21 replies to this topic

[Lazy Lightning]

I'm making both white chocolate fudge and Nanaimo bars for our Christmas Open House next weekend - feel free to share the recipes of your favourite Christmastime treats!




Mint Nanaimo Bars

Base:
1 cup (250 mL) butter, melted
2 tbsp (25 mL) granulated sugar
2 eggs
3 cups (750 mL) chocolate cookie crumbs
1 pkg sweetened desiccated coconut

Filling:
1/3 cup (75 mL) butter, melted
1/4 cup (50 mL) milk
1 tbsp (15 mL) peppermint extract
4 cups (1 L) icing sugar
1 green food colouring

Topping:
8 oz (227 gr) semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp (25 mL) butter

Preparation:

In large bowl, whisk together butter, sugar and eggs; stir in cookie crumbs and coconut. Press into greased and parchment paper–lined 13- x 9-inch (3.5 L) metal cake pan.


Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven until firm, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack.

Filling: Meanwhile, in bowl, stir together butter, milk and peppermint extract; beat in sugar until smooth. Beat in food colouring to desired shade. Spread evenly over base. Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes.

Topping: In bowl over saucepan of hot (not boiling) water, melt chocolate with butter; spread over filling. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Score top to form 40 bars; refrigerate until set. Cut into bars. (Make-ahead: Store layered between waxed paper in airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.)

[Mama Kel]

We bake lots of cookies & make chocolate lollipops

[Lazy Lightning]

I'd love a time-tested recipe for rumballs if anyone has one!!!

[fire_rocket]

I love nanaimo bars! I had never had one before until we visited my husband's cousin in Nanaimo a few years ago.

[Lazy Lightning]

They are my Christmas favourites!!!

[nancykind]

my dad has a townhouse near nanaimo and my godmother lives there. i've never heard of these, might have to give them a try

[georgi]

Those mint bars look delicious!

I still have to make my raspberry thumb cookies!

Time is running out so much to do ahhhhh!

[Lazy Lightning]

'Tis the season... If you have any favourite recipes, add 'em here!

[fire_rocket]

This year I'm going back to making banana bread in mason jars as co-worker gifts. They turn out really good and are super easy to make! And what a cool gift.

I'm anxious to start baking but don't want too many goodies around the house just yet.

[kramer]

i used to make two kinds of truffles every year:

Rum Truffles

Ingredients

* 8 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate, chopped
* 1/4 cup cream
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1/2 cup chocolate cake crumbs
* 2 teaspoons dark rum
* 1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles (or shredded coconut... whichever you prefer)

Directions

1. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
2. In a saucepan, combine cream and butter. Place over low heat, and bring to a boil. Pour over chocolate, and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in cake crumbs and rum. Set aside until firm, but not hard.
3. Roll heaping teaspoons of chocolate mixture into balls, then roll in the chocolate sprinkles (or coconut). Place on the prepared tray. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm. Serve in small paper cups.



Kahlua Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon Kahlua
4 ounces milk chocolate
Unsweetened cocoa for dusting


Directions:
Combine the cream and butter in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil.
Pour the cream-and-butter mixture over the chocolate in a large mixing bowl.
Add the Kahlua and stir until smooth.
Chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours or until set.

Using 2 teaspoons, shape the chilled chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls, rolling with the palms of your hands, and set aside on waxed paper.
Chill for 1 hour.
Melt the milk chocolate.
Dip the chilled balls in the milk chocolate and immediately roll each in cocoa.
Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or until the chocolate hardens.
Store in an airtight container between layers of waxed paper.

[kramer]

oh, and this is a tested favorite


Chocolate Almond Rocca

Ingredients

1 1/2 c Chocolate chips
1 1/2 c Whole raw unblanched almonds
2 1/2 c Sugar
1 1/2 c Semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 c Raw walnuts; finely chopped
1 lb Butter

Preparation

Melt butter and sugar in large, heavy saucepan over high heat,
stirring until mixture foams vigorously.
Reduce heat to low and stir 5 minutes.
Increase heat to high and add almonds, stirring until nuts begin to
pop, about 5 minutes, then reduce heat.
Continue to cook 7 minutes. Candy should caramelize slowly to
medium-brown color. If candy darkens too quickly, remove from heat but
continue to stir 7 minutes.

