Holiday Treat Recipes! (2024)

Makes 20 browniesIngredients

• 1 1/2 cups Dutch cocoa powder
• 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 eggs, large
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 sticks, melted (8 ounces) butter
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 8-ounce jar caramel sauce

InstructionsHave all ingredients at room temperature.1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.2. In a bowl, stir together cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle beater, beat the eggs and sugar on high speed until very thick and more than double in volume, about 5 to 7 minutes. 4. Reduce mixer speed to low, add the dry ingredients, butter, and vanilla. Beat until just blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. 5. Bake until the brownies are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 20 pieces.6. Spoon or pour a generous serving of caramel over each brownie.For the ultimate indulgence, you can stir in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of your favorite add-in cravings. Some of our favorites are bittersweet and/or white chocolate chips; bits of dried apricots, cherries, and cranberries; and chopped toasted nuts, especially walnuts, almonds, and cashews.

Makes 30 trufflesIngredients

• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon whipping cream
• 1 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips or 12 ounces dark chocolate bar, chopped in small pieces
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

InstructionsPaper or foil candy cupsChoose 3 toppings from the following list:

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
• 3/4 cup finely chopped dried fruit, like cherries or apricots
• 3/4 cup finely chopped candied ginger
• 1/2 cup unsalted pistachios or almonds, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chocolate or colored sprinkles

1. Bring cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan, or microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk in vanilla. Pour into medium bowl. Cover; chill until firm, about 3 hours.2. Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.3. Place each different topping in its own bowl. Roll truffles quickly between hands into little balls. Roll 1/3 of truffles in each topping, and put into candy cups. Cover with plastic; chill or freeze until ready to serve. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead, or frozen, tightly wrapped, for one month.)

Makes approximately 3 dozen 2-inch cookies, depending on size of cookie cuttersIngredients

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• Cookie cutters of your choice (we suggest snowmen, stars, and animals)
• Popsicle sticks

InstructionsHave all ingredients at room temperature.1. In a small bowl, combine the flour and salt, and stir together with a fork until blended. Set aside.2. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar, and beat until just blended, 1 to 2 minutes.Add the egg and beat until blended, about 1 minute more.3. Add the flour mixture, and on low speed, beat until the mixture just begins to form a sticky dough, about 1 minute more. Turn out onto a floured surface, and gently pat together to form a dense ball of dough. Divide the dough into 2 parts, add desired mix-ins, and knead gently until evenly combined. Shape into a flat, round disk. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.4. Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.5. On a lightly floured surface, roll cookies out to about 1/4-inch thickness, and cut to desired shape. Transfer to a heavy-duty cookie sheet. Insert Popsicle stick into bottom of shape about 1 1/2 inches deep. Bake until just golden around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes.6. Let cool completely before removing the cookies from the sheet.DecoratingRoyal IcingThis will be enough icing to decorate a batch of holiday shortbread cookies.

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 pinch of salt

In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, egg whites, lemon juice, and salt. Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat until the mixture forms stiff peaks, 3 to 4 minutes. Use immediately.For coloring, we suggest all-natural food dyes (available at specialty-food stores nationwide).Edible Decorations:Get creative with icing, candies, dried fruits, and even beans. Use sprinkles for your snowman's scarf or mini chocolate chips for his buttons. Explore your pantry and have fun!Nonedible Decorations:If the cookies aren't for eating, the sky's the limit! Decorate your puppets with fabrics from your closet or the store. Dress your puppets with old clothes or fabrics. Ribbons or yarn can be used for hair, and glitter can always glam up your puppet's look.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cake flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 cups cocoa powder
• 2 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 sticks butter (1/2 pound)
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

Instructions1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.2. In large bowl, stir together all dry ingredients except sugar.3. In separate bowl, cream sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in eggs, one egg at a time, then stir in vanilla and peppermint extract.4. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture until well mixed.5. Add buttermilk and stir just until moistened.6. Put paper liners in cupcake pans. Fill prepared pans three quarters full.7. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.8. Cool completely on rack.Frosting RecipeIngredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk

InstructionsBeat butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually whisk sugar into butter mixture. Add vanilla extract and milk, beating to a good spreading and piping consistency.

Ingredients

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• Ribbon for hanging the ornaments
• Oven preheated to 325 degrees

Instructions1. In a small bowl, combine the flour and salt and stir together with a fork until blended. Set aside. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar, and beat until just blended, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat until blended, about 1 minute more. Add the flour mixture, and on low speed, beat until the mixture just begins to form a sticky dough, about 1 minute more. Turn out onto a floured surface, and gently pat together to form a dense ball of dough. Divide the dough into 2 parts, and knead gently until evenly combined. Shape into a flat, round disk. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours. 2. Once chilled, roll out dough to about 1/8-inch thick, and cut to desired shape. Cut a hole near the top of each cookie with a knife or by poking with a straw. Transfer to a heavy-duty cookie sheet and bake until just golden around the edges, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets for 1 minute and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.3. While cookies cool, prepare the royal icing (see recipe below). Spoon icing into a piping bag (or use a small resealable food-storage bag and cut off the corner of the bag). Pipe icing onto cookies and decorate (see creative tips below). Let stand until icing is set, approximately 40 minutes, thread ribbon through each cookie hole, and hang on tree.Decorating Tips to Make Ornaments Stand OutEdible Techniques

• Create a variety of icing colors with all-natural food dyes.
• Use colored sprinkles and sugars to make your ornaments sparkle.
• Create outlines, swirls, zigzags, and other fun shapes using icing.
• Pipe your friends' and families' names or initials onto the cookies and give them as gifts for the holiday.
• Use a paper doily to create a festive stencil. Hold the doily above iced cookie and sprinkle with cocoa powder or powdered/colored sugars.
• Decorate with your favorite candies, like red and white peppermints and colorful chocolates.

IcingWhat you need:

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 pinch salt

What to do:In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, egg whites, lemon juice, and salt. Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat until the mixture forms stiff peaks, 3 to 4 minutes. For colors, we recommend separating portions of icing into bowls and adding all-natural food colorings.