One step date-nut bread
1 hr 350F

1 1/2 c dates 1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda - 1/4 c butter
1 c boiling water
2 eggs
2 c flour
1 c chopped pecans
1 c sugar
2 small greased bread pans

1. Boil water and add to dates and baking soda in bowl
2. add remaining ingredients and mix well
3. Bake

Anise Candy

2 c sugar 1 c karo syrup
1/2 c boiling water
1/2 tsp anise oil
1/4 tsp Red food coloring candy thermometer
heavy spoon
7x11 pan

1. put water in pan, bring to boil
2. add sugar and syrup. Mix well
3. do not mix once mixture starts to boil or candy could get sugary
4. boil until candy thermometer reads HARD CRACK
5. remove from heat and add the anise oil and food coloring
add the oil and food coloring over the sink because the food coloring causes the mixture to splatter.

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English Toffee
1/2 lb butter 1/4 tsp salt
1 c sugar
1/3 c water
melted chocolate
2 c chopped nuts
candy thermometer

1. butter a 9x9 pan
2. Boil butter, sugar, salt and water until crack stage or until it turns tan in color. Stirring CONSTANTLY.
3. Pour sugar mixture in pan
4. When cool, remove from pan. Spread melted chocolate over the top and sprinkle 1/2 of the chopped nuts on top and press them in. When that is dry, turn it over and repeat
5. Crack into pieces


Peppermints

1 box of generic Ritz crackers
peppermint oil
3lb dipping chocolate

Melt chocolate in double boiler and add 1/4 tsp peppermint oil. Mix well. It will smell very strong. Add more oil if you want.

Dip the crackers in the chocolate and coat. Remove from chocolate with a fork and tap excess on edge of pan. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Cool, store in covered container.


Butterfingers

2 boxes of generic wheat thins
peanut butter
3 lbs dipping chocolate

The day before you want to make these, spread peanut butter between two wheat thins. I like it inside the sandwich, not hanging over the sides.

Melt chocolate in double boiler. I add a 1/2inch chunk of paraffin to the chocolate. This stops the candy from melting in your hand and puts a sheen on it.

Dip the crackers in the chocolate and coat. Remove from chocolate with a fork and tap excess on edge of pan. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Cool, store in covered container.


Candy Cane Candy

2 large candy canes
White candy coating

Put candy canes in plastic then paper bag. Smash candy canes with hammer until crushed.

Melt white candy coating in microwave. Watch closely, it burns easily.
I do 4 squares at one time. Add crushed candy to melted coating. Mix well. Drop on wax paper lined cookie sheet or put into your favorite candy mold.


Angel Food Candy

1 c brown sugar
1 c dark or light corn syrup
2 rounded tsp baking soda
buttered 9x13 cake pan

Combine brown sugar and corn syrup in heavy saucepan. Boil to 290 F on candy thermometer. Removed from heat ad stir in baking soda. Mix well. Work fast. Pour into buttered cookie sheet.

Cool and break into pieces. Dip in melted chocolate.

Remove from chocolate with a fork and tap excess on edge of pan. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Cool, store in covered container.

Peanut Butter Cups or Balls

2 c powdered sugar
2 c finely crushed graham crackers
2 c peanut butter
1/4 c butter
Paper cups #3 or #5 size
dipping chocolate
cookie sheets lined with wax paper

Mix 1st 4 ingredients by hand until butter is mixed in well.
For cups, roll a ball about 1/2 inch round. I use size number 3 cups. Separate the paper cups and place close together on the cookie sheet

Melt chocolate. Pour some chocolate in a decorator bag or press. Fill bottom of each cup with chocolate. Put 1 ball in each cup and cover with chocolate.

Best Ever Sugar Cookie

Beat together until light and fluffy:
1 c butter 1 c sour cream
2 c white sugar 1t vanilla
2 eggs

Add sifted ingredients:
5 c flour 1t soda
1t salt

Chill. Roll out small amount at a time. Cut out and bake at 375F for 10 minutes. Frost and decorate.

After I frost the cookies, I leave them out to dry for 2 days. I can then stack them in a container. Keeping it sealed keeps the cookies soft.


Sugared Peanuts

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 cups raw peanuts

Dissolve sugar and water. Add peanuts and cook until peanuts are completely sugared. Place on cookie sheet. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes. Stir after 15 minutes


Homemade Smoked Almonds
1 egg white
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp liquid smoke
3 c whole almonds (1 pound)

In a bowl, whisk egg white until foamy. Add garlic power, celery salt, salt, and liquid smoke. Stir until blended. Add almonds and stir until well coated. Evenly spread almonds on a cookie sheet that has been coated with nonstick spray. Bake at 300 for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool. Store in airtight container.

Peanut Brittle
3 c sugar
1 3/4 c light corn syrup
1 c water
5 c raw peanuts (1 1/2 lbs)
2 T butter
3/4 T baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 qt heavy saucepan
Candy thermometer
Large buttered cookie sheet
Silicone mat for cookie sheet (optional)

Combine sugar, corn syrup, and water in heavy 3 qt saucepan and stir well. Cover with a lid and cook to 240. Add peanuts. Cook to 295, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter. Stir until dissolved. Add soda and salt, stirring vigorously. Spread on a butter cookie sheet or silicone mat. Let cool completely and break into pieces.


CINNAMON-GLAZED ALMONDS

Beat 2 egg whites with 1/8 tsp salt
until frothy; slowly add
1 cup sugar, beating into stiff peaks.
Gently fold in 3 cups whole almonds,
4 tsps cinnamon and
1/3 cup melted butter.

Pour almond mixture into a 15x10 pan.
Bake at 325 degrees -40 minutes,
tossing every 10 minutes.
Makes 3 cups.

Thanks!

Frugal...Thanks so much for sharing!!!!!!!

Holy Cow! That is awesome!

I make my Butterfingers with ritz, I'll have to try the Wheat thin ones!

Frugal, this is super. I used to make trays of cookies and candies and sell them to business clients I had who gave them out to their clients. I haven't done it in about 8 years because we had moved away. One of my friends contacted me this morning and asked if I would consider doing it for 5 of her clients this year. These will come in handy!

You can make all of those recipes ahead of time? I like to try afew of those recipse you listed.

Also, can you make fudge ahead of time and freeze it?

New to making cookies, fudge and Butterfingersahead of time. I've always made the deserts the day before X-Mas.

You can make them ahead redgirl. We live in WI so I keep things in the garage in covered containers to keep them cool.

I am sure you can freeze fudge although I have not done it.

Just bumping this up for the holidays!

Starting to gather ingredients for a big holiday baking season. I'm going to make a lot of the dough and get it in the freezer to make things easier.