On the 4th Day of Christmas...

Good morning everyone!  Before today's post, the winner of the Christmas Joyous Home Journal is Laura!  Laura, send us an email at ripe4harvest@msn.com and we will send you your download.  Congratulations!

And for the 4th Day of Christmas, we are making candy...

Peanut Butter Cups

I made several dozen of these last Christmas for a fellowship at someone's house, but didn't try one myself before we brought them. By the time I saw the tin during the fellowship, the tin was empty! I use chocolate candy coating in this recipe, which much more inexpensive than actual chocolate, but I might make them again with a real dark chocolate! Either way, they are delicious and so easy to make, the children will enjoy taking over for you (without an argument I'm sure).

The peanut butter cups can be made in batches, and you do need a mini-muffin pan to hold the candy cups while you fill them. As soon as one batch is finished (chilling the layers in the freezer makes this very fast), you can start another. You can find the pretty colored foil candy cup papers wherever you can find cake decorating supplies.

~ This recipe make about 8 dozen peanut butter cups ~

First, you must make the peanut butter filling. Combine in a bowl with a mixer:
1 cup very finely ground graham crackers
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (you can use smooth if you prefer, we like crunchy!)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. half & half
~ 1 2lb. package chocolate candy coating for the chocolate layer

Mix well until a stiff "batter" forms. This will get thicker as it sits for a few minutes.

Prepare your pans while the filling sits for a few minutes. Line each cup in the pan with one candy paper.

For the chocolate, you only need one 2lb. package of chocolate candy coating. Candy coating is available in the baking section in the grocery store. Break the candy coating up into chunks and melt in the microwave, or over low heat (be careful, it will burn very easily).  Melt the coating completely and stir to make sure it is smooth and there are no lumps.

In the bottom of each cup, gently spoon a heaping 1 tsp. of the candy coating. Spread it evenly around the bottom. After you have filled each cup, place the pan in the freezer for about 5 minutes, until the chocolate is completely firm.

After the chocolate is firm, they are ready for the peanut butter filling!  Pinch off a small piece of the filling (big enough to form about a 1/2" ball) and use your finger to gently spread the filling over the chocolate. Fill all of the cups!

This layer does not need to be chilled. Top each cup with an additional tsp. (or a little more!) of melted chocolate. Use the spoon to create a little curl or design on the top of each cup. Chill again until firm.

Your peanut butter cups are finished! Complete the rest of the peanut butter cups with the remaining chocolate and filling.

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Giveaway Details!

We are keeping the daily giveaway as simple as possible. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to that day's blog post and say that you want to be entered in the giveaway - one comment equals one entry. You can earn one additional entry by posting about the daily 12 Days of Christmas blog post on your blog, Facebook (add us, Theresa Powers or Jessica Munday, as friends on Facebook for verification) or twitter. Each day we will draw a winner and announce the winner the following day before the next daily post!

Today's giveaway is our Crab-apple Hill Embroidery Pattern, Gardener's Angel~Hope!

and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

Seasons At Home Magazine Spring 2009
On sale for $5.00 - Regular price $10.00

Have a wonderful day everyone!

~Theresa and Jessica