I'm addicted to balls.

[backyard]

Peanut butter balls (a.k.a. "Buckeyes"), that is. People all around me are making them by the thousands and I'm eating them by, at least, the hundreds.

What's your holiday food addiction?

[Lungfish]

Christmas pudding and custard.

[SmartAleq]

I just made some of these Mocha Nut Balls and they were mind-bogglingly delicious--and much less sweet than the average holiday treat. I was bummed that I gave so many away and my friends and I snarfed so many last night that I did not have one to go with my morning coffee, because I suspect that would have been AWESOME. I'm working on persuading myself to make another batch all for ME.

[backyard]

Feel free to share that recipe. We should all be able to partake of delicious balls this holiday season. Or anytime, for that matter.

[Panacea]

I don't think I've ever had a buckeye. One day I should make some.

I like any kind of christmas cookies, but I'm particularly fond of a shortbread refrigerator cookie which has cherries and pecans in it.

[Salambo]

This year I am addicted to this recipe for Brown Sugar Fudge. Or Penuche, which is funner to say.

It's incredibly bad for you and I'm getting a zit. I have to stop.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by NinetyWt

I don't think I've ever had a buckeye. One day I should make some.

Paging The Artist Formerly Known as Opal.....


And here I thought that SA was making my recipe for Mocha Nut Butterballs. Hmmph. I posted it in the recipe thread and everything. The linked one is so similar as to be the same, really....


I love buckeyes, mocha nut balls, just about any Xmas cookie, really.... Not rum balls, though.

[Scarlett67]

Some crack dealer candy maker posted a recipe for pretzel turtles, either here or on the Dope, and now I'm addicted to the little fuckers.

Spread waffle-shaped pretzels on a cookie sheet
Top each with one Rolo candy
Bake @ 350°F for about 5 minutes, just enough to soften the chocolate
Press a pecan half into each Rolo
Cool

I triple-dog-dare you to stay out of these.

[Salambo]

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

Some crack dealer candy maker posted a recipe for pretzel turtles, either here or on the Dope, and now I'm addicted to the little fuckers.

T'was me. I'm not sorry.

There are other purty good recipes in that thread, too. I love Christmas.

[Hockey Monkey]

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

Some crack dealer candy maker posted a recipe for pretzel turtles, either here or on the Dope, and now I'm addicted to the little fuckers.

Spread waffle-shaped pretzels on a cookie sheet
Top each with one Rolo candy
Bake @ 350°F for about 5 minutes, just enough to soften the chocolate
Press a pecan half into each Rolo
Cool

I triple-dog-dare you to stay out of these.

I made some just now. 5 minutes was a little too long in my oven. I'll have to try again with another batch. Oh well.

[whirlingbladesofkick]

Originally Posted by Hockey Monkey

I made some just now. 5 minutes was a little too long in my oven. I'll have to try again with another batch. Oh well.

I just got back from the store with stuff to make these and the nut clusters. I got the waffle pretzels, the Rolos, and...roasted salted pecan halves! MMMMmmmm

Oh, and for the nut clusters, now they have bags of chocolate AND peanut butter chips...in the same bag!

[Panacea]

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

I think you might have to bake them a little longer; they're a lot stiffer and chewier than a Rolo. Please report back!

The Riessen worked fine; there were only 30 in the bag but they're bigger, so I just cut them in half. 4 minutes at 300 was perfect.


The candy made with the hugs took a little more caution. About 5 minutes was right, but it's hard to catch them gooey enough without going over the edge to crumbly.

[Nonacetone]

I simply ADORE Buckeyes!

I also love those damned No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies that they used to serve us in grade school. I make them every Christmas. It's on my list for this week!

[Nonacetone]

Scarlett, I have been looking for those damned Rollos for two weeks! I can't find any at all! I did find the EMPTY space on the shelves where they USED TO BE, but they sold out, and after checking, they didn't even have any in the back. Three stores! NOTHING! I'm fit to be tied.

[Scarlett67]

Mwaaa-haaa-haaa, I have a whole bag here, just waiting to be turtleized!

[SmartAleq]

Originally Posted by Nonacetone

Scarlett, I have been looking for those damned Rollos for two weeks! I can't find any at all! I did find the EMPTY space on the shelves where they USED TO BE, but they sold out, and after checking, they didn't even have any in the back. Three stores! NOTHING! I'm fit to be tied.

If you can find some mint M&Ms I'm sure Dirx would be more than happy to swap you--he was quite disgruntled that his local stores had replaced the M&Ms with Rolos and kicked up quite a fuss.

