Cooking Quick & Easy Christmas treats - *UPDATED* - compiled recipes - Page 53

[ah1126]

Thanks so much for the ideas. I will put my thinking cap on so I can add some ideas!

 

[ckmommy]

What kind of popcorn? Just regular or butter flavored?

I pop it the old fashioned way with oil in a large kettle--I do not add butter or salt to the popped corn. I have read other people using lite or butter flavored microwave popcorn. Good luck to you!!

 

[disneyfanfamily]

I have used full buttered microwave popcorn. It was yummy. Extra calories, but hey, it is the holidays.....almost....

I have also mixed full buttered microwave popcorn with regular non buttered stove top popcorn.

Both batches tasted the same to me.

And I used white almond bark instead of real white chocolate. Cheaper and tastes pretty good.

 

[plummer925]

DD's teachers and our neighbors will love these treats !!!! Thanks ya'll.

I've read that a LOT of you are planning on homemade goodies for teachers. I HIGHLY encourage you to check with the school about policies of homemade goodies - most schools in my area do not allow homemade goodies due to security. You should see the teachers lounge on the day before christmas break - all those goodies in the trash...

Please check with your children's teachers before just sending the goodies - it's not fair to you - or them - to have them be just put into the trash!

 

[sconnell]

I've read that a LOT of you are planning on homemade goodies for teachers. I HIGHLY encourage you to check with the school about policies of homemade goodies - most schools in my area do not allow homemade goodies due to security. You should see the teachers lounge on the day before christmas break - all those goodies in the trash...

Please check with your children's teachers before just sending the goodies - it's not fair to you - or them - to have them be just put into the trash!

Wow, how sad. That is a good point. Our public schools here may have that policy, but not the school my DD is in. It's more like a big family.
Thanks for mentioning this.

 

[sconnell]

We make chocolate popcorn for an extra special treat in the evenings. (After the kids are in bed, lol.) We take a Hershey's Special Dark bar, half of the large one (though any dark chocolate would do, this just seems to be on big time sale a lot recently) and break it up into the sections, pulse it in the food processor until it's almost like sprinkles. THEN pop the corn (we just do microwave) and as soon as it's done popping, dump it into a large shallow dish (like a 9x13 glad container) and IMMEDIATELY sprinkle the chocolate on top. I let it sit for ~10 seconds and then start mixing. (Usually with my hands.) It's great!
I've done lots of variations. Peanut Butter chips mixed with the chocolate is a favorite version. (just about a 1/4 of a bag of chips, for some reason these were left from something else. lol)
I imagine that you could do something similar for holidays and add in some drizzles of colored candy melts and let it harden well.

 

[Deesknee]

Okay, I sound silly, but, can we post some pictures. I am not very imaginative. I need visual.

I am really interestd in the pretzel wreaths. I tried this last year, but could not find round pretzels. Is it perhaps traditional pretzels (twisty types)?

There are so many creative & yummy looking recipes. I want to try them all, but I am supposed to be dieting to get ready for the holiday clothes!

 

[Glynis]

Okay, I sound silly, but, can we post some pictures. I am not very imaginative. I need visual.

I am really interestd in the pretzel wreaths. I tried this last year, but could not find round pretzels. Is it perhaps traditional pretzels (twisty types)?

There are so many creative & yummy looking recipes. I want to try them all, but I am supposed to be dieting to get ready for the holiday clothes!

I did these last Christmas, and I couldn't find the round pretzels, either. I used regular small pretzel twists, and they turned out fine. Sorry I don't have any pictures, but you really should try this anyway. It's so easy. My 9 year old daughter made several dozen as gifts for her friends, and they were a huge hit!

 

[TEXASPRINCESSES]

love these ideas--bring on more!!!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Subbing!

We always make haystacks:

1 bag butterscotch morsels
1 can chow mein noodles
Peanuts (optional)

Melt the butterscotch morsels - we do it in the microwave in a big glass bowl in 45 second increments and stir until fully melted. Stir in noodles and peanuts. Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper covered cookie sheets. Refrigerate until hard.

YUMMY!

 

[pbharris4]

I do the pretzel thing too, but I use the mini twists, white chocolate wafers and Xmas M&Ms. They look like reindeer noses! You can do them at Easter too if you can find oval (egg) shaped pretzels.

 

[Tiinkerbelle]

I did these last Christmas, and I couldn't find the round pretzels, either. I used regular small pretzel twists, and they turned out fine. Sorry I don't have any pictures, but you really should try this anyway. It's so easy. My 9 year old daughter made several dozen as gifts for her friends, and they were a huge hit!

I had to go to various grociery stores to find the round pretzels.

