top 9 Christmas treats

presenting the Angell family top 9 Christmas treats.  not in any order.  These are the 9 treats I make each Christmas.  I was trying to come up with a top 10 list, but when I made this list with the kids, there are actually only 9 things we love, love, love-have to have-each Christmas.




1.  caramels

2.  Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
1 box (2 lbs) instant powdered chocolate milk
1 pkg-8 qts-or 10 2/3 C powdered milk
4 oz creamora or preme
1/2 C powdered sugar

mix all ingredients together.
Optional: blend powdered milk in blender beforehand for a finer mixture.
store in covered container. 1 serving is 1/3 C mixture added to 2/3 C hot water.


3.  cranberry bars

4.  peanut butter Hershey kiss cookies
1 3/4 C flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C peanut butter
1 egg
2 T milk
1 tsp. vanilla
48 Hershey kisses (or any kind of chocolate)

mix all together.  shape into balls. roll in sugar. bake at 375 for 10 minutes.  top each cookie immediately with a Hershey kiss.


5.  fudge (recipe off the back of marshmallow crème jar)

6.  coconut joys
1/2 C butter, melted
2 C powdered sugar
3 C coconut
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted.

combine first three ingredients.  shape into 1 tsp. size balls.  make thumb print and fill with melted chocolate.  keep refrigerated.

7.  peanut butter chocolate bonbons

2 C powdered sugar
1 C graham cracker crumbs
3/4 C chopped pecans
1/2 C flaked coconut
1/2 C butter
1/2 C peanut butter
1 1/2 C chocolate chips  (milk or semi sweet)
3 T shortening

combined first 4 ingredients.  melt butter and peanut butter.  pour over coconut mixture.  shape into 1 inch balls.  melt chocolate chips and shortening.  dip balls in chocolate.  chill to set.



8.  molasses crinkles (soft gingersnaps)
3/4 C shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 C molasses
2 1/2 C flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

mix wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls.  combine.  chill dough.  roll balls in sugar.  bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

9.  chocolate mint brownies

1/2 C butter
1 C sugar
2 eggs
5 T cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. mint extract
1/2 C flour

combine.  bake in 8 inch square pan at 350 for 25 minutes.  cool and frost.

frosting: 
2 T butter
1 T milk
1 C powdered sugar
1 tsp. mint extract
green food coloring.

after frosting, cool in fridge.  then top with glaze.

melt about 1 C semi sweet chocolate (or however much you want) and 3 T butter.  quickly pour on top and tip pan so glaze goes everywhere and covers frosting.

Making all of the above in December usually wipes me out. I rarely try new Christmas recipes because we already have our favorites and traditions, but if I were try something new, I'd do one of these...

someday I'd like to try...


chocolate frosted Christmas cookies

50 fabulous fudge recipes


decadent double chocolate mint cookies