And so this is Christmas. And that means candy! And by candy, I mean EASY CANDY...I don't even own a candy thermometer.

Yesterday I realized I haven't made any candy yet for the holiday season...which, honestly?  Despite how easy it is, this is the only time of the year that candy gets made.  I had two, no-fail, always raved over recipes.  This year, I've added a third.  Which may be a good thing, since for some reason my fudge is looking like it might have failed me again for the second year in a row - this recipe has been a no-fail for many years, but for the past two have been a total failure...so I'm scrapping it.

But I want to share my newest, favorite candy recipe tonight...Peanut Butter Fudge (original recipe here). I chose this recipe out of the three I found because I had all of these ingredients already...and, if you've been around here any length of time, you will realize that it's bound to be easy; because I don't deal with complicated recipes.

1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 sticks (1 cup) of unsalted butter (don't freak out.  It IS Christmas...calories don't count)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt (I left this out)
4 cups (I KNOW...but we ARE making candy) sifted confectioner's sugar (I didn't sift it - mainly because I don't have a sifter)

Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan (I used a 9-inch pie plate because my square baking pans have gone missing for some reason - WHERE could they be??  Maybe I'll find them when I start re-packing everything) with aluminum foil.

Melt the peanut butter and butter together in a large bowl until completely melted and smooth.  Be sure to stir often during the melting process.  Once melted stir in the vanilla.  Add the sifted (if you bothered to sift it) powdered sugar and stir until combined.

Press the fudge into the baking pan - smoothing the top.  Cover tightly with aluminum foil and chill for 4 hours or until firm.  Cut into pieces.

The resulting candy is divine (why, yes.  I may have had a piece in lieu of dinner last night); the co-workers RAVED over it today...so yes, this totally replaces the easy fudge recipe that has been failing me of late.  My waistband is happy that I only do this once a year...come to think of it, so are my co-workers.

Someday, remind me to post the easy-peasy Marbled Almond Bark recipe that everyone loves, and requests, every year.