Recipe: Christmas Crunch
Christmas Crunch is a different type of sweet treat for Christmas. Definitely something not expected, and VERY delicious!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup popping popcorn kernels, or 2 bags tender white popcorn
- 1 (12 oz) bag Vanilla Candy Melts (such as Wilton Candy Melts)
- 1 1/3 cups broken pretzel pieces
- 1 (12 oz) bag green and red Milk Chocolate or Mint M&Ms
- Red, green and white Sprinkles
Directions:
- Pop popcorn in a popcorn popper into a large bowl (or alternately in the microwave if using microwave bags of popcorn) according to manufactures directions. Remove any unpopped popcorn kernels. Toss in broken pretzel pieces and M&Ms.
- Melt Vanilla Candy Melts in a microwave safe bowl on 50% power in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth. Drizzle half of melted chips over popcorn mixture, then stir, tossing gently a few times with a rubber spatula. Then drizzle remaining half of melted chips over popcorn, and gently stir mixture until evenly coated (don’t over stir though or your sprinkles wont stick if the white chips begin to set and harden).
- Pour mixture into a single layer onto wax paper. Sprinkle entire mixture evenly with sprinkles (as many as you’d like) before vanilla chips set.
- Allow to cool and harden, then gently break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Thanks to Cooking Classy for the recipe!
Starbucks Caramel Apple Cider Recipe
Today would be a great day to enjoy a caramel apple cider just like from Starbucks! Here’s the simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 Tablespoons of Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Syrup $9.95 for a 1-liter bottle (that’s A LOT of syrup) or you can make your own by creating a simple syrup of 1/2 cup of light brown sugar, 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Simmer in a small saucepan until brown sugar has dissolved. Use 3 tablespoons of this as well.
- 12oz of Treetop Premium apple juice (or any premium apple juice)
- Caramel syrup
- Whipped cream
Directions:
- Add 3 tablespoons of cinnamon syrup into your mug
- Add 12oz of apple juice, mix and warm
- Top with whipped cream
- Drizzle with caramel syrup
- Enjoy!
Thanks to Our Little Coop for the recipe!
Recipe: Grinch Kabobs for Kids
Looking for a healthy treat for Christmas time instead of the usual cookies and other sweets? Here’s an adorable idea using fruit to make Grinch kabobs!
What You’ll Need:
- Toothpicks
- Green grapes
- Sliced bananas
- Sliced strawberry ends (to look like Santa’s hat)
- Mini marshmallows
Directions:
- Stack toothpicks starting with a green grape (stem side through the toothpick), then a slice of a banana, the slice of a strawberry (pointy end last), then a mini marshmallow (looks like the puffy end of Santa’s hat).
- Eat fairly soon after or the bananas will go bad quickly!
DIY: Peanut Butter Pumpkins
Making these adorable and easy peanut butter pumpkins are a delicious way to celebrate Fall. They would be great to have as a part of Thanksgiving appetizers or meals, too! I can only imagine that they could be made using almond or other nut butters, too! Kids could get into the fun to make them.
What You’ll Need (makes 12 pumpkins):
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• orange (or red & yellow to mix) food coloring (optional)
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• wax paper
• toothpicks
• mini pretzels
Directions:
- Mix together the butter and peanut butter
- Add the vanilla and 2-3 drops of orange or a drop of red and drop of yellow (they look great without the coloring, too, if you opt for that. See picture above.)
- Slowly add in the confectioners’ sugar with a spatula until the consistency is fairly thick
- Divide the mixture into 12 balls (or less if you want larger pumpkins), then roll them into balls and place on wax paper
- Make creases and shape the pumpkins with a toothpick
- Break apart the mini pretzels and put a piece into each pumpkin as its “stem”
Eat the pumpkins alone or with pretzels! Thanks to Fossil Blog for the idea :)
Leftover Halloween Candy Bark
Yesterday was Halloween, so how much candy do you and the kids have leftover? If you’re like many homes across the country, you have so much left over that you think you’ll never get through it all. Instead of tossing it, make this yummy Halloween Candy Bark!
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 Butterfinger candy bars (or 8 fun-size bars), cut into 1-inch pieces
3 Heath candy bars (or 6 fun-size bars), cut into ¾-inch pieces
8 Reese’s peanut butter cups, each cut into 8 wedges
¼ cup honey roasted peanuts
3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
½ cup Peanut M&M’s (Halloween colors!) or Pretzel M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces
DIRECTIONS:
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
2. Place the chopped bittersweet chocolate in a medium bowl and microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet and, using an offset spatula, spread into a thin layer (about ¼-inch thick – a 12×10-inch rectangle). Sprinkle the melted chocolate with the chopped Butterfingers, Heath bars, peanut butter cups and honey roasted peanuts, making sure all pieces touch melted chocolate (so they adhere). Lightly press to make sure the candy adheres to the melted chocolate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Melt the white chocolate using the same method as the bittersweet chocolate (in a microwave in intervals) until completely smooth. Using a spoon, drizzle the white chocolate over the chilled bark in a zigzag pattern. Scatter the M&M’s (or Reese’s Pieces) over the white chocolate drizzle, and again press to make sure the candy adheres to the melted white chocolate. Chill again until the white chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
4. Cut/break the bark into irregular pieces and serve. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
5. ENJOY!
Thanks to BrownEyedBaker for the recipe!