 

[52plan4]

Such a dangerous thread for a girl with a sweet tooth! Yum

 

[MerryPoppins]

Our little neighbor boy came by selling Scout popcorn today. I told DH to order a bunch of microwave popcorn so we could experiment with the chocolate popcorn recipes. I'm hoping to play with several of the recipes posted here for gifts this year.

 

[disneyfan551]

Thanks for all the recipes! I made the microwave fudge, oreo bark & white trash popcorn for a baby shower this weekend! It all turned out great & very easy to make! I tried to make the red/green cookies, but had a terrible time with them, and ended up trashing them after they refrigerated!

btw...The popcorn turned out ADORABLE!!! I sprinkled the popcorn/almond bark with pink sprinkles & pink m&m's. Then I broke it up and put it in clear cellophane treat bags, tied off with a wired ribbon. On the front was a "thank you/shower poem" taped on. They were a hit! There's alot of options for Christmas gifts with this recipe too...

 

[Deesknee]

Thanks. I'm going to try the wreath with twist pretzels this w/e. I'll let you know how they turn out.

 

[BethR]

My daughters pre-school class did this for our gifts. They did different shapes and tied ribbon thru a hole to hang. I still have them, and I think they still smell good, we'll have to see.

I have done the cinnamon ornaments several times and they are so easy, turn out very nicely, and last FOREVER (well, figuratively speaking.) Just be sure to give yourself enough time for them to dry. You can also decorate them with glitter glue or paints. But truthfully, sometimes the simplest things are the nicest.

 

[left210]

I tried to put all of the recipes listed in this thread thus far. Sorry if I missed any. Hope it helps others.

Pretzel wreaths
Ingredients
Pretzel rings (round shaped pretzels)
Hershey's Hugs
Christmas M&M's
Easy release aluminum foil

Line a cookie sheet with easy release aluminum foil. Place the pretzel rings flat on the cookie sheet. Place one Hershey Hug in the center of each pretzel ring. Put the cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for 3 minutes (just until the Hug gets melty). Remove from oven and place an M&M on top of each hug, and press the M&M down so the melted Hug fills the center of the pretzel ring. Let cool for 5 minutes (until the Hug has set up a bit) and remove from pan. Place on wax paper to completely cool.

**NOTE – We use candy wafers (I like vanilla) from the candy section of the craft store. You can buy a bag for around $1.70. Much cheaper than Hershey Kisses and much easier than unwrapping all the candy. They also come in different colors.
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Almond toffee squares:
12 whole graham crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
Assorted nuts and/or chocolate chips as desired

Preheat oven to 400
Line a cookie sheet with foil and lay out graham crackers on top
Stir together butter and brown sugar on the stovetop until boiling. Boil 1 minute.
Pour butter mixture over graham crackers. Put in the oven
Bake 3-6 minutes until bubbly.
Remove from oven. Cool slightly. Sprinkle on toppings as desired (I used crushed pecans, semi-sweet chocolate chips and heath brickle bits.
Cool completely. Break each cracker into 4 sections.
Makes 48 squares. (rectangles)

Christmas bark
Last year I made it with
melted white chocolate chips and broken up candy canes- just line a pan with the easy release Reynolds wrap- pour on the melted white chocolate and sprinkle the top with the candy cane pieces. Let harden and break into chunks.
This year I am adding a bottom layer of chocolate-

I don’t have a cute name for it, but I like taking big pretzel sticks, sticking them into melted almond bark (about 3/4 in, leave a little bit of pretzel for a handle), and then sprinkling them with whatever (crushed candy, sprinkles, etc) and leaving on waxed paper to harden.

She took a bag of chocolate chips and a bag of butterscotch chips and melted them together and then added Spanish peanuts. You then just put spoonfuls of the mixture on wax paper on a cookie sheet and place them in the fridge til they harden. Not only are they super easy they taste wonderful!
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Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow

9 C. Chex cereal (rice ones are best for this recipe)
1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. creamy peanut butter
1/4 C. margarine
1/4 t. vanilla
1 1/2 C. confectioner's (powdered) sugar

Put the powdered sugar in a plastic bag or big bowl with lid and set aside. Melt choc chips, peanut butter & margarine in microwave. Add vanilla & mix thoroughly and then stir in cereal until coated. Work quickly - before the mixture cools off too much! Add the chocolate coated cereal to the bag/bowl of powdered sugar and shake until all pieces are coated with sugar. Dump/spread out onto a baking sheet and allow to cool/set. Store in air-tight container.
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Yummy mix...

