Every year around Thanksgiving time my mother starts making “Christmas Candy.” We had some when I went home to Washington for Thanksgiving. In fact, mom had expanded her normal candy selection to include three new recipes, one being a yummy variation on Butterfingers. However, I felt the need to make my own Christmas Candy this year.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day making Christmas Candy. I made Almond Toffee, Coconut Balls, Peanut Butter Balls, and Frangoes. I think they all turned out good. In my opinion, the Frangoes didn’t turn out quite as good as normal but still decent.

I also tried making Caramels and this was my downfall. Apparently, high altitude not only affects baking, it also changes candy making. However, I didn’t realize this when making the caramel and so closely stuck with the recommended candy temperature. I poured it in the pan and left it to harden overnight. Well, it did harden. It hardened enough to make it inedible.

It was only after researching the problem that I learned that you should drop the candy temperature 1 degree for every 500 feet above sea level (due to the faster evaporation at higher altitudes). For most people, this probably doesn’t make a huge difference. However, living at around 5,000 feet above sea level I should have dropped the temperature by about 10 degrees. Even though it’s a similar process, I didn’t have this problem with the Almond Toffee because I paid more attention to the Cold Water Test instead of the candy temperature. Oh well, I’ll know for next year

I divided the successful candy up into 5 batches (one for each branch library and one for Jaeger’s work). I delivered Farr’s candy today. I think the Almond Toffee is the most popular of the bunch.

I like the Almond Toffee but the Coconut Balls and Peanut Butter balls have more Christmas memories associated with it. We didn’t watch many movies growing up but mom would usually let us watch movies either when we helped her with canning in the fall or rolling peanut butter and coconut balls for the candy. I love Christmas time