With the holidays quickly approaching, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the shopping, baking, and entertaining there is to do. Whether you are hosting a family get-together or just celebrating the holidays with some friends, here are a few recipes that are sure to make your guests happy and put a smile on your face as well!
1. Individual Pumpkin Pies
These bite-size desserts are perfect if you don’t want to make a whole pie!
Ingredients (makes 12 mini pumpkin pies):
· Pumpkin pie filling for one 9-inch pie
· Two 9-inch pie crust dough
· A bowl or round cookie cutter that is 4 inches in diameter
· A muffin tin
· Whipped cream
Directions:
1. Prepare the dough. Using a bowl or a 4-inch round cookie cutter cut out 12 circles from your two 9-inch pie-crust dough.
2. Place each circle into a greased muffin tin. Press them in, letting the sides come up and make imprints.
3. Pour the pumpkin pie filling into each muffin tin cup.
4. Bake at 425º for 15 minutes. Then, turn the heat down to 350º and bake them for 25-30 minutes.
5. Add whipped cream to each pie.
2. Cornflake Wreaths
This fun and festive treat is always a hit at any holiday celebration!
Ingredients (makes 14-16 wreaths):
· 1/3 cup of butter
· 4 cups of miniature marshmallows
· 1 tsp. of green food coloring
· 6 cups of cornflakes
· A handful of red cinnamon candies
Directions:
1. Measure the cornflakes into a large bowl.
2. Melt the butter into a large saucepan over low heat. Once it’s melted, add the marshmallows and stir continuously until they’re completely melted. Then, stir in the food coloring.
3. Pour the melted marshmallows into the large bowl with the cornflakes and stir until the cornflakes are well coated.
4. Lay out a piece of parchment paper on your kitchen counter. Then, dollop spoonfuls of the cornflake mixture onto the parchment paper and shape the wreaths with your hands.
5. Top each wreath with the red cinnamon candies.
3. Holiday Puppy Chow
Try this traditional recipe with a fun holiday twist!
Ingredients: (makes 12 cups):
· 12 cups of rice and/or corn Chex cereal
· 1/2 cup of Pillsbury Holiday Funfetti frosting (red)
· 1/2 cup of Pillsbury Holiday Funfetti frosting (green)
· 24 oz. of vanilla candy coating (or almond bark)
· 4 cups of powdered sugar
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, add 6 cups of the Chex cereal and set it aside.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, add 1/2 cup of the red frosting with 12 oz. of the vanilla candy coating. Heat it up in the microwave for one minute, then, stir it until it’s smooth.
3. Pour the mixture over the bowl of cereal and mix it until it’s combined.
4. In a large plastic bag, add 2 cups of powdered sugar. Then, add the contents of the bowl to the bag.
5. Seal and shake until the powdered sugar covers all of the cereal.
6. Repeat with the green frosting.
4. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
These soft-baked cookies have everything you could want in a sugar cookie!
Ingredients (makes about 24 cookies):
· 10 tbsp. of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
· 1 cup of granulated sugar
· 2 egg yolks
· 1 tsp. of vanilla extract
· 1 and 1/2 cups of King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour
· 3/4 teaspoon of baking powder
· 1/4 teaspoon of salt
· Red and green sprinkles
· 24 Candy Cane Hershey Kisses
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350º, line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Using a hand-held mixer, mix the butter and sugar together on medium speed for 5 minutes. Add the egg yolks and vanilla and beat until fully combined.
3. In a medium bowl, toss the flour, baking powder, and salt together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed until combined.
4. Roll the dough into balls and then roll the balls into the assorted sprinkles.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
6. Press a Hershey Kiss into the center of the cookie. Then, chill the cookies in the freezer for 5 minutes.
5. Reindeer Cupcakes
These cute cupcakes are easy to make and will lighten up any celebration! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Ingredients (makes about 20-25 cupcakes):
· 1 box of devil’s food cake mix
· 3 eggs
· 1/2 cup of oil
· 2 tsp. of vanilla extract
· 1 cup of milk
· 1/2 cup of sour cream
· Chocolate frosting
· Pretzels
· Nilla Wafers
· Brown and red M&M’s
· White mint M&M’s
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350º and line cupcake tins with liners.
2. Sift cake mix into a small bowl and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, oil, vanilla extract, milk, and sour cream until smooth.
4. Stir in the cake mix.
5. Fill the liners and bake for 16-20 minutes.
6. Frost the cupcakes.
7. Prepare the reindeer faces by using the chocolate frosting to stick the brown and red M&M’s on Nilla Wafers to make muzzles.
8. Use the chocolate frosting to dot eyeballs on the white M&M’s to make eyes.
9. Place the Nilla Wafers, M&M’s, and pretzels on the cupcakes to make faces.