1 cup m&m's
1 cup peanuts
1 cup pretzel sticks
1 cup Crispix cereal
1 cup rice chex
1 cup wheat chex
1 bag white chocolate chips

Melt choc chips in bowl in microwave - stir in stuff and mix well. Drop by teaspoon-fulls on wax paper or even just spread it out and let it harden. Break into pieces and you're done! My kids FAVORITE!
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Eggs & Bacon

Pretzel Sticks
Almond Bark
Yellow M&M's

Lay pretzel sticks usually 2-3 next to each other on wax paper. Melt the almond bark and drizzle 1 tbsp over each grouping of pretzels. Enough to make the pretzels "stick" together, set a yellow m&m on top of the white almond bark. Once it is hard, you can take off the paper. It looks like bacon sticks, the melted bark looks like eggs and the m&m is the yolk of the egg. They are so cute.

These are super easy. Similar to rice krispy treat, but made with cornflakes so they look like wreaths. The kids like putting on the red hots.
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Cornflake Wreath Cookies

1/2 cup butter
4 cups miniature marshmallows
1 teaspoon green food coloring
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups cornflakes cereal
1 (2.25 ounce) package cinnamon red hot candies

1. Microwave marshmallows and butter on High for 2 minutes. Stir, then microwave on High for 2 minutes more. Stir. (This can be done in a double boiler if one doesn't have a microwave.)
2. Add and mix quickly the coloring, extracts, then cornflakes. Drop by spoonfuls in clumps on greased wax paper and decorate with 3 red hots each.
3. Once cool, transfer to lightly greased serving/storage tray with lightly greased fingers.

butterscotch haystacks
These rock! They are so tasty. It makes plenty to share

INGREDIENTS:
1 (11 ounce) package NESTLE® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Flavored Morsels
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 (5 ounce) cans chow mein noodles
3 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

DIRECTIONS:
LINE baking sheets or trays with waxed paper.
MICROWAVE morsels in large, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70 percent) power for 1 minute; stir.
Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in peanut butter until well-blended.
Add chow mein noodles and marshmallows; toss until coated.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

DOUBLE BOILER METHOD: MELT morsels over hot (not boiling) water; stir until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter. Transfer to large bowl. Add chow mein noodles and marshmallows; proceed as above.
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This past weekend I made a few of the fudge wreaths from Oprah when Rachel Ray was on. I made it for our Church fair and they sold it all within an hour. There were a few pieces cut up for samples and then they cut the remaining wreaths up for sale and bagged them. I already have had 5 calls requesting the recipe, so I thought I'd share it here:

1 bag semi sweet chips
1 cup butterscotch chips (or peanut butter or caramel chips)
1 small can condensed milk (14 oz)
1 tbls vanilla

Melt this all in a pot and when done, throw in handfuls of raisins, peanuts and marshmallows (R.R. did walnuts and raisins) and mix. Scoop it into a cake pan with the condensed milk can in the center (wrapped in plastic wrap) to make it shaped like a wreath. Stick it in the fridge for about 1/2 hour or so and it's done.

I am in Physical Rehab for a THR and am going to make a choc. peanut butter version and a white chocolate caramel version for them for the holidays
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Spread peanut butter in between two Ritz crackers, and then dipped them in melted chocolate almond bark. My sister loves those!

Another Ritz treat.....add peppermint oil to melted chocolate bark and dip the Ritz in the chocolate. They are similar to the Girl Scout thin mint cookies.......
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A really simple treat for peanut butter lovers.

1 pkg refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
1 bag miniature peanut butter cups
powdered sugar

Take enough dough to wrap around a peanut butter cup, make into a ball, and place on ungreased cookie pan, bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with melted chocolate if desired.

First line a microwaveable plate with wax paper and line with little pretzels or pretzel squares. Top with rolo candy cut in half (carmel UP). Microwave for 30-45 sec and press pecan half into soft chocolate to slightly flatten. WALA instant Turtles.
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Second, this one taste just like Twix
1 sleeve saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
chocolate chips as desired

Preheat oven to- 400
Line a cookie sheet with foil and lay out crackers on top
Stir together butter and brown sugar on the stovetop until boiling. Boil 1 minute.
Pour butter mixture over graham crackers. Put in the oven
Bake 3-6 minutes until bubbly.
Remove from oven. Cool slightly. Sprinkle on semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Cool completely. Break each apart and store.
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World's Easiest Peanut Butter Fudge....(and tastes great too!)

1 regular size container white cake frosting
1 regular size jar of peanut butter

Spoon contents of each container into a microwave safe large bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments until the mixture can be thoroughly mixed (it takes 2 - 30 second increments in my microwave) After mixing completely pour into a Pam sprayed glass 9X9-inch pan. Will harden completely in the refrigerator.
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Peppermint Bark

1 24 oz pge almond bark
1 c. crushed candy canes
1 T. Crisco
Touch of red food coloring, opt.

