Christmas Brittle and Tiger Butter Two New Candies at My House!!

Christmas Brittle

I have become a big fan of a blog called The Iowa Housewife posted by two wonderful sisters Sue and Myrna, in fact it has become one of my favorite sources of inspiration and source of new recipes.  These two gals have collected a library of cookbooks spanning a lifetime of good food and family.  Stop in and visit them!!  I am sure you too will be inspired.

Both of these recipes have come from them.  Back when they were posted I made a mental note to try these two "sweets" for our Christmas this year.  They were easy to make and turned out beautifully.  The Christmas brittle is to die for.  The salty nuts and the caramel coating mmmmm.   It will not be around long I would venture to say.  The Tiger Butter is luscious.  I've never enjoyed licking a spoon more!!  It should be broken into smaller pieces as it is rich.

Here is the recipe for the Christmas Brittle:

8 C. Crispix cereal
1 C. walnuts
1 C. pecans
1 C. slivered almonds
1 C. salted peanuts
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white syrup
1 C. butter
1/2 t. soda
pinch of salt
pinch of cream of tarter

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and butter a half sheet pan.  Set the pan aside.

Boil the brown sugar, syrup, and butter 4 or 5 minutes.  Add salt, cream of tarter, and soda and stir altogether.  Pour over the cereal and nuts and mix.  Pour into a large sheet pan (I used a half sheet pan lined with heavy duty foil and buttered well.)  and bake in a preheated 300 degree F. oven for 15 minutes.  Cool completely and break up.  Store in an airtight container.  Posted by Myrna.

Tiger Butter

Tiger Butter:

1 lb. Almond Bark baking bar
12 oz. ( 1 1/2 C.) peanut butter
12 oz. Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 T. shortening (NOTE: There can be NO substitutions.  Not butter, margarine, or oil.)

Prepare a glass bowl over simmering water to melt the chocolate chips.  Line a half sheet pan with a silpat mat or parchment paper.  Chop the almond bark into small uniform pieces and put them into a microwave proof bowl.  Add the peanut butter.  Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir.  Then again microwave for 15 seconds and stir.  Mix well each time.  I microwaved one more time for 15 seconds and stirred until smooth. 

Do not overheat or the mixture will seize up!

Spread out evenly over the prepared pan.  Melt the chocolate chips over the simmering water adding the shortening to reach the desired consistency.  Spread in lines over the bark mixture then drag a two pronged meat fork through the lines first left to right then right to left to form the tiger markings.  Chill then break or cut into small pieces.  Posted by Sue.

I am just delighted with both of these treats and look forward to the smiles on my families faces when they try these new Christmas treats.  Thanks again to the Iowa Housewife.