Chocolate Covered Christmas Creme Candies Food

BUTTERCREAMS

Steps:

• Combine butter and cream cheese in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Add vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Beat at low speed, gradually adding powdered sugar, until well mixed. (If mixture is too soft, cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to form balls.)
• Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of mixture into 1-inch balls. Place onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover loosely; refrigerate 2 hours or overnight until firm.
• Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, 3-4 minutes or until smooth. Dip buttercreams into chocolate mixture using fork to turn and remove; let excess chocolate drip off. Place onto waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Garnish with chocolate shavings, chocolate sprinkles and decorator sprinkles, as desired. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to set. Store refrigerated.

BUTTERCREAM CANDIES

Steps:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl using a handheld mixer), beat the butter until creamy (about 2 minutes).
• Add the confectioners' sugar. Beat on low for about a minute. Add the milk, vanilla, almond extract, and pinch of salt. Beat on high until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes).
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place the buttercream mixture in the refrigerator to chill for one hour, up to 24 hours.
• When ready, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and remove the chilled buttercream from the refrigerator.
• Scoop out the buttercream with a one tablespoon scoop and roll it into a ball. Place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining buttercream. (If the mixture gets too sticky, add some confectioners' sugar to your hands.)
• Place the balls of buttercream in the refrigerator to chill for another hour, up to 24 hours.
• In the last few minutes of chilling the buttercream balls, melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate pieces and oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20-second increments, stirring after every 20 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and creamy. Let it sit for about 5 minutes to cool before dipping the buttercream balls.
• Remove the buttercream balls from the refrigerator. Working one at a time, gently drop the balls into the melted chocolate, making sure they are completely covered in chocolate.
• Using a fork, lift out the chocolate-covered buttercream. Use a toothpick or another fork to slide the buttercream candy onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Drizzle the remaining chocolate over the candies. Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the chocolate has set.
• Store candies in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CANDY CREAMS & OTHER STUFF

Steps:

• 1. soften cream cheese in microwave -- don't melt, simply soften -- about 30 seconds
• 2. begin to add powdered sugar by cup fulls -- work into cream cheese until it gets to be like a firm batter -- play dough would be a good example of the consistency you are looking for -- and you will end up having to do it with your hands
• 3. separate the ball into as many different flavors as you would like to make -- I used to make at least 4 or 5 at a time. (Suggested flavors that people liked: vanilla, almond, mint, anise, chocolate, rum, cherry, orange, lemon, etc -- whatever you have in your cupboard or desire to purchase for this project.)
• 4. To Flavor: make a deep thumb print in one of the balls and put in a drop or 2 of coloring and a tsp of flavoring -- begin working the ball with your hands until the color is smoothly distributed -- add more powdered sugar to bring back to workable dough that is not sticky. (I liked the colors to be pastel which I always thought were more appetizing so I never added more than 1 or 2 drops of food coloring -- you may do as much as you want.)
• 5. After each ball is colored and flavored I used to decide on a different shape for each flavor so I could tell which ones were which after they were all coated with chocolate. Such as: tiny balls for one flavor, little squares for another, oblong balls for another, rectangles for another, flattened balls for another, etc.
• 6. Slowly & carefully melt chocolate on low heat on stove top (or in microwave if you are comfortable with that -- I like the stove top because I have more control over the process) -- then dip each ball or shape into the chocolate and place on waxed paper covered cookie sheets. They will harden very quickly. I did not like to get my hands all chocolate covered so I always used a spoon to dip, and roll in the chocolate, then scoop out and place on waxed paper.
• 7. After I had made these over the years, I also began to experiment with chocolate coating things that were already made (I was getting lazy LOL). One of my most favorite things was to chocolate coat gum drops. Candy manufacturers used to make chocolate covered "jellies" which I always loved... but they began to disappear over the years... gum drops were a perfect solution for someone who missed them!!
• 8. I also found that I could chocolate coat dried pineapple, or mix peanuts with the chocolate to make little peanut heaps. We used to make "hay stacks" by dumping those hard canned Chinese noodles into chocolate and making little stacks. My sister used to like a Chunky candy bar and we made our own with peanuts and raisins in chocolate dropped by spoonfulls on waxed paper.
• 9. Other people like to coat pretzels and crackers and cookies... once you get started with chocolate coating things you will find lots of individual and unique ways to make Christmas gifts that your friends will get from no other source. They will be clamoring for your home made creations. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHRISTMAS CREME CANDIES

Steps:

• Mix in a large heavy pan. Bring to a boil -STIR CONSTANTLY! (This is very important because mixture scorches easily).
• Turn heat down to medium-high; keep it boiling. Wipe down sugar crystals on sides of pan with a pastry brush.(Dip brush in water to keep it from gathering sugar.).
• Cook to a soft but firm ball stage. Candy thermometer should read 227 degrees. Cool until cold.
• It will be very hard to beat at first, but as it creams up it gets easier. If you have a heavy KitchenAid mixer use that.
• When it loses its gloss divide in half and make your own flavors (i.e.; peppermint, coconut,lemon).
• Use food coloring to achieve the right color for flavor. Separate into little circles or squares, cover and set aside.
• Melt chocolate in a glass bowl over medium saucepan of boiling water. When chocolate is melted, dip cremes to cover and set aside to harden.
• This isn't an easy recipe but it is worth the time. If it doesn't work the first time don't give up. Once you get it down you will love this recipe. I promise.

COCONUT CREME CHOCOLATES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix marshmallow creme, coconut, vanilla and salt until blended. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour., Shape mixture into 1-in. balls. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate, covered, at least 3 hours., In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip coconut balls in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.