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Gloria’s favorite holiday recipes
By Gloria Yoder, the Amish Cook
Dec. 24, 2024 3:42 pm
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Here are some of our family’s favorite recipes to enjoy around the holidays. I hope you enjoy them!
Holiday White Chocolate Cheesecake
CRUST
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 2 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
- 1/2 cup butter, chilled and cubed
Filling
- Four 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 4 eggs
- 10 ounces white baking chocolate, melted and cooled
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
- Place a 9-inch spring form pan on a double thickness of heavy duty foil (about 18 inch square) securely wrap foil around pan & set aside.
- In a small bowl combine crust ingredients until crumbly.
- Press onto the bottom and one inch up the sides of the prepared pan.
- Place on a baking sheet & bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack.
- In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, lemon juice, cream and vanilla until well blended.
- Add eggs, beat on low speed just until combined, stir in white chocolate and lemon peel.
- Pour into crust.
- Place pan in a large baking pan; add 1 inch hot water to the larger pan.
- Bake at for 65-85 minutes or until center is just set and to appears dull.
- Remove the pan from water bath.
- Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
- Carefully run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen sides. Cool one hour longer.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- Remove from sides of pan before slicing.
OLD-FASHIONED AMISH TURTLE CANDIES
- 1/3 pound white chocolate
- 1/2 pound pecan halves
- 1 can sweet condensed milk
- 1 pound milk chocolate
INSTRUCTIONS
- Melt white chocolate in double-boiler or microwave, then spoon dabs on wax or parchment paper. Dabs should be 1” in diameter.
- Press three pecan halves side by side into each dab of chocolate. Leave until the white chocolate is set.
- Place an unopened can of condensed milk in a 3 quart kettle , cover completely with water.
- Bring to a boil and boil gently for 3 hours.
- The can needs to be covered at all times, so keep monitoring how much water is in your kettle and add more if needed.
- Remove from heat. Let can set in water until it is room temperature.
- Remove from can and spread 1 rounded teaspoon of caramelized milk on top of the pecans.
- Melt milk chocolate in a double boiler or microwave then spoon on top of caramel, covering all but the tips of the pecans.
- Let set and enjoy!
- Saltines or graham crackers
- 1 cup butter (use only 1/2 cup for crunchier candy)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Put a single layer of saltine or graham crackers side by side (with 4 sides touching one another) on a 10 by 15-inch rimmed cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.
2. Bring butter and brown sugar to a rolling boil. Boil for three minutes.
3. Spread mixture on top of crackers.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degree.
5. Bake crackers with sauce, for 5 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and immediately sprinkle with 1 1 /2 cups chocolate chips. Let set three minutes and then spread melted chips over with a butter knife.
7. Cool and break into sized pieces of your choice.

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