Melt almond bark w/Crisco in microwave 6-7 min. or in double boiler. Add crushed peppermint & food coloring. Pour out onto foil lined cookie sheet & cool. Break into pieces to serve.

Microwave Peanut Brittle

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup roasted, salted peanuts
1 tsp margarine or butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

Butter cookie sheet. In 1 1/2 Qt. microwave safe casserole, combine sugar & corn syrup. Microwave on high 4 minutes. Stir in peanuts. Microwave on high for 3 - 5 minutes or till light brown. Stir in margarine & vanilla; blend well. Microwave on high for 1 - 2 minutes (peanuts should be lightly browned). Add baking soda & stir gently till light & foamy. Pour onto buttered cookie sheet. Let cool 30 minutes. Break into pieces to serve.

Thin Mints

1 lb. semi sweet chocolate (best from specialty bake shop but can use chocolate chips)
1/8 tsp peppermint oil (not extract)
melt chocolate with peppermint oil. Dip approx. 1 sleeve Ritz crackers in it and cool on wax paper. Taste like Thin mint Girl Scout cookies!
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Stained Glass Windows

Melt a bag of chocolate chips and a stick of butter in a large pan. Let cool for about 15 minutes. Stir in a bag of colored miniature marshmallows -plain, white works too but not nearly as pretty in the end.

Form the mixture into 3 logs on waxed paper. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, coconut or powdered sugar. Roll up and put in the refrigerator until firm. These are really pretty when sliced.

These are extra yummy if you also stir in a spoonful or 2 of peanut butter into the chocolate mixture and top with chopped peanuts.
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Our favorite holiday punch recipe is to mix 1/2 gallon of Lime Sherbet (or any other flavor of sherbet) with 7-Up. Just put the frozen sherbet in a punch bowl, and pour the 7-Up over top of it. As the sherbet melts and mixes with the 7-up, it makes a refreshing, frothy punch. We start by adding a 2 liter bottle of 7-Up, then we add more 7-Up (pouring it over top of the still frozen sherbet) as needed. Yummy!
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Punch – Mix the following

1 can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
2 - 2 liter bottles of clear soda (usually diet squirt and diet sprite)

As the punch bowl gets low, add 1 can either concentrates and 1 bottle of either soda at a time to replenish. No reason to wait until it is all gone to make a whole batch, it always tastes fine!
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G'ma started the tradition of punch for every holiday. This is how she taught us to make it.

Mix:
1pkg. black cherry kool-aid
1pkg. cherry kool-aid
2 cups of sugar
1 qt. of water
1 large can of pineapple juice
Pour into an empty ice cream bucket and freeze.

When ready to serve, tip out of the bucket into the punch bowl and pour 7-up over top. The 7-up will cause the "ice" to get slushy. It is very good but will stain.
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Coconut Macaroons-
1 lb coconut
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix together, drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet
Bake 350 for 12 minutes Yield: 4 dz small or 2 dz large
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Toffee-
2 sticks butter
1 rounded cup sugar
2 1/2 Tablespoons hot water
package of chocolate chips
chopped nuts- put in 9x13 dish

Heat sugar in pan, add hot water and butter. Cook until it turns color of brown paper bag. Stirring constantly. Pour over nuts. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and spread over hot toffee. Top with more nuts, if desired. Break with knife when cooled. (Pieces will not be uniform in size)
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Five-minute fudge:
1 2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine sugar, evaporated milk and butter in a pan. Bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in marshmallows and chocolate chips. Pour into a buttered 9x13 pan. Yield: 10
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Here is a hot holiday punch:
1 gallon cranberry juice
2 cups pineapple juice
2 oranges, sliced
6 cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves

Combine everything in a large saucepan. Bring to boil. Strain into a heatproof punch bowl. Yield 16
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Peanut Butter/Chocolate Cookies (tastes like Reese's)

1-Cup Peanut Butter
1-Cup Sugar
1-Egg

Mix together and form into balls. Use a fork dipped in sugar to flatten the cookies (criss-cross). Cook at 350 for 8-10 minutes. When you take them out of the oven, place a Hershey's Chocolate Kiss in the center of each cookie. Let the cookies cool totally before removing them from the cookie sheet, they are a bit fragile. There are very good!

