Recipes compiled by Monika Joshi courtesy of www.bettycrocker.com. Photo Courtesy of Flickr user wfabry.
Walking into the warm kitchen in your pajamas and taking in the sweet aroma that fills the air is one of the signature moments of the holiday season. To kick off your baking this year, here are some recipes that are simple, but at the same time so delicious that they will leave you, and your family and friends, wanting a second helping.
Christmas Candy Cane Cookies
These cookies are simple to make, but they have a very elegant appearance. They’re perfect to serve with a sizzling hot cup of hot chocolate. Makes about four-dozen cookies.
What you need:
1 pouch of sugar cookie mix
1/3 cup softened butter or margarine
1 egg
2 to 3 drops of red or green food color
Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 375°F.
2. In a bowl, mix together the cookie mix, butter and egg. Stir until the dough is formed. Divide the dough in half, and stir the food coloring into one of the halves.
3. For each candy cane, shape 1 teaspoon dough from each half into a rope about four inches long. Press together one colored and one white rope and twist. Curve the top of dough down to form the handle of the cane.
4. Bake for seven to eight minutes or until set.
Reindeer Cupcakes
If you’re looking for a treat that puts your creative side to work, then this is the recipe for you to try. These cupcakes go beyond the regular chocolate cupcakes that you’ll find at most holiday parties. Makes about two-dozen cupcakes.
What you need:
1 box cake mix (any non-swirl flavor)
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
1 container chocolate frosting
chocolate sprinkles
24 large pretzel twists
24 miniature marshmallows
24 red cinnamon candies
24 small red gumdrops
Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Make and cool the cake (as directed on the box)
3. Frost the cupcakes. Sprinkle the chocolate sprinkles on top of the cupcakes.
4. Cut the pretzel twists in half and arrange them on top of the cupcake as the reindeer antlers. Cut the miniature marshmallows in half and place them on the cupcake for eyes. Use a gumdrop for the reindeer’s nose and a red cinnamon candy for its mouth.
North Pole Strawberry Smoothie
This smoothie is a beverage that can also be served as a dessert after dinner. It has a great presentation so it’s perfect for guests as well. Makes two, 12-ounce glasses.
What you need:
10 ounce pack of frozen strawberries in syrup, partially thawed and un-drained
1/4 cup water
2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt
2 tablespoons vanilla yogurt
1 candy cane, finely crushed
green decorating gel
Directions:
1. Blend the strawberries and water on medium-high speed until smooth. Place into a separate container.
2. Blend together the frozen yogurt and vanilla yogurt until smooth.
3. Create a thin line of decorating gel around the rim of the glasses. Dip the rims into the crushed candy cane so it sticks onto the gel.
4. Pour the yogurt mixture and strawberry mixture into the glasses simultaneously, so as to make a half-and-half design. Serve with large drinking straws.
Merry Chocolate Chip Cookies
No matter how many scrumptious treats you make, your baking isn’t complete until you’ve made a batch of the traditional chocolate chip cookies that everyone relishes. Give them a holiday twist by adding green and red candies to the dough. Makes about nine dozen cookies.
What you need:
1 1/4 cups butter or margarine, slightly softened
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
1 bag (14 oz) candy-coated chocolate candies
Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 375°F.
2. In a bowl, mix together butter, shortening, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Add in the remaining ingredients.
3. Roll the dough into small balls and place them on an un-greased cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until they turn light brown.
Walking into the warm kitchen in your pajamas and taking in the sweet aroma that fills the air is one of the signature moments of the holiday season. To kick off your baking this year, here are some recipes that are simple, but at the same time so delicious that they will leave you, and your family and friends, wanting a second helping.