Candy

A giant cookie is topped with coarsely crushed peppermint candies and melted white chocolate, then broken into irregular pieces.

Be sure to use bittersweet chocolate with no more than 60 percent cacao for this recipe.

For a festive presentation, place the toffee in clear cellophane bags and tie with French silk ribbon.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

(Caramel Walnut Fudge Bars)

Fudge is a holiday favorite throughout the South — some versions are creamy and others are granular. This recipe makes a deliciously dense, grainy fudge.

These truffles are particularly good when made with Valrhona "40% cacao" milk chocolate. We recommend tempering the chocolate used for coating them, as it will result in glossier, firmer shells.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less, but requires additional unattended time.

The fudge in the following recipe, with its unusually creamy texture, is too soft to serve at room temperature. It must be served chilled.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe has been in the family of senior editor Randi Danforth for generations. Her great-grandmother bought penny sponge candy to take to the movies in Minnesota. A love for the crunchy sweet led to recipe experiments in the kitchen. Randi recalls watching her mother make this magical confection--the baking soda causes vigorous bubbling. Pack it in jars or airtight tins, and store at room temperature; exposure to moisture and air will soften the candy.

To accompany Ice-Cream Bombes with Brandied Dried Cranberries and Cherries