Looking for a cute and inexpensive present this season? Bake a sweet holiday gift for teachers, neighbors or your best friends. These super simple delights are sure to dazzle!
Peppermint Bark Holiday Dessert
This ubiquitous holiday treat is ridiculously easy to make, and perfect to pack up and give away. Fill an aluminum tin (find it at any craft store) with red tissue paper and the finished product. Don’t forget to top the tin with a red and white-stripped ribbon!
Holiday Dessert Ingredients:
- Crushed candy canes (Enough to yield 1 cup)
- 2 pounds white chocolate chips
Peppermint Bark Directions:
Place the unwrapped candy canes in a plastic bag. Put a towel over the sealed bag and hammer the candy canes with a blunt metal object (like an ice cream scoop), until they are in small chunks (about ¼ in). Put the white chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl, and microwave on HIGH power in increments of 15 seconds until melted. Combine crushed candy canes with chocolate. Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet covered with waxed paper. Place in refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces. For an extra rich flavor pour over a layer of dark or milk chocolate.
Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Balls Holiday Dessert
For a richer indulgence, whip these up and place in a clean Mason jar with silver tissue paper (available at the grocery store). Tie shiny silver ribbons around the lid and sprinkle snowflake stickers around the glass.
Holiday Dessert Ingredients:
- 2 cups (11 ½ ounces) milk chocolate chips
- ¼ cup half-and-half
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup chopped peanuts
Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Balls Directions:
Melt chocolate chips with the half-and-half in a medium-sized saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly. Whisk in peanut butter and stir until blended. Pour mixture into a bowl and refrigerate until firm but still soft enough to shape into balls. Usually takes about 30 minutes, and stir occasionally. Using a food chopper, chop up the peanuts. Spread onto waxed paper taped to the counter. Shape a spoonful of the peanut butter combination into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in peanuts. Store in refrigerator until hard.