I saw another great idea on TV last night. Make your favorite Sugar Cookies (or use the ready made). Cut into large stars and then cut a smaller star out of the middle. Crush 'Life Savers' (place in plastic bag and beat them ). Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place the stars on the cookie sheet and fill in the middle star with the crushed candy. You can do all one color or mix them. Bake cookies at 350 for about 8 minutes and let them cool completely before removing them from the parchment paper. They look like stained glass and are very cute!!
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Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball-

1 (8oz) cream cheese
1/2 c real butter
1/4 t vanilla
3/4 c powdered sugar
2 T brown sugar
3/4 c mini choc chips
3/4 c finely chopped pecans

Mix first 6 ingredients and form ball. Roll in pecans. Chill--serve with chocolate graham crackers--the "stick" kind work good.
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Cookie Dough Truffles

Take refrigerated store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough (it's safe to eat without cooking), pinch off some little bits, roll into small balls, dip in melted chocolate, place on wax paper to dry. Very easy! Then refrigerate until you're ready to eat! These freeze really well, too. YUM!
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OREO
1 package Oreo cookies
1 package cream cheese (room temperature)
chocolate for dipping

1. Chop Oreos in a food processor until nothing but crumbs remain. Put crumbs in a large bowl and mix thoroughly with cream cheese until dough like. Roll into balls about 1 inch in diameter and chill.
2. After chilling, dip the Oreo balls in melted chocolate and let dry on waxed paper. An optional decoration would be to drizzle white chocolate across the top or dip the Oreo balls in white chocolate and drizzle with dark chocolate. (In the picture they did them in red chocolate and brown chocolate drizzle. They look incredible.)
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The Easiest and Best Fudge ever!!

I make this every year- I have fun changing the recipe around.

1 container of chocolate frosting
1 12 ox bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
3 snickers bars, chopped

Melt choc chips (stovetop or microwave)- remove from heat. Stir in frosting.

At this point you can either: mix in chopped candy bar or put the mixture into a pan and sprinkle with candy bars. I prefer to mix it in-

Add to a 9" square pan- refrigerate until cooled. Remove from pan and cut into squares. Tips: Line the pan with alum foil for easy removal. Add any kind of candy bar you like...change the chips- last time I used peanut butter chips...yum!
I like this recipe because you do not need to refrigerate (only to cool) it like many fudge recipes. Enjoy!!
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Fake Butterfingers...super easy!

1 14 oz Big Cheez-It Crackers (have to use the BIG ones)

Creamy peanut butter (any brand…I ended up using a no sugar added Peter Pan and it worked just fine)

1-24 oz. package chocolate bark (I think Wilton’s chocolate discs might work too)

Spread a cracker with creamy peanut butter and place another cracker on top to make a sandwich. Melt the chocolate bark in the microwave for 90 seconds. Stir. If the bark hasn't all melted, return to the microwave for 20 seconds. Dip "sandwiches" into the melted bark and coat thoroughly. Allow to set/harden on waxed paper. Voila...they taste like Butterfingers! This makes about 5 dozen.
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Death by Chocolate:

1 box of Devils Food Cake mix
1 large box of instant chocolate pudding
1 large container of Cool Whip
1 bag of Oreo cookies

Make cake according to directions and let cool. Make pudding according to directions. In a large bowl layer the ingredients. Crumbled cake, pudding, crushed Oreo cookies, Cool Whip. Do this three times. Put in refrigerator overnight. You can add other ingredients such as chocolate syrup, sprinkles, different flavored cookies, tinted Cool Whip to coordinate with the holiday, etc. Best if made and put in the refrigerator overnight. Delicious!
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Chocolate & Peanut Butter tarts:

Make your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe (or use the refrigerated kind if you need super easy!) and roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place in greased miniature muffin tins. Press dough evenly on the bottom and up the sides of each cup. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until set. After removing them from the oven, place a mini peanut butter cup in each muffin cup and press down gently. Cool completely--I like to give them a jumpstart by putting them in the fridge for 10 minutes so the chocolate doesn't melt as much as if you were to let them cool on the counter for the entire time. These are great and are just the right size and very easy.
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Chili and Cheese dip
Spread 1 8oz package of cream cheese in the bottom of an 8x8 cake pan.
Spread 1 can of Hormel chili on the top
Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over that and bake at 350 until bubbly and cheese is melted...I think about 15 minutes.
Dip tortilla chips into this and enjoy.
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Cupa Cupa
This sounds gross but is absolutely wonderful. I am positive that there aren't enough Weight Watcher points on earth to cover this! LOL

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of onions
1 cup of mayonnaise

mix together and bake for ~ 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. (Cheese will be bubbly) Serve with Breton crackers or any that you like.

