Topic: Homemade filled chocolate candies

[barleychown]

Love the boxes of chocolates we get around Valentine's Day, but wish they would come in a certain flavor or two, instead of the mix? Why not make your own, in the flavors you want?

1 cup butter
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 pounds powdered sugar
*flavorings
Mix the above together, adding powdered sugar until the mixture is stiff. If desired, divide and flavor differently. Chill until firm and cold.

Scoop and roll into balls, dip into melted chocolate and place on waxed paper. Enjoy!

* Someideas of flavorings include flavor oils (orange, lemon, strawberry), vanilla, nuts, maple flavoring, and/or coconut

This recipe makes 70-80 candies, but can be halved or quartered with ease.

[Triss]

Oh that is so easy Sarah.  WOW! 

What tools do you use when you dip your chocolates and what kind of chocolate do you dip your candies in?  I have not found something that works well for me so any tips would be appreciated.

[bestofour]

you guys r 2 smart.

[barleychown]

I dipped yesterday's batch in bittersweet chips that I had melted and thinned just a bit with shortening. I let it cool until it was starting to turn soild, then quickly dipped the balls I had frozen with my fingers, sort of rolling to coat. Messy, but worked great and they look awesome!

[Dianna]

Looks simple enough that even I could do it! Sounds yummy!

[Triss]

Messy I can deal with... thanks for that tip.  I will have to try some.

[Bonnie]

Now you have my taste buds begging. Love that chocolate.

[Tonya]

These sound soooooo good!! Thanks for the recipe, Sarah!!

[barleychown]

Mike and Marissa have about eaten all the candies I made. They LOVE them, and say the filling is better than the store bought ones, which are actually filled with fondant.

I used one of the flavor oil bottles you can find at walmart, to flavor 1/4 of the full recipe. Here they are kept in the craft section, in packs of two.

[Triss]

If you were going to make coconut ones, would you use a coconut oil or actual coconut?

[barleychown]

Actual coconut, with a touch of vanilla.

[Triss]

OK Patrick will love that.  I think I will let him do a 1/2 batch of those when I make them.

[barleychown]

Be careful about how many you make!  I made a 1/4 batch, and from that have used them as part of dessert 3 times, treated the guys at two stations, and Mike and Marissa had been nibbling away for days. I used a actual measuring teaspoon to scoop the filling out, so each was probably about 1 1/4 tsp or so...

[Triss]

1/4 batch made all that.  WOW.  Ok Maybe I will start with 1/4 batch.

[barleychown]

I'll be makinng these again today.     Happy Valentines Day!

[Jessica]

Thanks for the recipe, Sarah.  I just might try these.  What kind are you making?

[barleychown]

Orange and mint for Mike and Marissa, coconut for me.  

[Penny]

Oh yummy indeed..coconut.

[landofoz]

Those really sound yummy, Sarah, and easy too!