Pour candy into 15- by 10-inch jellyroll pan. Let cool.

Melt chocolate chips in top of double boiler over simmering water.
Spread half of chocolate over candy, then sprinkle with 3/4 cup
chopped walnuts.
Cool, then flip candy over. Coat other side with remaining chocolate
and sprinkle with remaining nuts.
Break into pieces when cool. Store in airtight container.

Yields 1 1/2 pounds, about 60 pieces.

[kramer]

also, these!

Almond-coffee Walnuts

2/3 Cup almond paste, room temperature
2 Tablespoons coffee liqueur (you could even use more... the flavor wasn't very strong)
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder (not granules)
72 walnut halves (about 1 large package)
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted

1. Mix the almond paste, coffee liqueur and coffee powder until smooth.

2. Spread 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture on the flat side of a walnut half and top with another walnut half, forming a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining almond paste and walnuts.

3. Line a large baking sheet with wax paper. Dip one end of the walnut in the melted chocolate and set on the baking sheet. Repeats with the remaining filled walnuts walnuts and chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and store in refrigeration.

[Lazy Lightning]

Those rum truffles sound amazing...

Speaking of rum, does anyone have a killer recipe for rum balls? They're one of my faves, but I have never made them myself...

[kramer]

oh, wait, i thought i was posting a rum ball recipe. you mean it's not just a rum truffle? LOL!

wtf is a rum ball???

[Lazy Lightning]

I guess it's the same thing? Okay, I'm gonna give your recipe a try, then... I'm used to truffles being those things you can get at the Godiva store... Semantics, lol!

[kramer]

if you use the ingredients from the rum truffle recipe, but follow the instructions in the Kahlua truffle recipe, you'll get that creamy center with the hard outer shell... like a Godiva truffle

basically you just melt the bittersweet chocolate/cream/butter/rum... chill the mixture, and then form into balls and dip in the melted milk chocolate, and dust with cocoa powder. YUM!

[Lazy Lightning]

for seasonal goodness!

[Feck]

i no longer have or use the recipie, but i willtake some semi sweet chips, melt them, mix in some gran monier and a dried shredded coconut. then potion it out in the little baby cup cake paper looking things.

i bet they would make a nice truffle as well.

prolly do the same type of deal with almost any liq. and Kramers recipies.
champagne, raspberry brandy, rumplemintz, ..............

[SunshineDrummer]

Speaking of rum, does anyone have a killer recipe for rum balls? They're one of my faves, but I have never made them myself...

This is my friend's mom's recipe that she was willing to share with me. I have been addicted to her rumballs for years and was floored when I found out how easy it is! She's been making these for decades.

Ingredients:

-Brownies (homemade or from a box, doesn't matter)
-Rum
-Cocoa powder, sprinkles, whatever you want to coat them in

Make a pan of brownies. Cut off the ends & eat them (best part, IMHO but you only want the soft part of the brownie for the balls) Crumble the rest of the brownies up. Add rum to taste. Shape into balls. Coat in [your choice here] (I use coca powder and/or chocolate sprinkles).

Voila! Rum balls!

Keep them in the fridge or freezer.

Edited by SunshineDrummer, 19 December 2011 - 06:18 PM.

[nikkiblue]

I like rum.

Great thread... I searched for cookies, so I didnt have to make up a new one...i wish I had found this to keep it bumped.

[kramer]

Thanks for bumping this thread! I made my chocolate almond toffee on xmas eve! It was nice not having to search too hard for the recipe

[Tooozday]

Sorry that it's after Christmas, but here's my family's "killer rum ball" recipe:

2 Tbs melted vegetable shortening
2 Tbs butter, creamed
8 oz dark chocolate, grated (or use a combination of dark and milk, or dark and bittersweet)
1.5 cups grated walnuts
1 Tbs rum (or more)
dash vanilla
unsweetened cocoa powder - preferably not Dutch process - or chocolate shot


Mix vegetable shortening, butter, nuts, chocolate and rum. Add vanilla at the very end. Cover and chill mixture for at least 30 minutes. Form into balls and roll in cocoa or shot. Place wax paper in between layers of rum balls. Store in refrigerator and bring out about 15 minutes before serving.