Maple Nut Chocolate Candies – these little morsels are packed full of maple flavor, crunchy nuts and are coated with a rich chocolate shell.
I am notorious for “over” baking for Christmas {as if there is such a thing!}. I love making tons of candies and cookies to share with friends and family. It is so fun preparing little packages filled with treats that I know are going to make the recipients smile 🙂 Plus, I get the added benefit of trying new recipes and indulging in delicious sweets all season long!
One of my very favorite flavors is maple. Maple bars, maple syrup, and Maple Nut Chocolate Candies – oh yeah! These little morsels are packed full of maple flavor, crunchy nuts and are coated with a rich chocolate shell. I like to package candies and truffles in some parchment paper and tissue or wrapping paper and make like Christmas poppers out of them – so fun! Who doesn’t like unwrapping presents and who wouldn’t like to find some homemade candies inside???
- 1 stick {1/2 cup} butter, cubed
- 1 can {14 oz} sweetened condensed milk
- 2 lbs confectioners’ sugar
- 2 cups chopped nuts {pecans or walnuts}
- 2 1/2 tsp maple flavoring
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 24 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tsp shortening
- Combine sweetened condensed milk and butter in a small saucepan. Heat on low until butter is melted. Remove from heat.
- While the butter is melting, put the sugar in a large bowl. Add the milk and butter mixture to the bowl and beat until nice and smooth.
- Stir in the chopped nuts, maple flavoring, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.
- Roll into 3/4 in – 1 in balls and place on waxed paper lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until very firm {1-2 hours}.
- Melt chips and shortening in a microwave safe container. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until chips are melted and chocolate is smooth.
- Dip the balls into the chocolate allowing the excess to drip off.
- Place balls onto waxed paper and let stand until chocolate is set.
- Store in an airtight container.
I do my chocolate dipping in batches. I heat up half of the chocolate and shortening and dip the balls and then heat up the the other half and dip the remaining. You can also freeze the balls before they are dipped. Just thaw the candy before dipping into the melted chocolate.
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home magazine.
Maple Nut Chocolate Candies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter 1 stick - cubed
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk 1 can
- 2 lbs confectioners' sugar
- 2 cups nuts chopped - pecans or walnuts
- 2 1/2 tsp maple flavoring
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 24 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tsp shortening
Instructions
- Combine sweetened condensed milk and butter in a small saucepan. Heat on low until butter is melted. Remove from heat.
- While the butter is melting, put the sugar in a large bowl. Add the milk and butter mixture to the bowl and beat until nice and smooth.
- Stir in the chopped nuts, maple flavoring, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.
- Roll into 3/4 in - 1 in balls and place on waxed paper lined baking sheets.
- Refrigerate until very firm {1-2 hours}.
- Melt chips and shortening in a microwave safe container. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until chips are melted and chocolate is smooth.
- Dip the balls into the chocolate allowing the excess to drip off.
- Place balls onto waxed paper and let stand until chocolate is set.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home magazine.
Nutrition
Jessi @ Practically Functional says
Ooh, those look yummy! Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!
emily says
these really look amazing! I also loved your wooden snowmen, but I didn’t think it was fair to give you two features :o) This recipe IS being featured though! Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays at Nap-Time Creations. The features are already up on Facebook and the new party with features will go live Monday night at 8:30 pm. http://www.nap-timecreations.com/2012/12/b-inspired-mama-guest-post-delightful.html
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh thank you Emily!
Donna Howard says
I am doing the over baking thing as well!! So let me ask you, do you give the things away as you bake, or can you freeze some of these goodies! I’m just starting on being generous and giving away!!! ha ha
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You can totally freeze them! For these particular candies it’s best to freeze them before you cover in chocolate.
Noelle says
wow these look delicious! i can’t wait to try them!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
How simple do these look? What a great gift they would make. Thanks for sharing. Just pinned!
Rita says
Maple is one of my favorite flavors, so these look wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Shauna @Satori Design for Living says
I’m definitely going to give these a try this Christmas. Lovely pics too!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
No such thing as overbaking during the holiday season! 🙂 I love the maple in these! Thanks so much for linking up at What’s In Your Kitchen Wednesday!
Shiloh Barkley says
Your comment luv thing gives this message. “It appears that you are offline or another error occured contacting the API url, have you set it to use www or missed the www off the api url?? check the technical settings and add or remove www from the api url.”
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hi Shiloh 🙂 I tried to get that error to repeat and was unable to. Can you let me know if that happens again?
Shiloh Barkley says
This sounds like a super recipe!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks Shiloh!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I love these Trish! Maple is one of my favorite candies. Pinned!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Mmmm I love maple ANYTHING! Thanks Dororthy!
Tessa says
Hey from tessacotton! Love your creation. I would be so thrilled if you would link up to my new, Christmas themed linky party!
http://tessacotton.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-linky-party.html
Laurie @ Simply Creating Home says
I love to make candy for gifts and these look yummy and pretty, too! My favorite candy to give as a gift is a mixed nut brittle – it’s so good and after so many years it’s simply tradition! Merry Christmas!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Ooh that sounds delicious! I just love traditiions 🙂 Especially yummy ones!
Bonny @ thedomesticatedprincess.com says
YUM! These look amazing. I hope you’ll share this post on our Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap: http://thedomesticatedprincess.blogspot.com/.
Spencer says
Looks awesome! I reckon I could eat about 100 of them!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
You and Reece both! He has no concept of limits with candy 🙂