Peanut Butter Balls and More

On the Menu Today~

Peanut Butter Balls 

Haystacks

Cornflake Clusters

White Peppermint Pretzels

Here are a few of my family's favorite Christmas Candies~

1. Peanut Butter Balls w Sea Salt
2. Haystacks (Coconut Clusters)
3. Cornflake Clusters
4. White Peppermint Pretzels

Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 pounds milk chocolate (good quality dipping chocolate)
• sprinkles, optional
• sea salt, optional

Cooking Directions

1. In a large bowl cream butter, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, cracker crumbs, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix together well. Shape mixture into balls.
2. Place balls on wax paper lined baking sheets. Chill for 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator.
3. Melt dipping chocolate in a medium microwaveable bowl on low until melted, stirring often.
4. Using a fork, dip peanut butter balls into melted chocolate, covering well. Place on wire cooling rack. Sprinkle tops with sea salt or sprinkle tops with sprinkles.
5. Set aside until chocolate sets and hardens.

Haystacks

Ingredients

• 2 pounds milk chocolate, melted (use a good quality chocolate)
• 1 (14 to 16 oz) package sweetened flaked coconut

Cooking Directions

1. In a medium microwavable bowl, melt chocolate on low until melted.
2. Stir often, keep a watchful eye on chocolate.
3. Add coconut and stir until well blended. (Adding more coconut if necessary)
4. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto wax paper lined baking sheets.
5. Set aside to allow chocolate to set.

Cornflake Clusters

Ingredients

• 1 (18 oz) box cornflake cereal
• 2 1/2 pounds milk chocolate dipping chocolate

Cooking Directions

1. Crush cereal.
2. In a medium microwavable bowl, melt chocolate on low until melted. Stir often, keeping a watchful eye on chocolate. Add crushed cereal and stir until well blended. (Add more crushed cereal if necessary) Drop by rounded tablespoons onto wax paper lined baking sheets.
3. Set aside to allow chocolate to set.

Peppermint and White Chocolate Pretzels

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds white dipping chocolate
• 1 large bag star shaped pretzels
• peppermint candy canes, crushed

Cooking Directions

1. Crush candy canes in a large ziplock baggie, using a hammer or other hard object. Set aside.
2. Melt white chocolate in medium bowl in microwave on low until melted. Stir often and keep a watchful eye on the chocolate.
3. Using a fork, dip pretzels into melted chocolate. Lay pretzels on a wire rack.
4. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy.
5. Set aside to allow chocolate to set.

Candy, Chocolate, Christmas, Peanut Butter, Coconut, Pretzels, White Chocolate, Mint

*Note: Store chocolates in a large air-tight plastic container
between sheets of wax paper or parchment paper

*Note: Use Good Quality Dipping Chocolate
such as Ambrosia Chocolate

*Note: Place a piece of waxed paper under cooling rack
to catch any chocolate drips.