[SmartAleq]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

And here I thought that SA was making my recipe for Mocha Nut Butterballs. Hmmph. I posted it in the recipe thread and everything. The linked one is so similar as to be the same, really....

I didn't notice you linked to a recipe or I'd have been all over yours--but the consensus of about ten different recipes came down to that being just about definitive so I ran with it because that site will redo your ingredient amounts for larger or smaller batches and I wanted a 1.5x recipe. Now I'm wishing I'd just doubled it, because they are JUST THAT GOOD. I found adorable little square gift boxes at the Dollar Tree that exactly hold 16 of those little morsels with some plastic wrap lining the box so I filled up the boxes then tied them shut with some lovely ivory cotton lace I had laying around. Talk about your presentation--I haz it!

[Jaglavak]

[bullhorn]
PUT DOWN THE BROWN SUGAR AND STEP AWAY FROM THE MIXING BOWL!!
I REPEAT, STEP AWAY FROM. THE. MIXING BOWL!!!
[/bullhorn]

[SmartAleq]

YOU'RE no fun! *kicks dirt all over Jag's shoes*

[The Artist formerly known as Opal]

I will Never use the term "b*ck Eyes" That's simply horrifying and totally anti vegan term. I feel as if I've been raped every time some one uses that term. It's just like the Holocaust. You people have no sense of decorum. It makes me want to vomit. Fortunately, when I vomit, I'm able to use the results as part of my Art. But that doesn't mean that it's OK to call that confection by that totally odious and profane term.

[Salambo]

C'mere, Opie. I'ma buckeye you right in the buckeye. Keep your buckeyes open for it.

[Wolf Larsen]

See's candy. We only buy it at Christmas time.

[Panacea]

Salambo, that candy is the perfect thing to take over to my ex-SiL's when I go to pick up the china cabinet. Peace offering and all that.

[Wolf Larsen]

A co-worker's wife makes buckeyes and he brings them in to work. They rate a big "meh" from me. Her cookies on the other hand are pretty good and he shares them generously.

[whirlingbladesofkick]

This is a serious question (just a warning to all you snark monsters): Do buckeyes normally have crispedy rice in the peanut butter part?

TIA.

ETA: Another serious question: Salambo, have you had Southern pralines? Is brown sugar fudge that consistency/texture? Is it a teeny bit (and deliciously) grainy?

[Salambo]

Originally Posted by whirlingbladesofkick

ETA: Another serious question: Salambo, have you had Southern pralines? Is brown sugar fudge that consistency/texture? Is it a teeny bit (and deliciously) grainy?

I haven't had Southern pralines, but this fudge, cooked to soft ball, comes out with a velvety melt-in-your-mouth texture. However, I think if you cooked it just a smidge longer (a couple degrees longer, not all the way to firm ball; 238-242 should do it), I could see it coming out firmer with a hint of grainy mouthfeel. A soft ball praline is what I assume you are talking about, not the hard ones? Brown sugar and heavy cream will make a lovely creamy praline. Add vanilla and pecans. I don't have a recipe offhand, but that's what you'd start with. 240 is a good temp to stop at.

Hard praline requires your temp to get all the way up to 320, but it sounds like we're talking about the softer, creamier stuff.


To any aspiring candy makers: BE CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING HOT SUGAR. It's like dealing with molten lava. You can get hurt! Lay all of your ingredients and equipment out beforehand where you can easily reach it. Set out potholders and such to protect your counters ahead of time. Use your oven mitts when holding your pot.

[whirlingbladesofkick]

Originally Posted by Salambo

I haven't had Southern pralines, but this fudge, cooked to soft ball, comes out with a velvety melt-in-your-mouth texture. However, I think if you cooked it just a smidge longer (a couple degrees longer, not all the way to firm ball; 238-242 should do it), I could see it coming out firmer with a hint of grainy mouthfeel. A soft ball praline is what I assume you are talking about, not the hard ones? Brown sugar and heavy cream will make a lovely creamy praline. Add vanilla and pecans. I don't have a recipe offhand, but that's what you'd start with. 240 is a good temp to stop at.

Hard praline requires your temp to get all the way up to 320, but it sounds like we're talking about the softer, creamier stuff.


To any aspiring candy makers: BE CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING HOT SUGAR. It's like dealing with molten lava. You can get hurt! Lay all of your ingredients and equipment out beforehand where you can easily reach it. Set out potholders and such to protect your counters ahead of time. Use your oven mitts when holding your pot.

I've never tried to make southern style pralines (they're round and kind of flat) but they taste like Brown Sugar of the Gods.

[Salambo]

Originally Posted by whirlingbladesofkick

I've never tried to make southern style pralines (they're round and kind of flat) but they taste like Brown Sugar of the Gods.

