Festive Christmas Candy Recipes

When the holidays start drawing near, most of us drool with anticipation while thoughts of festive Christmas candy recipes dance in our heads. Creating traditional or old family recipes like creamy milk chocolate, minty peppermint, chewy nougat or a sensational gourmet candy found only during the holidays is a great way to bring the family together. Thankfully there are plenty of Christmas candy recipes to choose from.

If you can't find a recipe that produces a special reminder of past Christmases, you can always select a new favorite from the following recipes.

Stained Glass Windows Recipe

Ingredients You Will Need:
½ package 12-ounce semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ package 12-ounce milk chocolate chips
½ cup pecans
½ cup walnuts
1 10 ½ ounce bag of colored miniature marshmallows
1 stick margarine
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

This recipe will make about a dozen cathedral windows that are coated in milk chocolate and about a dozen that are coated in semi-sweet chocolate. For ease, make one batch at a time.

Use a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the milk chocolate chips and ½ stick of margarine. Melt and cool. After the chocolate has cooled, add half the marshmallows and the pecans. Stir the marshmallows and nuts until just coated.

Lay a sheet of waxed paper on the counter and pour ½ cup coconut down the center. Spoon the marshmallow mixture down the center of the waxed paper, directly over the coconut, and then roll it into a log. Evenly sprinkle additional coconut over the entire log and wrap tightly with the waxed paper. If you need more than a cup of coconut, use more. You want a generous helping of coconut in every bite.

Cool in the refrigerator before cutting. Use a very sharp knife to cut the log into slices.

Follow the same directions for the semisweet chocolate recipe, using walnuts instead of pecans. Stained glass windows may be considered old-fashioned by some, but it's such an easy and delicious candy and brings so much pizzazz to the table, that it will easily become a family favorite.

Cherry Nut Nougat Recipe

Ingredients You Will Need:
2 cups white sugar
1 ½ cups light corn syrup
½ teaspoon salt
�" cup water
2 egg whites
½ teaspoon vanilla oil
½ teaspoon almond oil
3 tablespoons butter, softened
½ cup almonds
½ cup pistachios
½ cup red and green glazed cherries

Prepare a 9x9 inch pan by lining it with foil. Spray the bottom and sides for ease in removing the nougat after it has set.

In a medium sized, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, salt and water. Stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Continue cooking until the syrup has reached 250 degrees and is at the soft ball stage.

While you wait for the syrup to reach the soft-ball stage, whisk the egg whites into stiff peaks using an electric beater. As soon as the syrup has reached the desired stage, pour about ¼ of the mixture in with the eggs, whisking the entire time. Return the rest of the syrup to the stove and continue to boil until it reaches 300 degrees or the hard-crack stage.

Add the rest of the syrup to the egg mixture and beat until the mixture is thick and forms stiff peaks. Add the almond extract and the butter and beat until the candy becomes creamy. Immediately pour in the nuts and cherries and stir until mixed.

Spoon or pour the nougat into the pan and press firmly. Let the candy cool for several hours. Use a sharp knife to cut the nougat into bite-size pieces. Wrap the individual pieces in clear plastic wrap to ensure their vibrant color isn't overlooked.

You can turn this nougat into a pistachio delight. Instead of red and green cherries, use beautiful green pistachio nuts and add a bit of green food coloring to the nougat. Or use ½ cup green pistachio nuts and another ½ cup of roasted, red-dyed pistachio nuts.