The Twelve Treats of Christmas: Church Windows

We made these every year at Christmas when I was growing up, but I've met very few people who know what they are, let alone have made or eaten them before. On the other hand, I've seen the recipe floating around the internet, so I know we aren't the only ones to have made them. Just one of the few, I guess.

It's actually kind of surprising to me that this recipe is not more common than it is, because it's so simple, but it's so yummy: it kind of tastes like marshmallow fudge. Yum, right? And in spite of its simplicity, the colored marshmallows make it look so pretty and difficult to make. I guess that may be one reason why more people haven't discovered it: colored miniature marshmallows can be difficult to find. Not all grocery stores carry them, except sometimes as a special baking ingredient this time of year. I happened to come across them at the Walmart Supercenter when I was doing my Christmas baking shopping: I don't know if they carry them year round or only at Christmas, but I was happy to have discovered them!

I think once you have tried these, you will be hooked! I know for sure, if you have kids, they will love them. Gooey, chocolatey and marshmallow-y - what's not to love?

Church Windows
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp almond extract
2 beaten eggs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 packaged colored miniature marshmallows
1 cup finely chopped nuts or coconut

Melt the chocolate chips and butter, with the almond extract, over medium heat, stirring all the while. Add the beaten eggs and powdered sugar and stir until thoroughly combined. Remove from heat and add the marshmallows.

Lay 2 sheets of wax paper on the counter (or in a cookie sheet) and cover each with the finely chopped nuts or coconut:


Spoon half the chocolate mixture on top of each:


Shape gently with your hands into a log shape (it cools quickly, so you should be able to touch it safely):


Use the wax paper to help you cover the log with the chopped nuts:


This is what the logs should look like:


Wrap the logs up tightly in the wax paper and then in a layer of foil. Freeze until firm. Once they're firm enough, slice to serve:


These can be stored in the freezer or in the refrigerator. Unless I'm serving these to guests, I just keep the entire log, unsliced, in the freezer, and slice off a piece when I feel like having some. I think it stays fresher for longer that way. (although you don't really have to worry about that: they don't stick around for long!)

If you prefer, you can certainly make them without the nuts or coconut. I always make half the batch nut-free/coconut-free for my DH because he can't have either one of those. Just pile the fudgy mixture onto the wax paper and shape into a log and proceed as before.

This is a super QUICK recipe, and yet it looks like it takes a lot of time and effort. I love recipes like that!

It's very EASY, too, although sometimes I have to admit the mixture is too much on the sticky side and can be difficult to shape. Usually, though, it's a piece of cake to make.

Using up an entire bag of chocolate chips, plus the hard-to-find bag of colored marshmallows doesn't exactly allow it to fit in the CHEAP category. Hence, I usually make it only at Christmastime! It does make a lot, though.

HEALTHY? Not... exactly.... Yikes. I don't seem to have many healthy Christmas treats, do I?

This post is part of the Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life As Mom. Check it out for lots more Christmas food traditions.