(I use only about 1/3 cup of onions and probably 1 1/2 cups of cheese)
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Hot Crackers (this is what my kids call them)
Line a cookie sheet with tin foil.
Place Triscuits on the foil....use as many as you'll want to eat
Place a piece of jalapeno cheese on each triscuit.
Put on a 350 degree oven until cheese is melted. YUM
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Easiest ever fudge....
1 1/2 cups chocolate (or any other variety chips)
1 can carnation sweetened condensed milk.
Toppings if desired. (like nuts or candy pieces)

Stir together chips and milk on the stovetop until melted and glossy. Pour into an 8 by 8 or 9 by 9 pan. Top as desired. Chill until firm. Cut into squares.
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Another option for pretzel rods

Pretzel Rods
Caramel
Chocolate Almond Bark

Make a snake out of the caramel. Wrap the caramel around the pretzel like a candy cane. Dip in Chocolate Almond Bark (you could use better chocolate, but everyone likes it with the almond bark too). Then you can leave the chocolate alone, or dip in nuts, sprinkles, crushed candies, etc.
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Fruit Dip (My family loves this)

1 Large Jar of marshmallow cream
8 oz. Cream Cheese
2 Tbsp. Orange Juice.

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Charcoal
White Chocolate Almond Bark
Crushed Oreos

Mix together. Pour on aluminum foil or parchment paper. Let dry. Crumble up like charcoal. Great for school parties!
__________________

I make fudge similar to this one. We call it microwave fudge. It's so easy and really great tasting.

1 12oz pkg (=2cups) chocolate morsels
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine the morsels and condensed milk in microwave dish (I use a large glass measuring cup). Microwave on high 3 minutes. Stir until mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla and any additions. I like mine with nuts but always make half without nuts for other family members. Spread mixture evenly into a lined or greased 8X8 (9X9) pan and chill until firm. I line my square pan with wrap so I can lift the entire thing out when set up. It makes it easier to cut.

For Rocky Road fudge just add 1 C mini marshmallows and 1/2 C chopped nuts. For Black Forest Fudge add chopped red candied cherries, mini marshmallows, and chopped almonds. You can experiment with different mixtures depending on your family's favorites.
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Peanut butter cups
You need:

1 pkg of graham crackers crushed (1/3 of the box)
1 cup peanut butter (I like the crunchy for added texture)
1 box powdered sugar
2 sticks melted butter/ margarine
1 12oz bag chocolate chips melted for the top

Mix in bowl the powdered sugar, graham crackers some big pieces okay, 1 cup peanut butter, and melted butter. Press into pan. Melt chocolate chips and pour over the top. Let chill till chocolate is hardened.
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Toffee crackers:
2 sticks of butter
1 cup of sugar
1 sleeve of saltines
1 package of chocolate chips - melted
Crushed nuts, coconut, or whatever other topping you might like.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lay out all of the saltines on a cookie sheet. Melt the butter, add the sugar, and bring to a boil. Boil for one minute, and then pour over the saltines. Bake for +/- 12 minutes. Cool off for a few minutes, then spread the melted chocolate over them, and cover with coconut, nuts, etc.

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Red and Green cookies:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour

Mix all ingredients well. Roll into 3 logs on wax paper, then roll the logs in colored sugar. Chill in the fridge until solid. Slice onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 3-5 minutes (they cook VERY quickly - when the bottom edge starts to spread, they are done)

Another pretty easy one is to take your favorite snicker doodle recipe and instead of rolling the cookies in cinnamon and sugar, roll them in red sprinkles and sugar and green sprinkles and sugar.
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7 Layer Cookie (actually 6 layer in my house b/c we don't like nuts)

layer the following in a baking dish (9x14):

-one stick of melted butter (I usually just put the butter in the baking dish in the oven til melted)

-graham cracker crumbs to cover bottom of dish (enough to absorb the melted butter)

-one bag of chocolate chips

-one bag of butterscotch chips

-nuts (optional)

-one small bag of coconut

-one can of condensed milk (drizzle over coconut, try to cover all)

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until coconut is toasty brown.
Let cool completely before cutting, you can refrigerate to speed up the process.
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Toffee
1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 package of chocolate chips

Butter a square pan (9x9) Spread pecans in bottom of pan. Heat butter and sugar to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, 7 minutes. Immediately spread mixture evenly over nuts in pan.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot mixture. Place baking sheet over the pan so contained heat will melt chocolate. Spread melted chocolate over candy. While hot cut into pieces. Chill until firm.
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One bag microwave popcorn
1/2 of pkg almond bark

Cook popcorn and make sure you remove all the uncooked kernels. Melt white almond bark in large bowl (I do this in 45 second intervals so as to not scorch)

Dump bag of popcorn into bowl of melted almond bark and stir until the popcorn is covered. Pour over wax paper to harden and then break apart and put into clear gift bags with beautiful ribbon and your teachers will think you've gone gourmet on them
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-Soft Ginger Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup butter, softened (or margarine)
1 cup white granulated sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
1/4 cup molasses
2 Tbsp white granulated sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually, stir in the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Refrigerate for 1/2 an hour.

