Making Christmas Goodies...Need Advice!!

[hobson725]

I plan on making some goodies for Christmas gifts this year. I will be making several items with baking chocolate(to make bark candy,choc covered cookies,etc). How soon in advance can I make these? WHat about storage of the finished goodies...where can they be stored? Once I am ready to hand out gifts, what should the goodies be wrapped in? Thanks!;)

[chalytown]

Hi there, I have made plenty of candy in the past...(bark, caramels, chocolate covered (whatever) ) So to be sure that I was all done by Christmas, I started at Thanksgiving and everything turned out great. I stored it in a large chest freezer we have. I have stored fudge in our attic for a few weeks. (it gets really cold in there!:eek: )
I might wait on the chocolate covered cookies, I would save those for last. I hope that this helps you.....Let us know how everything turns out..

[mom2fussbudgets]

Hi there, I have made plenty of candy in the past...(bark, caramels, chocolate covered (whatever) ) So to be sure that I was all done by Christmas, I started at Thanksgiving and everything turned out great. I stored it in a large chest freezer we have. I have stored fudge in our attic for a few weeks. (it gets really cold in there!:eek: )
I might wait on the chocolate covered cookies, I would save those for last. I hope that this helps you.....Let us know how everything turns out..

I have never frozen my candy, so this is good to know. Thanks!

Last year, I put my goodies in Gladware Holiday containers and shipped them out. I packed the candy in the containers, and put a little crumpled waxed paper on top to keep it from shifting. Everything arrived fresh, and the Gladware containers cost a lot less than tins do.

[chalytown]

I had freezed my candy and no one could tell that I had made them a month before. Those Glad containers come in so handy for that. That is what I did. I may have been up tight about the freezing. I waxed papered the inside, put it in the container and then put it in a 5 gallon bag and in a paper bag in the freezer. I may have over did it....

What sorts of candy did you make??? This year I am trying the Oreo and Cream Cheese Truffles that I got off the SS home page. I hope that they are good, and I am also making mint chocolate bark. Some oreo and creme de menth oil... SO YUMMY!:)

[mom2fussbudgets]

I don't think overkill is a bad thing. Better to be safe than sorry!

I made chocolate-covered peanut brittle (my family went NUTS, pun intended) and Cracker Candy. Since it was such a hit, I'm going to do it again this year. A couple of months ago, I found 3 lb boxes of CandyQuik chocolate on clearance at Sam's for $2.81 a box. :D

[Cpogie]

I plan on making some goodies for Christmas gifts this year. I will be making several items with baking chocolate(to make bark candy,choc covered cookies,etc). How soon in advance can I make these? WHat about storage of the finished goodies...where can they be stored? Once I am ready to hand out gifts, what should the goodies be wrapped in? Thanks!;)
I would love your recipe for bark candy, any chance you could post it?

[hobson725]

Here is my recipe for peppermint bark candy...

white chocolate almond bark
crushed candy canes
rice Krispie cereal

Melt almond bark as directed on pkg.
crush candy canes in ziplock back (a hammer or mallet works great).
slowly add the candy canes and rice krisie cereal.
lay out wax paper.
pour candy mixture on wax paper in a thin layer.
The candy will set up quickly but I usually let it set for atleast an hour.
Break into pieces.
ENJOY!


I'd like the recipe for the choc/mint bark candy...please post!

[Cpogie]

Here is my recipe for peppermint bark candy...

white chocolate almond bark
crushed candy canes
rice Krispie cereal

Melt almond bark as directed on pkg.
crush candy canes in ziplock back (a hammer or mallet works great).
slowly add the candy canes and rice krisie cereal.
lay out wax paper.
pour candy mixture on wax paper in a thin layer.
The candy will set up quickly but I usually let it set for atleast an hour.
Break into pieces.
ENJOY!


I'd like the recipe for the choc/mint bark candy...please post!
Thankyou so much!!! I love Bark Candy, now the ?? where do I get White Choc Almond Bark? Would it be in the baking section at the grocery store?

P.S. here is another good use for my Silicone mat!

[hobson725]

I usually find it with all the cake mixes,etc. There is a white chocolate and a brown chocolate version. I use the white chocolate version.

[laf76]

I have gotten the white chocolate almond bark in the baking section. I do remember some stores not having it or either not having it until around the holidays. Seems like it came in like little ice cube looking trays. I always liked Ritz crackers and PB dipped in it!

