The holiday season is officially here (just in case the store decorations that went up in October didn't give you enough warning). During the seasonal rush, run to your microwave to make candy in just minutes. All of these recipes are great for gift-giving, too and no candy thermometer required!
Microwave Butter Toffee
Fill your Christmas candy tins or bowls with this golden, nutty
toffee.
Ingredients:
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 cup softened butter
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. dark corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cups chopped walnuts
Directions:
In a large microwave safe bowl, mix sugar, butter, water and corn
syrup. Microwave on high four minutes. Stirring every two minutes,
heat six to eight minutes longer until thickened and gold in color. Add
vanilla; stir well.
Pour mixture into 9x13 dish. Spread chocolate chips over hot toffee. Sprinkle with nuts. Cool completely. Break into pieces.
Two-Minute Microwave Fudge
This fudge will take a teeny bit longer than two minutes before
it's ready to eat, but prep time is a snap!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Directions:
Place ingredients (except nuts) in bowl; do not mix. Microwave on
high power for two minutes. Beat with electric mixer until smooth.
Fold in nuts. Pour mixture into buttered 8x8 dish. Refrigerate
15 to 20 minutes until set.
Easy Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
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Ingredients:
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
12 oz. peanut butter
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
Directions:
In a 1-1/2 quart microwave-proof bowl, melt chocolate and peanut
butter on high power for three minutes. Stir well. Add milk and stir
until well blended. Pour mixture into 8x8 dish lined with waxed
paper. Refrigerate to chill. Makes approximately 42 pieces.
Microwave Hard Candy
Got a sweet tooth? No problem. Now you can make your favorite
hard candy in minutes with the convenience of your microwave.
Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. flavoring*
Food coloring
Directions:
Thoroughly mix sugar and light corn syrup in glass bowl. Cover
with plastic wrap. Microwave on HIGH for three minutes and 15
seconds. Quickly stir the sugar mixture and then cover with a NEW
sheet of plastic wrap. Microwave on high for three minutes and 15
seconds. Remove from microwave and stir.
After boiling has ceased, stir in coloring and flavoring. Pour syrup quickly, onto wax paper covered cookie sheet or into non-stick sprayed molds.
Cool completely before breaking into pieces. Store in airtight container between sheets of waxed paper.
*Flavoring may include lemon, vanilla, cherry, almond, peppermint or other extract.
Microwave tips
- When you try a new microwave recipe, jot down the results right on the recipe so that next time you will know the changes or adjustments you need to make.
- For best results, use metal measuring cups for both liquid and dry measurements. The glass measuring cups normally used for liquid measurement allow too much variation in amounts, producing variations in result.
Note: All microwaves are not created equal. These recipes are
designed to work in a standard household microwave with a power
rating between 600-700 watts. Mini-microwaves and/or commercial
microwaves are not recommended.
About the authors: Kellie and Loretta are chief Lazy Gourmets at LazyGourmets.com. For more great microwave recipes, subscribe to Lazy Gourmets Microwave Magic. It is sent twice monthly and focuses on minute meals from the microwave. Send an e-mail to subscribe_mw@LazyGourmets.com.
