Christmas Goodies

December 2011

Chocolate Skor Bar Trifle

So easy but oh so good!  Layer cut up devils food chocolate cake mix into squares, layer with that, chocolate pudding, skor or heath (candy bar) pieces- I buy the ones in the package already cut up into tiny pieces then real whipping cream, repeat layers and ENJOY!  It's even better the second day after sitting in the fridge for awhile giving the layers a chance to soak into each other.

If you haven't ever made this...do, you will be a crowd pleaser!

Snow Capped- Gingerbread Sleighs filled with Hot Cocoa and Seasonal Marshmallows and Candy Canes for stirring.

(Those ginberbread shaped and flavored marshmallows are the best, then french vanilla snowmen and red and green stars and trees, found at the grocery store.)  

These were so fun to make, a first for this year but certainly they'll be added to the yearly traditions!

Super Easy and great for giving away- we decided to fill our sleighs with non-perishable items so they could sit on the counter for a few weeks, even as a decoration and still serve a great purpose on those cold winter days or nights...you know how some times you end up with ten goodie trays that never get eaten?  Well this goodie tray will solve that problem.

Decorated Sugar Cookies

Traditional sugar cookies, only this is the best recipe soft, thick and moist!

6 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sour cream, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup butter or marg., 2 cups sugar, 2 eggs unbeaten, 3 tsp vanilla. 350 degrees for 10 min.

Peppermint Rice Krispy Treats dipped in Milk Chocolate then dusted with Candy Cane

 I knew this ginormous bag of peppermint marshmellows would serve a good purpose!  They looked so pretty too.

 Christmas Crack

Also known as Christmas Crunch if our name for it is found offensive, super easy as "our motto."  Pretzels, Red and Green M and M's, peanuts, Rice Chex, Corn Chex and Cheerios mixed up with white chocolate bark.  I use a big kitchen plastic bag to mix it all up this year and it worked great but feel free to use a large bowl, line counter with parchment paper to pour out to dry it on. An addictive sweet and salty snack for the holidays!

 Santa Cupcakes

These guys are a long time tradition, we use devils food chocolate cupcakes then decorate as shown with vanilla frosting, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, red hots and red sprinkles.  They aren't just cute but really rather tasty not just for the kids but for adults as well.

Milk Chocolate or White Chocolate Dipped then Sprinkled Oreos

(great to dip in hot cocoa, mmmmm) and then Happy Bars

Happy bars are just the crushed graham cracker crumbs mixed with butter and a tad bit of sugar for the crust, pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over that, sprinkle a cup of chocolate chips over than and then cover the top with coconut and cook em up- always a hit!

Oh My, looks like I forgot to take a picture of the Peanut Butter Balls...

But these are the all time favorite, you can not forget these- kind of like reeses peanut butter cups in a ball. 

18 oz peanut butter, 1 (16oz.) bag of powdered sugar, 1 pkg or 1 1/3 cup of graham cracker crumbs,

 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened butter- mix then all up nice and good use your hands don't be shy, roll into small balls, place on wax or parchment paper a top a tray and place in refrigerator or freezer for a few to harden them up a bit and dip to coat in melted chocolate chips or chocolate bark, allow chocolate to harden and yummo.  This batch makes a ton, I actually froze half of the peanut butter balls undipped so the kids can dip some to have on Christmas Eve as well. 

Try out some of these, they just may become some of your easy holiday favorites!