Use cookie scoop or hands to shape dough into walnut-size balls, and roll them in a bowl of white granulated sugar (the 2 Tbsps). Place the cookies 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly.

Bake for 8 - 10 minutes one batch at a time. Sprinkle more sugar on top. Let cool. Store in airtight container.
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Roll-Out Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsps baking powder
3 cups flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl. Beat in egg and vanilla. Mix baking powder and flour, add one cup at a time mixing after each addition. The dough will be very stiff, blend last flour in by hand (if dough becomes too stiff, add water, a teaspoon at a time). Do not chill dough. Divide dough into 2 balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a circle approx 12 inches in diameter and 1/8 in thick. Dip cutters in flour before each use. Bake cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet on top rack of over for 6 to 7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Hint: I roll cookies between 2 sheets of wax paper, no need to add a lot of additional flour when rolling. Makes 20-24 average size cookies.
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Spiced Nuts
Ingredients:
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt

Mix these 3 ingredients in a small bowl. In a large bowl beat 1 egg white gently with a fork. Add 1 pound of nuts (I use almonds but my sister is going to try it with pecans). Stir until coated. Add the cinnamon/sugar/salt mixture and stir to completely coat. Pour onto a baking sheet in a single layer and bake at 300 for 20 mins. Put on waxed paper in a single layer to cool.
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-Peanut butter balls
1cup PB
1cp icing sugar
1 cup crashed corn flakes
1/2 cup crushed walnuts
chocolate wafers melted

combine ingredients and roll into balls and dip in melted white or milk chocolate place on a sheet of wax paper til chocolate hardens/cools **** We make these but use rice krispies slightly crushed instead of the cornflakes and don't put nuts in them.
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Oh Henry Chocolates
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
Microwave on high for 2 minutes stir

In bowl mix 1 1/2 cups corn flakes
1 1/2 cups rice krispies
1 cup salted peanuts

Mix both together and press into a 9 by 11 pan chill until set.

Melt together 1 pkg milk chocolate chips and 3 TBS margarine. Cut bars into bite sized pieces and dip in chocolate.
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My Grandmother called this "White Trash"
1 bag white morsels
pretzel sticks (I break them in 1/2)
cocktail peanuts

Melt the white chips. Mix in the pretzels and peanuts. Drop by spoonful onto wax paper and let harden.

just made a version of this today, but my recipe is as follows:

3 bags white choc. chips
3 TBSP oil
5 cups Cheerios
5 cups Corn Chex
2 cups cocktail peanuts
1 bag M & Ms
1/2 bag mini pretzels
Melt the white choc. chips & oil together (I usually do this in the microwave). Mix the other ingredients together, then mix the melted choc. in. Once all the ingredients are well coated with white chocolate, spoon the mixture onto waxed paper (on a cookie sheet or lg. baking dish). Refrigerate til it hardens.
This makes a huge amount, and I usually buy some of the pretty Christmas treat bags or the containers to divide it up. I also store this in the 'fridge
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-Rudolph Cookies

4 (1 ounce) chocolate candy coating squares
96 pretzel sticks
1 (16 ounce) package Nutter Butter cookies
64 M&M's in green, blue, or brown chocolate pieces
32 red M&M's or Red Hots

Microwave chocolate candy coating in a small shallow glass dish at HIGH 3 minutes, stirring once.
Place 2 pretzel sticks in peanut butter filling of each sandwich cookie, forming large antlers. Break remaining pretzel sticks in half, and place 1 half pretzel stick next to each long pretzel stick, forming smaller antlers.
Dip 1 side of green, blue or brown M&M's in melted candy coating, and place on cookies for the eyes. Dip 1 side of of red M&M's in candy coating, and place on cookies for the noses.
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Chili and Cheese dip
Spread 1 8oz package of cream cheese in the bottom of an 8x8 cake pan.
Spread 1 can of Hormel chili on the top
Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over that and bake at 350 until bubbly and cheese is melted...I think about 15 minutes.
Dip tortilla chips into this and enjoy.
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Butterscotch Crunchies

1 12 oz pkg butterscotch chips
½ cup peanut butter
6 cups corn flakes

Melt butterscotch and peanut butter on medium low. Remove from heat. Stir in corn flakes. Drop teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet lined with wax paper. Put into refrigerator until hardened. Makes 4 ½ dozen cookies
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Super-fast turtles
Ingredients:
square or round checker pretzels (I used Rold Gold Butter Checkers)
Rolo candy
pecan halves

Place a layer of pretzels on cookie sheet.
Top each pretzel with a Rolo candy.
Top each Rolo candy with a pecan half.

