Dandy Candy Recipes

Steps:

• Line a 13-in. x 9-in. pan with foil and grease the foil with 1 teaspoon butter; set aside. In a large heavy skillet over medium-low heat, cook 1 cup sugar until melted. Do not stir. Reduce heat to low; cook for 5 minutes or until golden brown., In a large saucepan, combine cream and remaining sugar. Slowly pour in cooked sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 236° (soft-ball stage). Transfer to a large bowl; stir in butter and baking soda. Cool until mixture reaches 110°., Add vanilla. Beat until smooth and thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in pecans. Quickly spread into prepared pan; cool completely. Using foil, lift candy out of pan. Discard foil. Store candy in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Heat sugar, butter and water to boiling in heavy 2-quart saucepan, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 13 minutes, stirring constantly, to 300°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. (Watch carefully so mixture does not burn.)
• Immediately pour toffee onto ungreased large cookie sheet. If necessary, quickly spread mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand about 1 minute or until chips are completely softened. Spread softened chocolate evenly over toffee. Sprinkle with pecans.
• Let stand at room temperature about 1 hour, or refrigerate if desired, until firm. Break into bite-size pieces. Store in airtight container.

Steps:

• Generously spray a 9-by-12-by-2-inch pan with cooking spray; line it with parchment and butter the top of the parchment.
• In a large saucepan, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, corn syrup and 1 cup of the cream. Heat until the mixture begins to boil. Slowly stream the remaining 1 cup cream into the mixture, stirring while it's boiling. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan and cook the mixture over medium heat until it reaches 244 degrees F. Remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, chopped pecans and vanilla. Pour the candy into the prepared pan. Cool the candy in the refrigerator until it is just firm but not hard, about 1 hour.
• Cut the candy into 1-inch squares. Cut waxed paper into 4-inch squares and wrap each piece of candy individually. Store in the refrigerator. Remove the candy from the fridge and allow it to soften slightly before serving.

Steps:

• Melt the chocolate. Place the peppermint sticks in a heavy, locked plastic bag and crush them fine by whacking and then rolling them with a rolling pin. They should have about the same consistency as crushed ice. When the chocolate is melted, stir in the peppermint oil. Stir in all but 2 tablespoons of the crushed peppermint pieces and spread the mixture out on the cookie sheet, about 1/4-inch thick. It will not fill the pan completely. Sprinkle the reserved peppermint stick over the top. Let set at room temperature until hardened, about 2 hours. (Or, refrigerate for 30 minutes to harden more quickly.) Use your hands to break into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Using your hands if necessary, mix in the coconut. Roll into balls or potato shapes, and roll in the cinnamon. Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set. If desired, roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color.

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, coat the bowl with butter, then leave the remaining butter in the bowl.
• Add corn syrup, vanilla and salt to the bowl.
• Stir and mix well.
• Add powdered sugar.
• Stir and mix well.
• Remove mixture from mixing bowl and place on a clean counter top or cutting board.
• Pound, squeeze and roll candy until it feels smooth.
• Roll candy into small balls, about the size of a walnut.
• Roll the balls in a bowl of sprinkles.
• Place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• The candy tastes best when cold!