Valentine's Buttercreams

BUTTERCREAMS

These homemade buttercream candies are easily made with powdered sugar, butter and cream cheese.

Preparation time: 1 hrs 10 min   Chilling time: 2 hrs  30 min Yield: 5 dozen candies

Filling Ingredients:

1/2 cup LAND O LAKES� Butter, softened 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla* 4 cups powdered sugar

Coating Ingredients:

1 (12-ounce) package (2 cups) real semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 tablespoons shortening

Combine butter and cream cheese in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Add vanilla; continue beating until well mixed.. Reduce speed to low. Beat, gradually adding powdered sugar, until well mixed. (If mixture is too soft, cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to form balls.)

Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of mixture into 1-inch balls. Place onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Cover loosely; refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight).

Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (3 to 4 minutes). Dip buttercreams into chocolate mixture using toothpicks; let excess chocolate drip off. Place onto waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to set.


 * Substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons almond, orange or rum extract.

Nutrition Facts (1 candy): Calories: 80, Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 20mg, Carbohydrates: 10g, Dietary Fiber: 0g, Protein: 0g

Jenn B aka Mom2Sam and Tiny http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1recipes_galore2007-smallappliance http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1Recipes_Galore2007-drinks Check them out

Contributed by :

 * World Recipes Y-Group