3 Chocolate and Candy Cane Treats

Candy cane lovers are going to enjoy these delicious holiday treats! Watch for those candy cane sales. Though at this time of year, the candy canes may be easier to find than the chocolate, so when you find either of them stock up! These treats are bound to be a favorite this holiday season, and you may find yourself wanting to make more. Perfect for gift giving, put some pieces in a cellophane bag, or airtight container for Teachers, neighbors, co-workers or friends.

Marbled Chocolate Candy Cane Delight

Ingredients:
1 pound dark chocolate
1 pound white chocolate
30 small peppermint candy canes
**If it’s not the holidays get a bag or two of the red and white peppermint candies

Directions:

1. Put dark chocolate in a microwave bowl and heat on high setting in microwave 2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir chocolate about every 30 seconds to make sure lumps are melting.
2. Heat and melt the white chocolate in microwave bowl, the same way you did with dark chocolate.
3. Put candy canes in a large Ziploc bag and do whatever you want to do to smash them up, hit them with a meat mallet, smack them off the counter, drop them, whatever gets them broken into pieces. The kids will be sure to want to help with this step.
4. Place half the crushed candy canes in a strainer and shake small crumbs into dark chocolate. Place the remaining crushed candy into strainer and shake crumbs into white chocolate.
5. Line a 9X9X9 baking pan with heavy aluminum foil. Spread dark chocolate out into bottom of pan. Spread white chocolate over the dark chocolate in pan. For marbling effect run a wooden skewer, or knife several times up and down the length of the pan.
6. Sprinkle the rest of the crushed candy canes over the top.

Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours. When hardened break up pieces of candy by dropping straight down on the counter.

Chocolate Candy Cane Brittle

Ingredients:
2 pounds white, milk or dark chocolate
30 peppermint candy canes**

Directions:

1. First, crush up the candy canes, or peppermint candy pieces.
2. Melt the chocolate, in a microwave bowl, on high setting in microwave 2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir chocolate about every 30 seconds to make sure there are no lumps. You want completely melted and smooth white chocolate.
3. Stir broken candy pieces into the melted chocolate and spread the mixture evenly into a jellyroll pan. *Tip ~ line the jellyroll pan with foil first for easy removal and clean up.
4. Chill until set, about 2 hours.
5. Break into pieces by dropping on counter and store in a sealed container.

Quick Homemade Chocolate (Mint) Truffles

Ingredients:
1 small bag of milk chocolate chips or baking pieces
2 tablespoon unsalted, real butter
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup bakers’ unsweetened cocoa
1/2 confectioner’s sugar
finely-crushed candy canes**

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate and butter together in a double boiler over low heat.
2. Slowly stir in cream; mix until blend looks smooth and silky.
3. Chill until well set.
4. Once chocolate is firm, scoop out and roll into small balls.
5. Roll balls into cocoa, powdered sugar, or finely-crushed candy cane.
6. Place in a container and refrigerate until serving.