[Cpogie]

Thankyou both, I am going to the grocery store today, will look for it...our stores are already getting set up for the holidays, all the displays....$$$ lol I hope I can find it!!

[chalytown]

Mint chocolate bark:

(my bad, I have it labeled Chocolate Bark Cookies)

20 creme filled sandwich cookies. (1/2 of a 18 oz pkg)
1 1/2 cup chocolate wafers (or semi sweet chips)
1 1/2 cup white chocolate ( I use the green chocolate from Wilton's)

green food dye for white chocolate.
1 tsp vanilla ( if using semi sweet)
creme de menthe oil ( get my at AC Moore or Michaels) Use as much as you like... Stronger or milder for each person



* line a 9 inch square baking pan with waxed paper. Coat paper with non stick s[ray. Pour cookies into large bowl and break into small pieces.

* melt the chips in a large bowl according to pkg direction. (add extract after chips are melted) Remove from heat and quickly fold into cookies. Scrape mixture onto prepared pan and spread to 1/2 inch thick. Chill one hour until solid.

* Remove bark from pan and carefully peel off waxed paper. Cut or break into pieces.


I am so sorry if this recipe doesn't make sense. I combined it with another recipe. Actually, I goofed and wasn't paying attention and I came up with this. It just happened. It reminds me a the Girls Scouts "Grasshopper" cookies. You know what I am talking about... I just don't want to sound like a crazy women.....

[chalytown]

Thankyou so much!!! I love Bark Candy, now the ?? where do I get White Choc Almond Bark? Would it be in the baking section at the grocery store?

P.S. here is another good use for my Silicone mat!


Oh, I saw that almond bark at Wal Mart... I can't believe they have something that I want!!!:o

[mom2fussbudgets]

Yesterday, I went to Dollar Tree and found these really great plastic buckets! They are decorated with a Christmas motif, and are really roomy! They are gonna be perfect to mail my Christmas goodies in. If you have a Dollar Tree, you should go check it out!

[chalytown]

OMG! I am crazy insane for the Dollar Tree. I get excited to go to that store. Thanks for the tip. Good thing that today is Hubby's payday!!!!!:D

[mom2fussbudgets]

Let me know if you find some! My store only had eight left, and I took six of 'em!

[mamma04103]

CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUT BUTTER BALLS

1 lb of powdered sugar 1 stick good margarine

1-16 oz jar peanut butter 1 teasp vanilla

(optional cooking cocoa if u want chocolate p b balls )

combine peanut butter, vanilla ,and margarine in med. sauce pan melt over med heat untill smooth .
remove from stove add dry ingread. roll into balls set on tray in fridge. then prepare dip dip each one put on tray to set up in fridge again to set up chocolate

" NOTE: IF CANDY MIX IS TO DRY TO ROLL ADD A VERY LITTLE WATER OR IF TO WET ADD MORE POWDERED SUGAR . SOMETIMES WHEN MAKING MASSIVE BATCHES RECIPE IS OFF

CHOCOLATE DIP FOR CANDY

2 lbs semi sweet choclate morsals 1/3 cake pariffin wax

heaping table spoon of shortening melt in dble boiler untill all is smooth
NOTE dip is for both recipees

HOMEMADE NEEDHAMS

2 lbs of powdered sugar 1lb of coconut

1 med cooked potato 1 teasp vanilla

1-1/2 stick margarine

melt margarine on med heat add vanilla and potato remove from heat combine in bowl wet and dry ingreadents press on to cookie sheet infreezer to set up for a bout hr .
once set up cut in to squares ur desired size remove and use choclate dip to dip candy in . put back on cookie sheets to set up chocolate remove and wrap

people go nuts over theese i cannot make enough one year i made about a thousand combined both candies people wanted more lol enjoy ps if need hams are dry or to wet use same rule for: pb balls :) :)

PSi make a family tradition with my daughters we do togeather yrly around holidays also kids love to help as well they can roll dough or press into pans depending on age its a wonderful way to bring people to do together and bond or friends can get together

[mom2fussbudgets]

Sounds yummy! Thanks for the recipes! :)

[momsangel]

Oh my goodness thank you I love peanutbutter balls they were a childhood favorite a friends mom would make!