Christmas Goodies!

Christmas time brings back great memories from my childhood of time with family, gifts and of course, delicious food! Each year growing up we would make cut out sugar cookies and decorate them....a tradition I have continued with my own children. There are many, many other treats that can be made to celebrate this wonderful season. Here are a few quick and simple ideas that you can add to your list! And the kids can help too!!

Each year, my Grandpa Claude always enjoyed getting one of those big tins of different flavored popcorn. Wonder what he would think of these two varieties!

Peppermint Bark Popcorn

Photo Credit: cookingclassy.com

This recipe comes from Cookingclassy.com. This recipe is perfect if you have waited until the last minute for those gifts for neighbors or close friends. Quick, easy and delicious! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels (10 cups popped)
• 12 oz vanilla candy melts or vanilla almond bark
• 5 candy canes (peppermint) , finely crushed (crush until it's half powder half tiny pieces. Scant 1/2 cup)
• Few Tbsp Sprinkles (optional)
• 1/2 cup good quality chocolate chips (milk, semi or bitter-sweet, whichever you prefer)
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract

Instructions:

• Pop kernels in a popcorn popper according to manufacturers directions, into a very large bowl. Remove un-popped kernels.
• Melt candy melts according to directions listed on package.
• Pour melted candy melts over popcorn and toss to evenly coat, then set aside 1 Tbsp of crushed candy canes and immediately (before coating hardens) add remaining crushed candy canes to popcorn and toss to evenly coat.
• Sprinkle with Christmas or red sprinkles if desired. Spread onto a large piece of parchment or wax paper into a single layer (add more sprinkles if desired).
• In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips on 50% power in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth.
• Stir peppermint extract into melted chocolate. Transfer to a piping bag (cut tip from corner) and drizzle evenly over popcorn.
• Sprinkle remaining 1 Tbsp candy canes over chocolate and allow chocolate to set at room temperature, then break popcorn into pieces.
• Store in an airtight container.

Santa Munch Christmas Popcorn (Yep...Popcorn again!)

Photo credit: tidymom.net

This just may be the best thing to leave for Santa....that is, if you ran out of time to make cookies! Tidymom.net gives us this great recipe that is sure to please any crowd...including Santa! (Be sure to click on the link to see many more tips on how to make this yummy recipe! She answers just about any question you could come up with!)

Ingredients:

• 8-10 cups popcorn. lightly buttered, popped and salted (homemade or microwave)
•  1/2 cup white cake mix powder*
•  16 ounces white chocolate, melted (or almond bark or candy melts)
•  1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles
•  1 cup holiday M&M candies

Instructions:

1. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper.
2. Place popped popcorn (be sure to remove any unpopped kernels), M&Ms and cake mix powder in to a large bag (we use a paper shopping bag) and shake well to coat. Note, the cake mix will stick better if you use buttered popcorn. Alternately, you can do this in a large bowl and stir, but I find shaking it in a bag much easier.
3. Spread coated popcorn and candies onto prepared sheet pan. Drizzle with a little more than half of the melted white chocolate, tossing gently a few times with a rubber spatula to cover popcorn. Sprinkle with half of the Christmas sprinkles. Drizzle with remaining chocolate and add more sprinkles.
4. Allow to cool and harden for at least 30 minutes, then gently break into pieces and store in an airtight container. Enjoy right away!

Christmas White Chocolate-Dipped Sugar Wafers

Photo credit: mykitchenismyplayground.com

One last quick and simple recipe to give you! I love wafer cookies. (My husband thinks I am crazy!!) They are just delicious! Here is a way to jazz up those cookies with some Christmas fun! Check out this recipe from thekitchenismyplayground.com.

Ingredients:

• 2 (8 oz. or 9 oz.) packages sugar wafer cookies
• 1 (1 lb.) package white candy melts or 1 (24 oz.) package white bark coating
• 1 T. shortening
• Assorted red, green, & white sprinkles (I especially love the combination of red and green confetti sprinkles with white nonpareils)

Instructions:

1. Melt candy melts or bark coating and shortening together in the microwave per package directions (typically in 30 second intervals, stirring in between).
2. Dip 3/4 of a sugar wafer cookie in the candy coating, letting excess coating drip off back into the container. Immediately sprinkle with sprinkles, as desired.
3. Place on wax paper and let stand for coating to set up.
4. Repeat with remaining sugar wafers.
5. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

I hope you enjoy these treats this Christmas season! They are fun and easy.....and most important, they are yummy! If you would like some more ideas for this holiday season, check out our Holiday Board on our Pinterest page.