Bake in 250-300 degree oven for just a few minutes. Press down on a pecan and if it goes down, it's ready. Take out of oven a press each pecan down to squish the Rolo out to the edges of the pretzel.
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Here is the recipe for stained glass cookies. !/2 cup margarine or butter, softened.1/2 cup of sugar.1/2 cup of honey. 1 egg. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. 3 cups of all-purpose flour. 1 teaspoon baking powder. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. 1/2 teaspoon salt. 5 (1.14 -ounce) roll Life Savers Five Flavor Roll Candy. 1. beat butter, sugar,honey,egg and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer until creamy. Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours. 2. roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into desired shapes with 21/2- to 3 inch floured cookie cutters. Trace smaller version of cookie shape on dough leaving 1/2 to 3/4-inch border of dough. Cut out and remove dough from center of cookies; set aside. Place cut-out shapes on baking sheets lined with foil. Repeat with reserved dough. 3. Crush each color of candy separately between the layers of wax paper with mallet. Spoon crushed candy inside center of cut-out cookie shape. 4. bake at 350 for 6 to 8 minutes. cool
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Rainbow Popcorn

5 to 6 cups freshly popped popcorn
1 tablespoon butter (not margarine)
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Food coloring of choice (use red for one batch and green for another for a Christmas theme)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Place popcorn in a shallow pan and place in oven to keep warm.

In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter and add sugar, water and salt; stir until sugar is dissolved. Boil about 20 minutes, until syrup just begins to color (about 275 degrees on a candy thermometer; hardball stage). Watch syrup carefully once it reaches 250 degrees; it will darken quickly if it gets too hot. To test: Syrup should form a firm ball when dropped into cold water.

Add vanilla and food coloring. Stir well. Pour in a stream over warm popcorn and quickly stir to coat each piece. Pour popcorn onto a sheet of baking parchment paper and separate each kernel. Be careful; syrup will be hot. Coating will harden as popcorn cools. Store in an airtight container.

Clean-up tip: Soak syrup pot, popcorn pan and utensils in water after use. When the syrup cools it will harden stubbornly onto any surface. After a good soak, though, you can just rinse it out; no scrubbing.
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I made the white chocolate popcorn last night...... and I melted a huge symphony bar with the toffee in it and drizzled it on top of the popcorn once it was spread out on wax paper ~ OMG!!! It is to die for and looks totally beautiful! I put it in clear cellophane bags and tied them with a cranberry colored organza ribbon with gold trim ~ I would actually pay good money for these if I saw them in the store!!! And soooo easy and inexpensive too! I also used the trails end (boy scouts) butter flavored popcorn and got the huge symphony bars at big lots for .99!!!! Yeah! Thanks for the great recipes everyone!!! Happy Holidays!!
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Smores

large marshmallows
chocolate almond bark
crushed graham crackers

Melt almond bark and dip marshmallow (using a toothpick) until completely coated. Roll in graham crackers and let harden on wax paper. They're yummy!
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Chili and Cheese dip Spread 1 8oz package of cream cheese in the bottom of an 8x8 cake pan.
Spread 1 can of Hormel chili on the top
Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over that and bake at 350 until bubbly and cheese is melted...I think about 15 minutes.
Dip tortilla chips into this and enjoy.-
I take this one step further. I mix 1 packet of taco seasoning into the cream cheese before spreading it on a platter. I always have these ingredients on hand in case of impromptu get-togethers!! YUM!!
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Cinnamon Cream Cheese Squares

2 tubes (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent rolls
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar DIVIDED
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Unroll 1 tube of crescent rolls and place dough in a lightly greased 13x9 pan. With finger tips, press the seams and perforations together to seal. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over dough in pan.

Unroll remaining tube of crescent rolls and place over cream cheese mixture, stretching to fit. Brush melted butter over top. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool. Cut in squares.

I have changed these up sometimes by spreading a can of pie filling between the cream cheese layer and top layer of dough. We've tried apple, cherry and blueberry -- all are yummy!

 

[antmaril]

Left210:

I'm sure I speak for everyone who has subscribed to this thread, when I say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for consolidating all of these great recipes.

It was very nice of you to take the time to do this

 

[cinmell]

Left210:

I'm sure I speak for everyone who has subscribed to this thread, when I say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for consolidating all of these great recipes.

It was very nice of you to take the time to do this