Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

 I always loved going up the ‘path’ to visit Grandmama Elliott for our 30-minute visits in the afternoon. We would sit out on the porch swing and eat ‘birthday chocolates’ while talking about school or whatever was going on that day.

At birthday parties, it seems that Grandmama was concerned that the smaller kids would feel left out when the birthday person opened their presents. She used to buy the miniature ‘Reece's Peanut Butter Cups’ in the box to wrap and give as a gift to the others. Those Reece's Peanut Butter Cups became known as ‘Birthday Chocolates.’ Grandmama seemed to always keep some on hand. Here's a recipe to make your own. It's fun and tasty too!

Peanut Butter Cups

2 cups milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

In a small bowl, melt 1cup chips and 1 T shortening in microwave for 1 minute, stir and microwave for an additional 30 seconds or until melted and smooth. Do this in steps so the chocolate doesn't harden before you finish filling the cups...

In 2-quart saucepan combine butter or margarine and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in confectioners' sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Let mixture cool completely.

The easiest way to make the cups is to use some sort of squeeze bottle, or maybe even a plastic bag with one corner cut to fill the cups. First, line your cups with the paper or use a mold*. Form all of the balls of the PB mixture by rolling about a teaspoon of the dough in your hands and forming it into a ball. Set the PB balls on a cookie sheet. Fill a squeeze bottle with chocolate, squeeze a bottom into all of the cups, place a peanut butter ball in the middle of the chocolate and then squeeze the remaining chocolate in around the sides and tops of the cups. Freeze until firm. Store refrigerated.

*If you look in kitchen specialty shops or candy making equipment shops, you can find the plastic candy cup molds to make these. You follow the same procedure as above. When chilled, they just pop right out when you bend the mold back and forth!

Pilgrim Hats

I should have made this post before Thanksgiving, but I didn't make them until yesterday. They were so cute that I had to share them. Bookmark or Pin them so you can make them next year... Or for fun, use green and red to make them Christmas Pilgrim Hats! LOL

For each cookie you need...

1 fudge striped shortbread cookie, turned upside down
Icing, your choice (I used cream cheese icing.)
Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Orange gummy candy, cut in tiny squares for the buckle

Place the cookie up-side down. My sister-in-law, Pam, found out it was easier to put a big dollop of icing on top of the reese's cup and turn it over onto the cookie. (She figured that out on the last one... she said!!! Not me! LOL) Then attach the candy for the buckle... Voila! :-)

CANDY!!!!!!

Almond Bark

1 Cup Whole blanched almonds
1 Tsp. Butter
1 Lb. White chocolate

This is a microwave recipe. Place almonds and butter in a 9−inch glass pie plate. Cook on high (max. power) 4 to 5 1/2 minutes, or until almonds are toasted, stirring twice during cooking. Set aside. Place chocolate in large microwave proof mixing bowl and cook on high (max. power) 2 1/2 to 3
minutes, or until softened. Stir in almonds and pour onto waxed paper lined
baking sheet. Spread to desired thickness and refrigerate until set. Break
into serving size pieces.


Almond Joy Bars

4 c (8 1/2−oz) shredded coconut
1/4 c Light corn syrup
1 pk (11 1/2−oz) milk chocolate pieces
1/4 c Vegetable shortening
26 Whole natural almonds (1−oz)

Line two large cookie sheets with waxed paper. Set large wire cooling rack
on paper; set aside.
Place coconut in large bowl; set aside.

Place corn syrup in a 1−cup glass measure. Microwave on high (100%) 1 minute
or until syrup boils. Immediately pour over coconut. Work warm syrup into
coconut using the back of a wooden spoon until coconut is thoroughly coated.

This takes a little time, and yes, there is enough syrup.
Using 1 level measuring tablespoon of coconut, shape into a ball by
squeezing coconut firmly in palm of one hand, then rolling between both
palms. (HINT: Measure out all of the coconut then roll into balls.) Place 2
inches apart on wire racks. Let dry 10 minutes. Reroll coconut balls so
there are no loose ends of coconut sticking up.
Place milk chocolate and shortening in a 4−cup glass measure or 1 1/2 quart
microwave−safe bowl. Microwave on high 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture can
be stirred smooth and is glossy; stirring once or twice.

Working quickly, spoon 1 level measuring tablespoon of the chocolate
over each coconut ball, making sure chocolate coats and letting excess
chocolate drip down onto waxed paper. While chocolate coating is still soft,
lightly press whole almond on top of each. Let stand to set or place
in refrigerator. Store in a single layer in airtight container.
Keeps best if refrigerated. Makes 26.


Baby Ruth Bars

1 1/3 cups margarine
2 cups brown sugar
1/3 cup white corn syrup
8 cups oatmeal
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter

Melt margarine. Add brown sugar, syrup, peanut butter,
oatmeal and vanilla. Put in 9x13 cake pan.
Bake 350 for about 15 minutes.

Topping:

6 oz. package. chocolate chips
1/2 6 oz. package butterscotch chips
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup chopped nuts/peanuts

Melt together and spread on top. Cut into bars when cool.


