|
On the first day of Christmas fun….
We’re making candy! This is a tried and true (kid tried I might add) recipe for making 5 candies in the microwave in 30 minutes. Did I mention that I like to do fun things with the kids but I don’t always have the WHOLE day to accomplish it! It really can be done in 30 minutes at least with older children. If you have younger kids or are making double batches (we always do!) plan more like an hour.
All of it is done in the microwave which is such a safe way to cook with kids! I recommend using a 2 to 3 quart microwave safe bowl preferable high quality plastic (like Tupperware, not butter tubs!) You can use a glass Pyrex type but it gets hot and can break. With kids I like to be better safe than sorry. You’ll also need a smaller (about 1 cup capacity) microwave safe bowl or measuring cup for melting the caramel. I would recommend an adult help with the caramel as it gets VERY hot but other than that the kids can do the bulk of it themselves!
Okay, so here’s how it works. Start with the first recipe. Scrape out the bowl well with a spatula and move right on to the next recipe and so on! Only one bowl to wash, you gotta love that!
*
Holiday Wreath Pretzels (or birds nests)
Small round pretzel (or knots) 2 blocks white almond bark
Red and green M&M’s
Place pretzels on waxed paper. Melt almond bark on high in microwave safe bowl 1-2 minutes (till melted.) Stir. Using small spoon fill center of pretzel with bark and place an M&M in the middle.
Pink Ice
Crushed peppermint candy 2 blocks white almond bark
Peppermint extract red food coloring
Melt the bark in the bowl until smooth; add candy, extract and food coloring. Spread thin on waxed paper and cool. Break into pieces.
Peanut Clusters
2 blocks white almond bark ½ cup chocolate chips
6 oz Roasted peanuts
Place bark in bowl and melt in microwave (about 2 minutes.) Stir in chocolate chips and keep stirring till they are melted in. Add peanuts and stir. Using a spoon, drop unto wax paper and cool.
Rocky Road
2 blocks white almond bark ½ cup chocolate chips
6 oz Roasted peanuts ¼ cup mini marshmallows
¼ cup red and green M&M’s
Melt bark and chips in microwave for about 2 minutes. Stir in rest of ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper and cool.
Turtles
1 block white almond bark 1 block chocolate bark
8 caramels pecan halves
Melt both barks in microwave for 2 minutes. Stir. Using a spoon place a small quarter size (or just slightly larger than a quarter) amount on wax paper. Place a whole pecan and four pieces (for feet) on the chocolate “quarter”. Melt the caramels and a few drops of water in the microwave of 30 seconds (watch closely so as not to burn.) Place a small amount of caramel on top of pecan halves. Spoon more chocolate on top of caramel and smooth around to cover. Cool.
Here’s a link with the pdf file of Holiday Candies if you’d like to print it off. | 
