Homemade candy has been a holiday tradition for hundreds of years. Readers submitted almost 300 candy entries of their family holiday favorites, making it a difficult decision narrowing down entries.
Ultimately, winners emerged as judges sampled from 14 different selections including a variety of caramels, fudge, toffee, hard candies and chewy favorites.
First place went to the winning combination of toasted nuts, toffee and chocolate in Linda Pittman’s Triple Nut Toffee. The Honey Caramels, submitted by Jerry Daugherty, were a close second place for their smooth luscious texture and Carol Walk’s Snickers Fudge placed third for its chocolate, peanut, caramel combo that tastes just like its namesake.
The five honorable mentions are: Chocolate Amaretto Snowballs, submitted by Nancy H. Peterson; Rock Candy, submitted by Diane Sherman; Pecan Espresso Bark, submitted by Barbara Wiesen; Nougat, submitted by Mary H. Hammann; and Maple Bacon Fudge, submitted by Dorothy Billington.
Triple Nut Toffee
Honey Caramels
Snickers Fudge
View all submissions below. There will be something to entice the sweet tooth in every family.
Recipe submissions
Amy’s World Famous Peanut Brittle
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
2 Tablespoons softened butter (plus more for greasing cookie sheet)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
vanilla
Directions:
1: Grease a large baking pan with butter
2: IN a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, cinnamon and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved, then stir in peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place in saucepan and continue cooking until temperature reaches 300F or 150C, stirring frequently.
3: Once temperature is reached, remove pan from heat and quickly stir in butter, baking soda and splash of vanilla. Pour at once onto prepared baking sheet. Use rubber spatula to spread the Brittle evenly in the pan. Allow to cool completely and snap candy into pieces.
4: Enjoy!
Amy Wibben
Rock Energy Cooperative
It is a Christmas tradition that we share with our friends and family. Many family members and friends ask for this alone for Christmas. Best brittle we’ve have!