Butterfingers

1 Cup Peanut Butter
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water

Melted Milk Chocolate

Cook syrup, sugar, and water to 310 F. Remove from heat.
Stir in warmed peanut butter (warm slightly in microwave)
until well blended. Pour into a greased (buttered) 8" X 8" pan.
Score mixture into desired size bars.
When COMPLETELY cool, dip in melted milk chocolate
(use a double boiler to SLOWLY melt) and set on wax paper
until chocolate has hardened.


Goo Goo Clusters

1 large bag miniature marshmallows
1 bag chocolate chips
2 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 can Eagle Brand milk
2 tsp. butter

Melt chocolate chips in pan with Eagle Brand milk.
While this is heating, mix marshmallows and peanuts in a large
bowl. Pour melted mixture over nuts and marshmallows. Mix
together. Pour in buttered pan. Chill 2 hours and cut.


Kit Kat Bars

Ritz Crackers
1 1/2 cups graham crackers, crushed
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup milk
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup peanut butter

Put graham crackers, brown sugar, white sugar, butter and
milk into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.
Put a layer of crackers in a 9x13 inch pan and pour 1/2 of
the mixture over it. Put another layer of crackers and pour
the remaining mixture. Add one last row of crackers.
Melt, over low heat, the butterscotch chips, chocolate chips,
and peanut butter. When melted, spread evenly over the top.
When cool, cut into desired bars or squares.


Old Fashioned Hard Candy

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light Karo syrup
1/2 cup water

Stir over low heat until dissolved. Turn heat to high.
Using a candy thermometer cook until temperature reads
310 F. REMOVE IMMEDIATELY and pour into an 8" greased
metal pan. After a few minutes check for firmness and
when you can cut and a top imprint holds, start cutting
with a knife one way in one inch sections, turn pan and make
one inch squares. Continuously cut squares, working fast,
until squares are almost cut through to the bottom. Turn
out into wax paper, and finish breaking by hand.

Flavorings and Colors (a few drops of food coloring)
1/4 tsp. peppermint oil − green
1/4 tsp. clove oil − yellow
1/4 tsp. cinnamon oil − red
1/4 tsp. lemon oil − yellow

Mix desired color and flavor in the beginning with sugar, syrup, and water.


Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups salted peanuts (or, try cashews for a unique flavor!)
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy 3−quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches the soft crack stage (285 degrees F.) on the candy thermometer. Add the peanuts and butter. Cook, stirring constantly, to the hard crack stage (300 degrees F.) on the candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. Rapidly stir in the baking soda and vanilla. (Mixture will foam up.) Turn the mixture onto 2 greased baking sheets. Spread out with a metal spatula as thin as possible. When the candy begins to set, loosen from the baking sheets. Turn the brittle over, then stretch and pull brittle as thin as possible using two forks. When completely cooled, break into pieces.

Peanut Butter Cups

2 cups milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

In a small bowl, melt 1cup chips and 1 T shortening in microwave for 1 minute, stir and microwave for an additional 30 seconds or until melted and smooth. Do this in steps so the chocolate doesn't harden before you finish filling the cups...

In 2-quart saucepan combine butter or margarine and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in confectioners' sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Let mixture cool completely.

Snickers Candy Bar

1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/8 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups powdered sugar
35 individual Kraft caramels
1 cup dry−roasted unsalted peanuts
1 − 12 oz. bag milk−chocolate chips

With the mixer on high speed, combine the corn syrup, butter, vanilla,
peanut butter, and salt until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar.
When the mixture has the consistency of dough, remove it from the bowl
with your hands and press it into a lightly greased 9x9−inch pan. Put in
the refrigerator.
Melt the caramels in a small pan over low heat. When the caramel is
soft, mix in the peanuts. Pour the mixture over the refrigerated nougat
in the pan. Let this cool in the refrigerator.
When the refrigerated mixture is firm, melt the chocolate over low heat
in a double boiler or in a microwave oven set on high for 2 minutes.
Stir halfway through cooking time. When the mixture in the pan has
hardened, cut it into 2x1−inch sections. Set each chunk onto a fork
and dip into the melted chocolate. Tap the fork against the side of the
bowl or pan to knock off any excess chocolate. Then place the chunks on
waxed paper to cool at room temperature, or refrigerate for quicker cooling.


Twix Bars

35 individual Kraft caramels
1/4 cup water
1 box Nabisco Lorna Doone shortbread (about 40)
2 − 12 oz. bags milk chocolate chips

Combine the caramels with the water in a small pan and melt over
low heat. Place the shortbread cookies side by side on an ungreased
cookie sheet. Spoon a small amount of caramel onto each cookie.
Refrigerate cookies until the caramel is firm.
In the meantime, in a double boiler over low heat, melt the chocolate
chips. You may also use the microwave for melting the chocolate.
Just heat the chips for 1 minute on high, stir, then heat for
another minute.

Remove the cookies from the refrigerator. Rest each one on a fork and
dip it into the chocolate. Tap the fork on the side of the pan or bowl
to knock off any excess chocolate. Then place each one on a sheet
of waxed paper and let them cool at room temperature (65−70F).
This could take several hours, but the bars will set best this way.
If you want to speed up the process, put the candy in the
refrigerator for 30 minutes.


Wendy's Frosty

1 cup Milk
1/2 cup Nestle's Quik
3 cups Softened Vanilla ice cream, place in refrigerator for 1 hour

Blend Milk and Quik for 10 seconds on high speed.
"Pulse" in the ice cream until barely mixed.