Photo Selma

how delicious simple Snowman Cake Pops look when they are finished

Christmas time is officially here for this year, and it’s time to spread the holiday cheer. During the holiday season there are many ways to do so but the tastiest way to do so is baking your favorite holiday treats. Those who cook every year tend to have a cookbook with a variety to choose from, but if you are someone like myself who doesn’t normally do the cooking in your household, your recipe log may be limited. In such a case – or if you want to add to your own – I have listed some must-have treats for this holiday season, to bake and eat with friends and family to spread the cheer and get in the holiday mood this season.

Christmas Crispy Treats

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons – butter

5 1/2 cups – mini marshmallows

6 cups – Rice Krispies cereal

16 oz – green icing times 2 (unable to find: several drops of green food coloring in vanilla icing and stir until desired shade)

colorful round or circular sprinkles

popsicle sticks

Directions:

1. On low heat, melt butter in large sauce pan. add marshmallows and stir until completely melted
2. add the cereal and stir until mixed evenly
3. evenly spread into a circular pan and chill in the fridge
4. cut the treats into triangles, like pie slices
5. make all sides flat, then stick popsicle stick into the smallest of the three sides
6. using the stick as a handle, dip each treat about 3/4 of the way into the green icing, getting a nice layer on there
7. decorate with sprinkles (the ornaments on the tree!) and enjoy

Peppermint Meringue

Ingredients:

4 – egg whites

1/2 teaspoon – cream of tartar

pinch of salt

200 grams – granulated sugar

1 teaspoon – vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon – peppermint extract

crushed peppermint (for topping)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 225 F
2. whip egg whites and cream of tartar together until foamy
3. add vanilla and peppermint extract
4. continue whipping until batter stiffens
5. transfer to a pipping bag with desired tip
6. pipe dots onto the baking tray (onto tray and back motion)
7. leave in the oven for about 1 hour
8. wait for Meringue to cool and enjoy

Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 – stick butter

2/3 cup – brown sugar

1/3 cup – molasses

1 – egg yolk

1 teaspoon – vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups – flour

2 teaspoons – cinnamon

2 teaspoons – ground ginger

1 teaspoon – baking soda

pinch of salt

1/4 teaspoon – ground cloves

1 tablespoon – milk

Directions:

1. mix butter and sugar until fluffy
2. add egg, molasses, milk and vanilla and continue stirring
3. add flour, baking soda and spices and stir until mixed
4. chill for 2 hours
5. preheat oven to 350 F
6. roll out dough to roughly 1/4 inch thickness and bake for 7 minutes
7. (optional) wait to cool to cut out the cookies into shapes of people or your prefrance and decorate with icing/frosting and sprinkles, and enjoy

Snowman Cake Pops

Ingredients:

200 grams – cream cheese

30 – Oreo cookies

300 grams – white chocolate (melted)

2 pieces of dark chocolate (melted)

something orange for the nose – persimmon or orange icing/frosting

8-10 popsicle sticks

Directions:

1. place cookies in food processor or blender and pulse until fine crumbs, then put in a bowl
2. add the cream cheese and stir
3. roll into balls, 8 bigger ones and 8 smaller ones
4. dip tip of each popsicle stick into the white chocolate, then stick on the bigger cake balls to leave some of the tip of the stick showing, dip the tips once again to add the smaller cake balls on top
5. place on plate lined with parchment paper
6. let it set in the freezer for at least 1 hour
7. dip in melted white chocolate, use dark chocolate to make eyes/mouth/bottons and add desired orange ingredient for the nose
8. store in the fridge and enjoy

Baking is a great way to kick off the holiday season, with recipes to give you all the right vibes this Christmas. This collection of recipes is a combination of my own, from friends and from Instagram. Merry Christmas and happy baking!