You are speaking my language. Must try! Damnit, out of pecans... I don't want to go back out into the fray this close to Christmaaaaas! *whine*

They probably wouldn't work so well with any other nut, huh? I have sliced almonds, walnuts, raw peanuts... I could crack filberts for a while... but no pecans. Sigh. Wait!

...no. Never mind. Thought I'd had the wherewithal to buy some a couple days ago. I didn't.

Welp, gonna have to make more fudge.

[Wolf Larsen]

No.

[backyard]

The best buckeyes, in my opinion, are made with creamy PB without crispies and not with chunky PB.

[backyard]

P.S. Can someone clue me the hell in about Opal and the Buckeyes?

[Scarlett67]

Over on the Durp she asked for a recipe for peanut butter balls. Somebody told her they're known as "buckeyes." She got upset because she's a vegetarian and doesn't want to think of them as being named for a part of a dead animal. Explanations that they are named after the tree nut that they resemble (which was probably named after said dead animal part) fell on deaf ears. So now she is mercilessly razzed about it.

I can't be arsed to dig up the link.

ETA: OK, guess I can: need to recreate an old recipe for peanut butter balls Wow, I thought it was more recent than that. How time flies.

[wring]

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

Over on the Durp she asked for a recipe for peanut butter balls. Somebody told her they're known as "buckeyes." She got upset because she's a vegetarian and doesn't want to think of them as being named for a part of a dead animal. Explanations that they are named after the tree nut that they resemble (which was probably named after said dead animal part) fell on deaf ears. So now she is mercilessly razzed about it.

I can't be arsed to dig up the link.

ETA: OK, guess I can: need to recreate an old recipe for peanut butter balls Wow, I thought it was more recent than that. How time flies.

You forgot to mention she was a resident of OHIO at the time. You know, Ohio, the like University of Ohio Buckeyes....

[Chacoguy]

Scissorjack's post of "No-eye deer". was probably my all-time favorite.

[backyard]

No link needed, but I thanks you for the info.

I don't read or participate over there, so I'm dopedum.

[Nonacetone]

HA! I found the Rolos! I bought the last two bags on the shelves!
I've already made a few Rolo Turtles, and OMG...So good!

[jali]

I love malty balls. With sea salt.

Salty malty balls. Mmmmm.

[SmartAleq]

Trader Joe's had dark chocolate/espresso covered malt balls that were to die for--I won't even look to see if they still stock them because I would eat them all and feel terrible about it. The memory, though, it haunts me yet... *wipes drool*

[3acres]

My favorite is homemade original Tollhouse cookies made from the recipe on the bag. No nuts or any other 'improvements'. Just cookies with that sweet chewy thing going on, combined with the perfect distribution of lumps of soft melty chocolate.

[Panacea]

I went to two different stores and the Rollos were all sold out. The first store didn't have waffle pretzels either; I got the last two bags at the second store.

I bought a bag of a candy called Riessen. It's basically chocolate-covered caramels; I'm going to try that.

I noticed that Hershey's now makes a Kiss that is chocolate-covered caramel. I would have tried that but it was $1 more a bag.

[Scarlett67]

Originally Posted by NinetyWt

I bought a bag of a candy called Riessen. It's basically chocolate-covered caramels; I'm going to try that.

Ooh, those might be good; they're darker chocolate. Might have to try those. I think you might have to bake them a little longer; they're a lot stiffer and chewier than a Rolo. Please report back!

[Panacea]

I will. I also think I may have to cut them in half, we shall see.

[Panacea]

Yes, those are they. Come to think of it, I think they use butterscotch chips, not chocolate.

There is another thing they make around here, but I don't like it because it has marshmallows in it. It has stuff like pretzel sticks, nuts, marshmallows ... who knows what-all. Chex, maybe even? Raisins? Anyway, folks melt a lot of chocolate and toss this stuff in there; then put gobs on wax paper to let it harden. They call it something trash. I don't remember the something.


Here's one, they're calling it Tennessee Trash.

[Solfy]

My balls are all misshapen and lumpy. Stupid peanutbutter stuff refused to set up properly. I need a new buckeye recipe.

[Zeener Diode]

Originally Posted by Solfy

My balls are all misshapen and lumpy.

They do that in cold temperatures.

[whirlingbladesofkick]

The turtles were excellent, and the peanut clusters were fantastic. I'm glad I gave them all away, because they were seriously making me want to indulge in herbal-based behavior (that is illegal here) just so I could get the munchies and Eat These Clusters.

Merry Holiday of your choice to all, and good vibes to you if you don't celebrate any!

xoxoox