Gummy Candy

10 Tbsp. cold water, divided
20 grams unflavored gelatin (3 small packets)

Darth Vader

200 grams sugar (a little more than 3/4 c.)
1 tsp. flavoring
1/2 tsp. food coloring (optional)
50 grams sugar (for coating)

Sprinkle the powdered gelatine over 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) of cold water. Mix it well and leave it to bloom, about 15 minutes.

In a saucepan, tip in the sugar and shake it to create an even layer. Pour another 6 tablespoons (⅜ cup) of cold water over the sugar and place it on high heat. Stir a little. When it comes to a boil, cook it for exactly 1 minute, then turn the heat down to medium low and cook for another 5 minutes.

Han Solo in Carbonite

 
When the sugar is cooked, pour it over the gelatine and mix well, until the gelatine is completely melted. At this point you can add the extract of your choice and food coloring, if you wish. Once the mixture is well blended, pour it into candy molds (I used silicone; if you have plastic or some other material for molds, I'd recommend greasing them before you pour in the sugar mix). You can also pour it in a baking dish (lightly greased or sprayed, for easier release) and later cut it into cubes. Leave the molds (or baking dish) in a cool place (but not in the fridge) for at least 4 hours, or until the candies are firm to the touch. Remove from the molds and roll them in sugar.

Star Wars gummy candy

I chose to use root beer flavor, but you can use whatever you want. Next time I might try coconut.

Here's a link to the recipe I used: http://tinascookings.blogspot.com/2015/03/homemade-gummy-candy.html

Candy Cane Sugar Cookies

10 Tbsp. butter, room temperature
1 c. sugar
2 egg yolks                                                                                                        
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour

Baked cookies

1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking powder
sprinkles
24-25 candy cane Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with wax or parchment paper. Set aside.

Beat the butter and cream together with an electric mixer for 5 minutes on medium speed. Add in the yolks and vanilla. Beat until completely mixed in.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.

Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, while beating on low continually until the flour is fully combined. The dough should be thick. If it is sticky, chill in the fridge for 45 minutes.

Kissed cookies

Roll into tablespoon sized balls. Roll the balls in the sprinkles. Place on the prepared baking sheet - 12 balls on each sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes. The cookies will look undercooked. That is what you want. Remove and let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Then press a candy cane kiss into the center of each cookie. Place the baking sheets in the fridge 5-10 minutes. This will keep the kisses from melting.

These cookies are cute, festive, and taste delicious.

Here is a link to the recipe I used: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/12/03/candy-cane-kiss-cookies/

Kit-Kat Cake

Frosted cake

Cooking spray
1 box devil's food cake mix
3.9 oz. box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 1/4 c. water
1/2 c. canola oil
3 eggs
1 jar chocolate fudge frosting
10 regular sized Kit-Kat bars
12 oz. bag regular M and M's
1 ribbon

Spray two 8" cake pans with cooking spray, and set aside.

With the Kit Kats

In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, pudding mix, water, oil, and eggs. Beat until smooth. Batter will be very dense. Pour into prepared cake pans. If using glass pans, bake at 350 F for about 20-25 minutes. If using a dark pan, bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack and let the cakes cool completely.

View from the top

When the cakes are completely cooled, add a dollop of frosting to a large plate. Add the first layer of cake, bottom side up. Frost the top of the cake layer. Top with the second cake layer. Frost the top of the cake, then the sides.

Open all the Kit-Kats carefully. Break into sections of 2 bars each. Line the bars around the sides of the cake, pressing them in firmly. Make sure the Kit-Kats are all touching. Tie the ribbon around the Kit-Kats and pull firmly so they will stay in place.

Kit-Kat Cake!

Pour the bag of M and M's into the middle of the cake, reserving a few handfuls to decorate around the bottom of the cake on the plate.

Cut the pieces at every 2 Kit-Kat bars.

Delicious!

Here is a link to the recipe I used: http://michellestastycreations.blogspot.com/2012/04/kit-kat-cake.html

Macadamia & Coconut Caramels

Cookin'

Butter for greasing
1 c. light brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. flaked coconut
1/2 c. macadamia nuts, chopped
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil, and grease the foil with butter. Set aside.

