1-Getting started with Martha Washington Candy involves a few simple steps that lead to a tasty result. First, mix the melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, sweetened shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, drained and chopped maraschino cherries, and finely chopped pecans in a large bowl until well combined. This mixture forms the base of your candy and captures that rich, decadent flavor everyone loves.

2-After mixing, chill the entire mixture in the refrigerator for at least two hours to make it easier to handle. Once chilled, shape the mixture into walnut-sized balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them on a baking sheet. Chill these balls again for another 20 minutes to firm them up before the next step.

3-Then, melt the candy coating, such as melting wafers or almond bark, and dip each chilled ball into the coating until fully covered. Allow the coated candies to set and harden either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. For extra tips on making this process smoother, remember that thoroughly draining the cherries is crucial to avoid excess moisture, and chilling helps with dipping.