Originally Posted By melekalikimaka I just got through making some macadamia nut toffee (with chocolate). I know we talk about this every year but what are your favorite "must have" treats during the holidays? We usually make Russian Teacakes and Peppermint Bark. Sometimes I make marshmallows. Other than the bark, I am not a candy-maker. I'm too impatient and frequently burn the sugar or overheat the chocolate because I wander away from the stove. Can't wait to try the toffee! 'Fess up...what treats *make* your holiday?
Originally Posted By mater4 I do not bake too much since my DH is trying not to resemble santa. I do have to have good peppermint icecream, eggnog with gingerale, fairy drop cookies and russian teaballs.
Originally Posted By tiggerdis_ Nanaimo bars and shortbread, mince and butter tarts, mmmm.... I'm beginning to look like Santa, lol!
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey My mom's red velvet cake and heavenly hash! I love to bake and give treats as presents, so my tops in the department are pralines, forget-me cookies and fudge. I also make a pretty mean chocolate chip cookie.
Originally Posted By tapdancemom I have to make Russian Tea Cakes, peanut butter Hershey kiss cookies and fudge every year. My grandson wants to make cut out sugar cookies, so we'll do that together.
Originally Posted By officerminnie I am really not a baker. I enjoy cooking, but don't particularly like to bake. So fudge is pretty much all I end up making and it has become known over the years as my "specialty" - and it really is excellent fudge
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Fudge and magic cookie bars. When I was a kid we used to always make pressed cookies. I was thinking of getting a cookie press and making them this year.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka The nice thing about pressed cookies is that it's fairly easy to make lots of them in a short amount of time. I need to dig out my cookie press. My favorite thing about Russian Teacakes is that you can fit a bunch onto the cookie sheet because they don't spread during cooking. I've gotten about 30 small cookies on one cookie sheet before. My new obsession is candied citrus peel. I haven't tried making any yet but I did spend $10 on some lemon peel from Whole Foods. I usually buy the gingerbread at Starbucks just to pick off those yummy candied orange pieces. LOL. Maybe I'll try my hand at making it sometime. Of course, they take a long time to make and we've already established how impatient I am. ;-) The toffee turned out really well. I think I'd use less salt next time. It's really rich, too, so I could only eat a teeny piece of it. My FIL was hovering around the kitchen last night so I might have to stash a couple of pieces to enjoy later. With my FIL and my son, you gotta grab what you can before it disappears. LOL
Originally Posted By LadyKluck Gotta have my Mexican Wedding Rings (same thing as Russian Tea Cakes not sure why the different names), also my mom makes these cookies called strawberry cookies. They don't have strawberries in them at all but its this mix of dates and rice krispies formed in the shape of a strawberry, rolled in red sugar and you put little frosting leaves on them. Its not Christmas without them! I haven't had them in years but this year I've also added buckeyes to my list of wants this year. Mom also made this strange yet super yummy toffee last year. She called it Poor Man's Toffee but I don't know if that's its real name or not. Its caramelized sugar poured over a cookie sheet covered in saltine crackers. When it hardens you break it apart just like regular toffee. It is SO good because you get your sweet and salty at the same time!
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka I had something like that at goodgirl's a couple of years ago. It was tasty!
Originally Posted By DyGDisney Every year since I was 15 I've made chocolate covered caramels. It's a difficult and lengthy process, takes about 1 1/2 hours to make and dip a batch. But people LOVE it so much that we've actually had lots of people pay us for boxes of them. Someday, if/when the economy improves maybe we'll start a business!!
Originally Posted By lesmisfan I too love the russian tea cakes. I make really good ones and my family has unofficailly appointed to make them almost every year for the holidays. My grandmother makes the best candies! she makes turtles and licorice and pretzal sticks dipped in chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate. mmmmm........
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka We dip pretzels in candy coating or chocolate every year, too. Everybody goes nuts for them and they are so easy to make. LOL I think it's the sweet and salty combo that makes them so popular. Thanks for the reminder, lesmisfan! I have to make these for Xmas Eve and completely forgot about it.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Went out and bought a cookie press today. As soon as DS finishes his school work we're going to make spritz cookies.
Originally Posted By Mary Poppins I made my treats in November. Some of them I froze. I made Dark Christmas cake and marachino cherry cake. I made gingerbread cookies, santa's whiskers cookies, nanaimo bars, confetti (Chocolate and mini-marshmallow squares, lemon squares and mincemeat tarts. I've been watching what I eat and couldn't decide whether or not to make treats. (my younger son is on a diet and won't eat them). But I decided, you always need food on hand to bring to parties.
Originally Posted By Mary Poppins And I plan to make a chocolate cheesecake with cherry sauce for Christmas dinner.
