The Day Before Christmas

The Baby calmly accompanied her older brother and sister on their Christmas shopping trips this weekend - The Girl went with me and The Boy with his dad and The Baby caboosed along behind cheerfully enough. We (and this was, in retrospect, very stupid) did not even think that she'd be interested yet in giving presents to anyone.

"Where my presents at?" she demanded on Sunday night. We obligingly pointed out the ridiculous tower of gifts underneath our tree. She shook her head ferociously.

"NO," she said, "where MY presents at?". And then we got it - she wanted to give presents. So the two of us made this:

  Candy Cane Layered Fudge

This looks modestly fussy but it's really NOT - aside from the stove parts of the recipe, The Baby handled pretty much everything. She spread the chocolate in the pan, smashed the candy canes with her dad and sprinkled them on top and then handled the very important tasting jobs afterwards. If you have a last minute desire to make something festive, this is a grand little recipe.

Line an 8" square pan with foil. I then sprayed ours with non-stick spray, but you can skip that step if you want.

Put some candy canes - we used three - in a ziplock bag. Pound the tar out of them with a rolling pin or similar implement of pounding.

Mix together 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips (we used a deep, dark chocolate) and 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk. I melted ours together on a low heat on the stove, but you could use the microwave, too. (which would only take 2 30-second trips, with a brief pause for stirring) When the mixture is smooth, use a spatula to spread it in the prepared pan.

Now you're going to do it all over again! This time, use 1 1/4 cups white chocolate chips (or, if your local grocery store doesn't carry them - like mine - use 4 squares of white baking chocolate) and 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk. Melt them together again (be careful and vigilant! White chocolate burns easily.) and then, when the mixture is smooth, carefully spread it on top of the chocolate layer. You don't want to smoosh them together.

Take your smashed-up candy canes and strew them merrily upon the hot fudge. Let your fudge cool its heels for a while in the fridge and then slice it up - you may have the urge to cut jumbo slices, but err on the side of moderation because it's RICH. This makes more then enough fudge for a little girl to hand out on Christmas morning, and more then enough to soothe a suddenly generous little heart.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

that looks fantastic! Just what I need during my post-holiday waddle! I hope you guys are having a great holiday!

[amreen]

that looks delicious! i'm going to file it away for next christmas

[Fairly Odd Mother]

Where is smiling baby? I mean, I'm smiling looking at that delicious fudge, but wondered if I'm missing a photo here. . .

[Marta]

The Baby is so sweet! And this recipe sounds easy enough even for me. I'm sure you had a wonderful Christmas!!

[Jenifer]

Am I too late? No Baby to ooh and ahh over? There is fudge though. Thanks, this looks super easy.

Merry Christmas!

[Jennifer]

Strewing merrily upon the fudge is all you have to say. I'm there.

Tell The Baby I'm impressed. :)

[Aliki]

Thanks for the peppermint fudge recipe! My family is still drooling over the homemade marshmallows I made not long ago...

[Pieces]

The fudge looks great. The Baby is just about the cutest child I have ever seen! Shh, don't tell my kids!

[patois]

I'm going to have to bookmark this and come back in a month or so, after the holiday feasting has left my blood cells.

[Badness Jones]

Looks yummy - but I love the story of your baby wanting to give and not just receive. That's the spirit of Christmas. I hope you all had a good one!

[Lori]

Tell The Baby she can mail me mine! Merry Christmas to everyone there!

[nomotherearth]

Love the smile...and now I want fudge..

I made truffles last week to bring to festive gatherings and no one is getting them because I ate them all. Merry Christmas to me!!

[lisa b]

mmmmm thanks!
Merry Christmas!

[Omaha Mama]

Yummmmmm!!!

Wishing you all the festive best Beck!

[ali]

yum!

Merry Christmas Beck!

[chickadee]

oh the sweet baby. i didn't let my baby buy for his sisters either now maybe i should have. i'm sure not making fudge!

[Becky]

Sweet gift ... get it? ... sweeeeeet gift. I'm trying.

And that Baby has a great smile, and a good heart. She's learning early to think of others and give good gifts.

I did not take a picture of our traditional cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast which I had to scrape out of the pan this morning in order to drop them in the trash. Alas! There are years and years when that tragedy would have ruined my festive spirit. But not to worry. The bakery sells them. To the rescue!

Merry Christmas Beck and family.

[Amanda]

Merry Christmas Beck, Mr Beck, and little Becklings! The baby is a generous little soul. People will love her fudge more than anything you could have bought for her..

[kelli]

What a cutie! Merry Christmas Beck

[Painted Maypole]

look at that gorgeous little smile!
Merry Christmas!

[Michelle]

aaww she's so cute and precious wanting to have presents to hand out! Merry Christmas!

[Lisa Milton]

I think my kids can pull this off, in a snap. Thanks.

Merry Christmas to you and your cute little people. She's a doll.

[Heidi]

That's really sweet that she wanted to give presents. My little boy told us this morning that he didn't want his stocking to get filled up with presents. Geez!!

Your basic fudge recipe is the same one I usually use.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

[Megan(FriedOkra)]

Forget the fudge! I want to eat HER up! :) Merry Christmas, Beck. Hope it's the best ever!

[LoriD]

Merry Christmas, Rebecca. Your fudge and your little girl look very sweet!

[Susanne]

She's as sweet as the fudge! Sounds very yummy. And if I finish the toffee and cheese shortbreads I still have to make, I am so trying it!

[Kyla]

Awww, that Baby. Good hearted just like her siblings and parents. Merry Christmas.

[Kelley]

What lovely fudge. She looks so happy. All little kids love to give presents. Mine gets to make fudge as well but it's a simple butterscotch recipe.

[chelle]

aww what a sweetheart!
Those look so delicious!

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
May your family's wishes all come true this coming year :)