Holiday Recipes

I bake all year round because I find the act really entertaining (and delicious). However, I tend to go a bit overboard during the holiday seasons when it comes to baking. Actually, once October hits, I'm constantly baking (or constantly have the urge to bake if I'm at school oven-less). The Christmas season is always a fun one to bake during, especially with all of the peppermint goodies! I've compiled a list of some recipes that I'd really like to test out this winter!

1. Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake
2. Funfetti Cake Batter Truffles
3. Christmas Crunch
4. Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow
5. Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookie Bars
6. Pretzel M&M Hugs
7. Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
8. White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies
9. Candy Cane Oreo Cookies Bars
10. Peppermint Mocha Frozen Hot Chocolate

And as an added bonus, here's a hot chocolate recipe I tried out and tweaked this past weekend if you aren't feeling using some Swiss Miss packages. This is a very sweet and chocolatey recipe, by the way. Feel free to add or subtract the sugar or cocoa powder to your liking!

Hot Chocolate Recipe:

Ingredients: 

+ 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
+ 1/3 cup of granulated sugar
+ 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon (optional)
+ 1/4 tsp. of salt
+ 4 cups of milk
+ 1/4 cup of half and half
+ 3/4 tsp. of vanilla extract

1. In a separate bowl, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

2. Put 1 cup of milk into a saucepan and heat until it boils.

3. Stir in the cocoa mixture and stir it until it all dissolves. Bring this mixture to a boil, then turn it onto low heat.

4. Stir in the remaining 3 cups of milk. Bring it to a boil.

5. Add in the cream and vanilla and continue to heat the milk.

6. BONUS: If you want peppermint hot chocolate, add in some Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer or use a candy cane as your stirrer!

*This recipe is very sweet*

What's your favorite Christmas treat?