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 {14Â 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.
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