Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups raw peanuts
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• pinch of salt
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. baking soda

In a glass bowl, stir together the salt, corn syrup and sugar.  Place the bowl in the microwave and heat on 100% Power for 9 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir in the butter and vanilla.

Then microwave on 100% power for an additional 3 minutes.

Remove from microwave and stir in the baking soda stirring really well...note the mixture should be foamy.  Stir in the peanuts. Then pour the mixture onto a well-greased cookie sheet (or on a cookie sheet lined with Sil-pat).

Cool the mixture completely and then break into edible-sized pieces.

If you're looking to just make a traditional Christmas cookie batch, look no farther. Try this recipe for Easy Christmas cookies - 1 Dough Made 5 Ways!

• 1 1/2 lbs white candy coating or plain white almond bark

• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

• 2 cups Captain Crunch cereal

• 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

• 1 cup peanuts

Melt the candy coating or almond bark in the microwave in a glass container (about 5 minutes on medium power). In another bowl, mix cereals, marshmallows and gourmet nuts together. Pour melted candy over cereal mixture and stir well making sure all pieces are coated. Drop as clusters on wax paper and cool quickly buy placing in refrigerator. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container.

NOTE – For a fun variation during the holidays, use Christmas Crunch

Berry cereal instead of Captain Crunch because it has the red and green ‘berries’ in the cereal.

For more delicious Christmas recipes, try:

• Christmas Spritz Cookies
• Christmas Wreaths
• Frosted Cream Cheese Christmas Cut Out Cookies