Chillin'

In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar, and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until a candy thermometer reads 244 F (firm-ball stage).

Remove from the heat; stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared dish. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours.

Wrapped

Using foil, lift candy out of dish. Gently peel off foil. Cut caramel into 1 inch squares. Wrap individually in wax paper; twist ends. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe from Taste of Home

Peppermint Creams

Pretty fun and simple. Here's a link to the recipe: http://bakingbuzzybee.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/peppermint-creams/

I used pink instead of green food coloring because I ran out of green.

Also, if you need a conversion of the confectioners sugar, it's about 3 3/4 c.

Enjoy! Fun for a party!

Recipe courtesy of Deborah Nugent

Twix Bars

I used this recipe to make a giant Twix bar rather than normal sized Twix bars. 

Shortbread and carmel

Shortbread Cookie:
 1 c. butter, room temperature
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. milk

Carmel Filling:
15.5 oz. soft carmels (for the giant one, only about 20-25 carmels were used total)
2 Tbsp. milk
Dash of salt

Chocolate Topping:
12 oz. milk chocolate, broken into pieces
1 tsp. Crisco, if needed to make the chocolate softer (I did not use this)

For shortbread cookie: Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add this to the butter mixture. Finally, at low speed, add the milk and vanilla. Separate the dough into halves and wrap each in plastic and refrigerate until the dough is as firm as a stick of butter. 

Now is the time to preheat your oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet or cookie sheet with parchment paper. Once your dough is firm enough to work with, either roll it out onto the sheet pan or press with fingers to about 1/2-3/4" thickness. Bake for 20-30 minutes, turning the baking sheet front-to-back halfway through the baking time. 

For carmel layer: Unwrap and place your carmels, milk and salt in a microwaveable bowl and nuke for 1 minute at a time, stopping to stir, until nice and melted (approximately 3-4 minutes). Pour carmel over the baked shortbread. Put in the refrigerator to harden and set. Cut the shortbread/carmel layer into Twix size pieces or whatever shape you desire. Chill them in the freezer to firm them up before dipping.  

Giant Twix Bar

For chocolate coating: Microwave the chocolate at 1 minute intervals while stirring till melted or use a double boiler method to melt. Dip the bars into the chocolate and place them on waxed paper to set (if you make a giant bar, pour the chocolate over the top, chill, then flip over and coat the bottom then turn upright on wax paper). Chill in the refrigerator or freezer to speed up setting. Once they are set, you are ready to enjoy them!

Recipe courtesy of Jill Hanses 

Mounds Candy Bar

14 oz. coconut, shredded
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 lb. powdered sugar
24 oz. dark chocolate chips

Mix coconut, milk, and sugar. Chill. Roll into bite-sized pieces (or one giant one if you're daring) and place on wax paper. Refrigerate. Melt half the chocolate chips until they are 75% melted, and barely warm to the touch.  Then mix in the other half of the chocolate chips, stirring rapidly.  When the other chocolate chips are close to, but not 100 percent, melted, pour it all over the coconut. The chocolate will need to set before you can turn it over and coat the bottom.

Giant Mounds

Butter Mint Candies

1 stick (1/2 c.) salted butter, softened
1 lb. confectioners' sugar, plus extra for dusting
2 Tbsp. heavy cream
1 tsp. mint extract
2-3 liquid food colors

In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy. With mixer on low, beat in sugar, cream, and extract until creamy and smooth. Turn sugar mixture out onto a work surface lightly dusted with confectioners' sugar; knead until smooth and satiny. Divide mixture into thirds. Tint each a different color with the food coloring; if you want, you can leave one portion white. Cover each portion with a towel or plastic wrap to keep them from drying out.

Line a baking sheet with foil.

Lightly dust work surface with confectioners sugar. Working with one color at a time, roll out 1/4 cupfuls of the mint mixture, using your fingers, into a 1/2-in thick rope. Cut rope into 1/2-in candies. Transfer mints to baking sheet with a spatula (be careful, they squish easily). Repeat with remaining mint mixture.

Let air-dry at room temperature for 1-2 days until firm enough to handle. Transfer mints to covered containers.