Its that time of year again! The time when families gather together, exchange gifts, and bundle up next to the fire. However, the best thing about the holiday season is all the delicious sweet treats that we get to make and eat with the family. Spend time with your children this holiday season in the kitchen making and enjoying one of these easy and delectable holiday treats!
Candy Cane Bark
A very simple and delicious holiday dessert that makes for a great little treat! This candy cane bark takes only 20 minuets to make and is perfect to put out for the whole family to enjoy.
Ingredients:
White chocolate (10 ounces) chopped
Candy canes (9) crushed into small pieces
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl and microwave or 30 seconds. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir. Repeat this process until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, let it slightly cool on the counter for about 5 minutes.
Once cooled, add the crushed candy canes into the white chocolate, saving 2 tablespoons for topping the bark.
Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread evenly until its ¼ inch thick.
Sprinkle the remaining crushed candy canes over the white chocolate mixture.
Place the baking sheet into the refrigerator until it’s firm, about 10 minutes. Once it has hardened, break it apart into medium-sized pieces.
Serve and enjoy!
(This bark is best kept in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag for up to two weeks)
Cookies in a Jar for Santa
Spend time with your kids preparing a unique treat for Santa by filling jars with cookie ingredients! They are so fun to decorate and also make for a great holiday gifts!
Directions and Ingredients:
Layer the following ingredients in the order written. You may use parchment paper to make a funnel to make filling the jars cleaner and easier.
1 1 /3 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup M & M’s
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
Screw on cap and attach label and instructions card.
Holiday Sugar Cookies
A classic but a favorite, simple dessert! Spice up your normal sugar cookies by making them holiday-shaped and decorating them in holiday colors!
Ingredients:
2 sticks of softened unsalted butter
1 cup of sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
3 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
Directions:
In a large bowl, using a mixer set on medium-high, beat together softened unsalted butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, followed by vanilla extract and salt. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add all-purpose flour, beating until ingredients are combined. (Dough will be slightly sticky.)
Divide dough into 4 equal portions and cover each in plastic wrap, patting into 1/2-inch-thick squares. Chill until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. On a floured surface, roll out dough, a square at a time, to 1/3 inch thick. Cut out cookies using ornament- or tag-shaped cutters. Transfer cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill for 10 minutes.
Bake until lightly golden, about 12 minutes. Cool completely on pan or wire rack before decorating.
Candy Cane Cookies
These cookies are fun and easy for kids to make. Not to mention, they are adorable and add to the holiday spirit in the kitchen!
Ingredients:
0.5 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cookie dough, flour and extract until smooth. Divide the dough in half and mix the food coloring in to one portion.
Shape 1 teaspoon of each color dough into 6-inch ropes. Place the ropes side by side, press together, and lightly twist.
Place on an un-greased baking sheet; curve into a candy cane shape. Repeat with remaining dough, placing cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes before carefully removing to wire racks.
Christmas Snowmen Cupcakes
These cupcakes are a cute and easy treat to make with kids and are almost too cute to eat! They’ll definitely be a hit not only for the kids, but for the whole family.
Ingredients:
26 chocolate coins (or flat circles)
24 round chocolate pieces
250g icing sugar
125g butter
1-2 tablespoon hot water
24 marshmallows
12 chocolate sticks
40g of black, green, and red icing
Directions:
Melt 2 chocolate coins in the microwave or in in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, until liquified.
Dip each cylindrical/round chocolate into the melted chocolate and ‘glue’ to the coins of chocolate, to look like top hats.
Sieve icing sugar and add to soft butter and hot water.
Mix slowly for 2 minutes, then fast, until light and creamy.
Spread buttercream over each cupcake, leaving a little over to ‘glue’ the hats on later.
Place a marshmallow in the middle of each cupcake.
Snap each chocolate stick in half and place into the cupcake for arms.
Pipe on a green scarf around the marshmallow.
Pipe on black eyes and red or orange nose and buttons (If it doesn’t stick very well, slightly dampen the side of the marshmallow with a wet finger).
“Glue” on the tophat with remaining buttercream.
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