Buttermilk Candy Recipes

Steps:

• Put all ingredients except vanilla and nuts into pan and cook, stirring constantly until soft ball forms when dropped in cold water.
• Add vanilla and nuts and beat till creamy.
• When cool, cut into squares.
• Also makes good frosting for spice cake.

Steps:

• Butter sides of a large heavy saucepan or Dutch oven.
• Combine first 5 ingredients in pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
• Using a pastry brush dipped in hot water, wash down any sugar crystals on side of pan.
• attach candy thermometer to pan, making sure thermometer does not touch bottom of pan.
• Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Do not stir while syrup is boiling.
• Continue t cook until syrup reaches softball stage (Approximately 234 to 240 degrees).
• Test about ½-teaspoon syrup in ice water. Syrup should easily form a ball in ice water but flatten when held in your hand.
• Remove from heat: add vanilla. DO NOT STIR until syrup cools to approximately 200 degrees.
• Using a medium speed of an electric mixer, beat fudge until thickened and no longer glossy.
• Stir in nuts.
• Pour into a buttered 8- inch square pan. Cool completely.
• Cut into 1-inch squares.
• Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Sift flour and baking soda together in a large bowl; cut in shortening with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the mixture and stir in buttermilk until a soft ball forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Roll dough out to a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle.
• Cut biscuits out with biscuit cutter and transfer to a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until tops are light brown and sides begin to darken, about 10 minutes. Remove biscuits to cool completely on a wire rack.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5" loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a generous overhang on long sides; set aside.
• Toast pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing occasionally, until fragrant and slightly darkened in color, 8-10 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
• Heat sugar, buttermilk, butter, honey, and kosher salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until butter and sugar are melted, about 3 minutes. Fit saucepan with thermometer, bring mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thermometer registers 238°F (mixture will be pale golden and smell faintly of toffee), 6-8 minutes.
• Immediately pour mixture into a medium bowl and, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat until cool and thickened (it will be stiff and matte), 5-8 minutes. Fold in pecans. Scrape fudge into prepared pan; smooth top and sprinkle with sea salt. Let sit at least 1 hour before cutting into pieces.
• DO AHEAD: Fudge can be made 1 week ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.

Steps:

• Combine butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until sugar is moistened, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until well combined. Return mixer to low speed, add remaining 2 cups sugar, and mix until well combined, 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until light and fluffy, 6 minutes more. Add peppermint extract, milk, and salt; beat until smooth.
• Lightly dust a clean work surface with confectioners' sugar and turn out "dough" onto it. Divide into 5 pieces; tint as desired with food coloring, leaving one piece white. (Keep covered with plastic wrap while working to prevent drying.)
• Roll "dough" into 1/2-inch-thick ropes, then cut into pieces slightly over 1/2 inch long with a paring knife or bench scraper. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Let dry, uncovered, at least 12 hours. Mints can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, buttermilk and baking soda. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 210°. , Stir in butter and pecans; cook until thermometer reads 230°. Remove from the heat; add vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon until mixture loses its gloss and begins to set, about 8 minutes. Quickly drop by teaspoonfuls onto foil-lined baking sheets. Cool.