|
Baking Corner
| Regional
Foods | Cooking
Articles
|
Hints & Tips
| Culinary
Dictionary
|
Newspaper
Columns
Why spend money on stale Easter candy when you can very easily make your own? Surprise your
family and friends with this delicious candy. These Easter
candies are so delicious and so rich! You could substitute any candied fruit
of your choice for the cherries. I just like the cherries!
Chocolate Fruit & Nut
Easter Egg Candy Recipe
Recipe Type:
Candy,
Chocolate,
Maraschino Cherries
Yields: 48 small candies
Prep time: 45 min
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
4 ounces light or regular cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups powdered (confectioners') sugar
1/4 cup (4 ounces)
Maraschino Cherries, drained well and finely chopped
1/2 cup finely-chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1 (12-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate
chips*
* Use a good-quality chocolate chips. The taste and quality of your can is dependent
on the quality of chocolate you start with.
Preparation:
In the bowl of your electric mixer, combine the
butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until well mixed. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar.
Either stir in or use your bread kneading blade of
your electric mixer to add the chopped cherries, pecans, and coconut. Knead the
mixture until it is well blended. It should be easy to handle and shape, and not
very sticky. If needed add additional powdered sugar.
Use the palms of your hand to roll small amounts of the candy into an egg shape. NOTE: The amount of candy
you use depends on the size and number of candy eggs that you want to make.
Use additional powdered sugar to prevent the dough from sticking to your
hands. NOTE: If the mixture gets too soft to mold
easily, put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
Place the candy egg shapes on a wax paper,
parchment paper, or
Silicone Baking Mat lined
cookie sheets. Refrigerator for several hours or overnight.
Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave oven or in a double boiler (see below).
 Double Boiler:
In the top of a double boiler over hot water, not boiling water (don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the water, melt chocolate; stirring
until smooth. Be careful boiling water may cause steam droplets to get into chocolate which can result in "seizing," when the chocolate becomes stiff
and grainy. If you don't have a double boiler you can improvise one by placing a glass or stainless steel bowl over a pot
of simmering water. Once the chocolate has melted, I turn the heat to low and leave on the burner while dipping. This keeps the chocolate from setting
up to soon.
Remove the prepared candy eggs from your refrigerator.
Dip each candy egg in the melted chocolate to coat, then lay on either wax paper,
parchment paper, or
Silicone Baking Mat lined
cookie sheet and allow the chocolate to harden. TIP: Using a
toothpick to hold the balls, dip each ball into chocolate mixture to coat; place onto wax paper to harden. If the
candy eggs start getting too soft to cover with chocolate, place them back in the refrigerator for a few minutes before proceeding.
If desired, you may decorate your chocolate eggs with pastel colored sprinkles found in the cake/decorating
section at the grocery store.
Makes approximately 48 small Chocolate Easter Egg Candies.
| 
