Easy Holiday Candy Recipes

Making Christmas candy doesn't have to be a daunting. You don't have to be Betty Crocker or even own a candy thermometer to make some great holiday treats that you will be proud to give as gifts. My favorite Christmas candy recipes are also the easiest. Here are a few of my super lazy cook's best Christmas candy stand-bys:

English Toffee Candy

1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 lb. butter (real butter: no substitutes)
3 tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. pecans
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix sugar, butter, water and vanilla in a non-stick skillet, preferably with a heavy bottom, and cook (stirring constantly) until brown. The mixture will start out a light creamy color, but after about ten minutes changes to a caramel brown color. When it turns the right color it's finished. In case you're unsure this should be hard crack stage, but the color change is a reliable indicator. Put in 3/4 cup of chopped pecans. Pour onto a buttered sheet pan (the kind with raised sides). Hint: If you have a non-stick pan you needn't butter it. Sprinkle semi-sweet chocolate chips across the hot surface. When they melt spread them evenly. Sprinkle nuts on top, if desired. Cool and break into pieces. I have also used walnuts and almonds.

English toffee is wonderful and super easy, but perhaps even easier is making candied pecans. I like to save glass jars, removing the labels, and refill them with the candied pecans. You can decorate the lid with a simple ribbon, or if you're craftier, you can hot-glue some small holiday ornaments to the lid. These also are great on salads.

Candied Pecans

2 cups pecans
1 egg white
1 Tbsp water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves