‘Tis the Season to Try These Holiday Recipes

Whether it’s hot chocolate or the smell of cookies from the kitchen, sugary treats are a staple for the holiday season. Whether you’re new to the kitchen or an experienced baker these recipes are for you! Without further ado, here are 3 recipes to try this holiday season.

Peppermint Bark

If you’re looking for an easy holiday snack, this treat is for you. This recipe takes only 5 ingredients, about an hour to complete, and you don’t even need an oven! To start you’ll need:

White chocolate

Semi-sweet or dark chocolate

1 ½ Coconut or vegetable oil

¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

2-3 standard-sized candy canes

To start, melt ½ teaspoon of oil and white chocolate in the microwave. Once the chocolate is completely melted add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract and mix. Next, pour the chocolate into a pan lined with parchment paper and spread it until it fully covers the pan. Put the pan in the fridge for 10-15 minutes or until it is almost hardened. Now, melt the semi-sweet or dark chocolate and ½ teaspoon of oil in the microwave. Add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract, then pour the mixture into the pan on top of the hardened white chocolate. Put the pan in the fridge for 10-15 minutes or until the second layer of chocolate is almost hardened. Finally, melt more white chocolate and ½ a teaspoon of oil in the microwave. Pour the melted chocolate into the pan and sprinkle it with crushed candy canes. Let the final layer harden and your peppermint bark is complete.

Peppermint Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are great but these peppermint cookies add the perfect holiday twist to a classic recipe. This recipe only takes about 20 minutes to complete and makes 18 cookies. To start you’ll need:

1 ¼  cup all-purpose flour

½  cup unsalted butter room temp

¾  cup white chocolate chips

½  cup crushed candy canes plus more for dipping

1 pinch salt

¼  tsp baking soda

1 pinch baking powder

1 egg room temp

½  cup sugar plus 1 tbsp

½  tsp vanilla extract

½  tsp peppermint oil

First, mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Then in a separate bowl or mixer beat the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Add the egg, peppermint oil, and vanilla to the butter mixture and mix. Next, add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough forms. Finally, add the chocolate chips and candy canes and mix until just combined. Now, put the cookie dough on a pan lined with parchment paper. Take the dough balls and dip them in a bowl filled with crushed candy canes (if you want less peppermint you can leave this step out). Put the cookie dough balls back on the tray and chill them in the fridge for 5-10 minutes. After that, bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 6-7 minutes. Let them cool and then enjoy!

M&M Christmas Cookies

If your favorite candy is M&Ms then these cookies with the signature Christmas colors of red and green are perfect for you. To start you’ll need:

1 ¼ cups butter or margarine, slightly softened

¼ cup shortening

1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 eggs

4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

14 oz of M&Ms

Heat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, beat butter, shortening, sugars, vanilla, and eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed, or with a spoon. Next, stir in flour, baking soda, and salt (the dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips and chocolate candies. Using a spoon or cookie scoop, put the dough on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart from each other. Bake for 10-11 minutes or until light brown. Let the cookies cool and enjoy!

The holidays are a wonderful time to try out some new seasonal recipes. What’s your favorite treat to make over the holidays? Let us know in the comments.

Links

Sally. “Peppermint Bark Recipe.” Sally’s Baking Addiction, 15 Dec. 2022, sallysbakingaddiction.com/peppermint-bark/.

Kitchens, Betty Crocker. “Chocolate Chip M&MsTM Christmas Cookies.” BettyCrocker.com, 7 Nov. 2006, www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-mms-christmas-cookies/8fe7deb3-ff6e-4791-9269-50d591d5ee14. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kanell, John. “White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies.” Preppy Kitchen, 13 Dec. 2019, preppykitchen.com/white-chocolate-peppermint-cookies/#recipe. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.