Making Buckeyes for Christmas and Chocolate Candy Spoons

 

I found these cute little gingerbread tins at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 each regular price. Oh my goodness, do they ever have a ton of cute gingerbread themed items this year! I had so much fun shopping. The tins are the perfect size to fill with treats for Christmas gift giving. I made Buckeyes for Chad to take to some of his co-workers. To make the gift tags I used some red and green glitter wrapping paper. The stamp sentiment came from Stampin Up! The Holiday Twine twine came from Divine Twine. I just love the green and red twist in it!

 

Now onto the recipe...

 

 

Buckeyes Recipe

 

2 1/2 cups peanut butter

1 1/4 cups melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 pound (32 ounce) package powdered sugar

 

2 packages chocolate candy melts

2 teaspoons shortening

 

In a large bowl mix peanut butter, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth. Next add powdered sugar and work dough until completely blended. Line a metal tray with wax paper. Make sure it will lay flat in your freezer. You'll thank me later :) I like to use a melon baller to form the balls for the buckeyes. This helps keep the balls a consistent size, I can make about 12 dozen buckeyes with this recipe. After all the balls are formed place them in the freezer and take a break. That was a ton of work!

 

 

As soon as the balls are frozen, and you are ready to resume the process, it will be time to dip in chocolate. Line another metal cookie sheet with wax paper. Clear a shelf in your refrigerator for the metal tray.  I like to start with one bag of candy melts at a time. Place a small bowl on a potholder, add bag of candy melts and a teaspoon of shortening. Microwave for 1 minute on 50% power. Stir, then continue to microwave at 50% power for 30 second intervals until smooth. Placing the pot holder under the bowl will make it easier to take in and out of the microwave with out burning your hands. You'll thank me for this tip later too :)  Stick a toothpick into a peanut butter ball and dip it in the chocolate, place on cookie sheet. Continue the process until all the balls are dipped.  Since the balls were frozen when dipped in the melted chocolate, the chocolate will harden pretty quickly. Place them in the refrigerator until ready to package, or just begin to enjoy!

 

 

One last tip today, If you use a plastic spoon to stir the chocolate you will be able to use it later to make chocolate dipped spoons. It's a great way to use up any left over chocolate. Plus that means less to clean up.

Fill a coffee mug with candies or homemade cocoa and mini marshmallows and you have a sweet little gift for friends or neighbors. Yummy!

I'm sharing this with Cuttin and Stampin, Fan-Tastic Tuesday, and Papertake Weekly.