could make mouth watering candy recipes that would rival Godiva and Hershey's.

I have pulled out some of my favorite peanut butter candy recipes that have been handed down to me from other members of my family. Some are really old, other's are more recent, but all are wonderful, sweet additions to your dining pleasure!

The first recipe is for
Peanut Butter cups.
2 sticks of margarine, melted
1 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pound box of powdered confectioner's sugar

1 (12 ounce) package of chocolate chips, melted

Now, you can do this treat two different ways, either mix all the ingredients in a large baking dish, and pour the chocolate over the top, or you can form the peanut butter into balls, and dip them into the melted chocolate. I make it both ways, and it is good both ways. It just depends on how much time you have, and how much trouble you want to go to.

Almost every chocolate lover I know like's fudge. Here's a great recipe for
Quick and Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 jar (7 oz.) Marshmallow cream
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 cup peanut butter

Bring sugar and milk to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add peanut butter, vanilla and marshmallow cream. Stir until smooth. Pour into an 8 inch buttered glass baking dish. Cool, and then cut into squares.

Since the invention of the microwave, candy making has become easier. Alot of recipes have been adapted for the microwave, which has done away with candy thermometer's and that soft-ball stage, that no one could ever get quite right. Here is one of the best peanut brittle recipes you'll find anywhere. It came from my great-aunt, who just for a bit of trivia, held out on getting a microwave until 1997, because she thought it was a passing fad. Now, she'll be the first to tell you that she doesn't know how she lived without it!

Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
Dash of salt
1 & 1/4 cups peanuts
1 tbsp Butter
1 & 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Grease a baking sheet with butter. Combine sugar, syrup and salt in a 3 quart casserole dish. Stir in peanuts and microwave on high until light brown (about 10 minutes) Stirring once or twice. Stir in the remaining ingredients until light and foamy. Quickly spread on the baking sheet. Cool completely and break into small pieces.

Finally, most of us have crock pots in our kitchens. Introduced in the early 1970's, slow cooker's have evolved into a kitchen appliance that is as versatile as any other. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I even have one now that you can cook 3 different dishes in at one time!

But one of my favorite things to make is
Aunt Millie's Crock Pot Candy

16 oz salted, roasted peanuts
16 oz. unsalted roasted peanuts
24 oz. package of vanilla almond bark candy
12 oz package of butterscotch baking chips
8 ounce bar of Baker's german chocolate

Put each of the ingredients into the crock pot. You will need to chop up the almond bark and german chocolate. Put the lid on and cook on low for 2 hours. Don't lift the lid or stir during the cooking. Turn off crockpot and drop candy by spoonsful onto waxed paper, or buttered bakins sheet. Allow to cool. Eat.

With the exception of the peanut brittle, all of these candies can be made ahead of time and frozen in air tight containers or zip lock bags. Then just thaw at room temperature and let your family munch down. They'll think you've been in the kitchen for hours standing over a hot stove! No one will ever know how easy they were, and your secret is safe with me.