The holiday season is the perfect time to whip up some festive treats that bring everyone together. There is something magical about making and sharing these desserts with friends and family. Not only delicious, but these recipes also add a special touch to holiday celebrations. Let’s embrace the joy of holiday baking and discover how these creations can fill the season with warmth and cheer!
Little Santas
One of my all-time favorite Christmas treats is strawberry Santas with cream cheese filling. All you need are strawberries, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and mini chocolate chips. Slice off the strawberry stems to form the bases of the Santas, then cut off the top third of each strawberry to create the hats. Blend four ounces of softened cream cheese, two tablespoons of powdered sugar and half a teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth. Transfer the mixture into a piping bag or a Ziploc with the corner snipped off. Pipe the filling onto the base of each strawberry, then gently place the hats on top. Add a small dollop of filling to the tip of the hat for a pom pom and add buttons to the base. Use mini chocolate chips for Santa’s eyes, and enjoy!
Pretzel Hugs
Another fun and easy snack to make includes the simple ingredients of pretzels, Hershey’s Kisses and M&Ms. For the best results, use snap pretzels to prevent the chocolate from melting through. Start by placing the Hershey’s Kiss HUGS on top of the pretzels and bake them in the oven for about four minutes. Look for the chocolate to become soft and shiny without fully melting. Once out of the oven, press a red or green M&M into the center of each Kiss, and let them cool before serving. They’re perfect for any occasion!
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint Bark is my sister’s favorite Christmas dessert. It is effortless to make with just white chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, peppermint extract and crushed candy canes. Start by melting the semi-sweet chocolate and spreading it into a thin layer on a sheet pan, then refrigerate until it sets. If the chocolate is difficult to melt evenly, mix in a bit of coconut oil or vegetable oil and microwave in 20-second increments, stirring in between. Once the base is cool, melt white chocolate, flavor it with peppermint extract and spread it over the semi-sweet layer. Finally, sprinkle crushed candy canes on top and let it set. Break apart by hand or cut with a knife. Enjoy this festive and delicious snack!
Yule Log Mini Cakes
Gather Little Debbie Swiss Rolls and trim a small bit off the end. Melt a little bowl of chocolate and use it to attach two tree sprinkles and one red cinnamon candy on top, creating a holly decoration. Finally, lightly dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar, and you’re done!
Melting Snowmen
Begin by baking sugar cookies in a circle shape, or buy pre-made ones from the store. Frost the cookies with royal icing, letting it drip over the edges of the cookies. Slice a marshmallow in half, and place it near the back of the cookie. Add a few M&Ms as buttons in the icing. Let the cookies set for about twenty minutes, then pipe on the eyes and stick arms. Use leftover icing to attach an orange sprinkle nose, or opt for orange frosting!
The best part about these recipes is that they are quick, easy and full of holiday spirit. Gather your ingredients, let your creativity shine and enjoy the magic of baking this Christmas!
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