Candy Ornaments Recipes

POINSETTIA CANDY ORNAMENTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F; place 1 square of foil on cookie sheet. Because of the variables in how different colors of candies melt and the need to work quickly to complete the ornament after removing it from the oven, baking more than one ornament at a time is not recommended.
• See illustration a. Unwrap only the red candies. On foil, arrange 5 red candies in circle, leaving an opening about 1/2 inch in diameter in the center. With wrappers on, cut 6 green candies in half and 1 green candy into quarters with scissors or knife; remove wrappers.* For leaves, arrange 3 green halves, rounded side out, on 3 sides of the red candies, making sure cut sides touch red candies. Place 1 green quarter of candy in center of red candies. Very carefully transfer cookie sheet to oven, baking only one ornament at a time. (Candies must be fresh in order to melt properly; if they aren't, they will not melt.)
• Bake 3 to 6 minutes, watching closely for candy to melt (melting time will depend on the candy and how much you want the ornament to melt).** Remove from oven; immediately insert end of drinking straw 1/2 inch from top of ornament to create opening for hanging; sprinkle ornament lightly with candy decors. Rotate straw a quarter turn after 30 seconds and again after 1 minute; remove straw (this prevents the straw from sticking to the candy, which could cause the ornament to break when removed).
• Working quickly, form flower petal points by drawing the tip of a toothpick through each candy to form a point. If the candy has cooled too much, return the cookie sheet to the oven and heat 1 to 2 minutes longer and try again. Allow ornament to cool completely on cookie sheet; gently remove foil. Thread ribbon through the hole made with the straw to hang the ornament (see illustration b).

CAKE BALL ORNAMENTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat cake mix, buttermilk, oil, eggs, cocoa and food color with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Crumble cake into large bowl. Add frosting; mix well. Shape into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place on cookie sheet. Freeze 15 minutes. Transfer to refrigerator.
• Dip half of balls in melted green candy and other half in melted red candy; tap off excess. Return to cookie sheet; let stand until set.
• Spoon melted white candy into resealable food-storage plastic bag; cut off tiny corner of bag. Pipe designs on cake balls; let stand until set. Gently press 1 cereal piece on top of each cake ball, attaching with white candy. Pipe dot of candy on cereal piece; attach another cereal piece upright in center for ornament hook.

STAINED-GLASS ORNAMENTS

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
• 2. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar and molasses and beat for 2 minutes. Beat in the water. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture until a soft dough forms.
• 3. Gather the dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• 4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with aluminum foil.
• 5. Divide the dough into thirds. Divide each third into 10 equal pieces. Using your palms, roll each piece on a lightly floured work surface into a rope 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Gently trace the design of your choice onto the prepared cookie sheets (a wooden spoon handle or chopstick works well for tracing on foil). Outline each design with a rope of dough, pressing the ends together to seal securely.
• 6. Sprinkle the inside of each design with the crushed candies, dividing the candies evenly among the outlined designs and creating an even layer.
• 7. Bake in the center of the oven or until the edges of the cookies are golden and the candy has melted, 6 to 9 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheets on wire racks until the candy hardens, about 5 minutes. Gently peel the foil away from the cookies and transfer to the racks to cool completely.

EDIBLE ORNAMENTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl whisk together sugar, meringue powder and water. Using the icing as "glue," create a circle with candy to create a wreath. Decorate as you like with the candies. Allow to dry. When ready add a ribbon to each ornament.

STAINED GLASS CANDY ORNAMENTS

Steps:

• What You Need:Assorted hard candies, Jolly Ranchers, mints, and other hard candiesCookie cutters in holiday shapesBaking sheetNon-stick cooking sprayChopstickAluminum foilRibbon (for hanging the ornaments)What You Do:1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.2. Help your child generously spray the cookie cutters with nonstick spray.3. Help your child wrap the cookie cutters tightly with aluminum foil, leaving the top side uncovered. Place the wrapped cookie cutters on the baking sheet, uncovered side up.4. Have your child place candies into the cookie cutters in a single layer.5. Put the cookie cutters in the oven and let them cook for approximately 8-10 minutes or until the candy is fully melted. Let the candy shapes cool for 4 minutes so they harden slightly.6. Once the candy has cooled slightly, create a hole in each candy shape by inserting the tapered end of the chopstick into each one where you want the ribbon to go.7. Let the candy shapes cool completely. Once cool and hard, carefully remove the candy shapes from the cookie cutter and foil.8. Have your child thread a ribbon through the hole in the ornaments.Now your "glass" ornaments are ready for hanging! Place them on the Christmas tree, hang them in a window, or suspend them from the ceiling for a breathtaking holiday display.

DOUGH ORNAMENT RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix flour and salt well. Gradually add water, stirring with a large spoon. Finish mixing with hands. Knead until soft and pliable.
• Roll out on floured surface about 1/8 inch thick. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheets. With a toothpick make a hole in the top of the ornament for threading string. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) until hard, about 1 hour. Decorate with paint and varnish to preserve.

CANDY ORNAMENTS

Steps:

• You will also need: metal cookie cutters.
• Grease cutters thoroughly.
• Place some hard candies in center of cookie cutter.
• Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 20 minutes on a foil lined and sprayed cookie sheet.
• Cool 5 minutes and then use a toothpick to make hole at top.
• Continue to cool completely.