Louises Christmas Bonbons Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, pecans, milk and butter. Roll into 1-in. balls. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover and refrigerate overnight., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. (If balls are too soft to dip, freezer until firm, 3-5 minutes.)

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine margarine, confectioners' sugar, condensed milk, coconut, chopped walnuts and vanilla. Stir well. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours, or until mixture has thickened enough to roll into balls. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place close together, but not touching, on cookie sheets. Freeze until hard.
• While bonbons are freezing, line a cookie sheet or flat surface with waxed paper. Combine chocolate chips and shortening in the top of a double boiler, over, not in, simmering water. Stir until melted. Using a toothpick or a fork, dip each bonbon in the melted chocolate. Place on waxed paper to dry. When chocolate has hardened, store bonbons in plastic bag in the freezer.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Generously butter 10-cup Bundt pan; dust pan with flour. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Mix in 1/3 cup rum. Let stand at room temperature until liquids are almost absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine flour, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in fruit mixture. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until tester inserted near center comes out dry, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Turn out cake onto rack and cool.
• Stir corn syrup and remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons rum in heavy small saucepan over low heat until warm. Brush warm glaze twice over entire cake. Wrap cake in heavy-duty foil and let mellow 1 day at room temperature. Refrigerate. (Cake can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Store in refrigerator.)