What is Your Favorite "Hip" Holiday Recipe/Treat?
With the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge in full swing, I have received quite a few emails from readers who are interested in learning more about favorite Holiday recipes, treats, snacks etc. Check out the email below from reader, LeeAnn…
With the upcoming holiday season upon us, and your frugal holiday ideas post yesterday, I would LOVE to see a post where everyone can submit their favorite yummy cookie/candy/treat recipe. I’m making gift baskets and would love to hear traditions other people create/bake during the holiday season. Thanks!
So….What are some of YOUR favorite holiday recipes? What fun treats do you make to bring to holiday parties and/or school events?
My mom passed away when I was younger, and being so young I don’t have a lot of memories of her. But the one memory I do have is her and I making Peanut Butter Balls before our yearly Christmas party. I still make them every year for my family, Anytime I get invited for a Holiday party I am always asked to make up a batch 🙂 Enjoy!
Peanut Butter Balls:
1 box confectioners sugar
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 (12 oz.) bag of chocolate chips
1/2 box (4 bars) Baker’s Wax
Mix sugar, peanut butter, butter and vanilla in a bowl, Then roll into 1-inch balls. Place on an aluminum foil-covered cookie sheet, and Refrigerate.
In a double boiler, melt chocolate chips and bakers wax. Remove balls from refrigerator and place toothpicks in the center of each ball. Dip the balls individually in the melted chocolate/wax sauce. Place balls back on the cookie sheet(I normally use wax paper on the cookie sheet for this part). After all the balls are coated, remove toothpicks and use a spoon to cover the holes in the balls left by the toothpicks with chocolate sauce.
My sister made those.. they’re yummy…sometimes called “buckeyes” among other things.
That is so sweet! I am sure that you Mom is watching you carry on her traditions. God Bless!
love it!!! for some reason, i only make these during thanksgiving and christmas!!! my recipe is exactly the same minus the wax and i get so many compliments on them!!!!
My great grandmother used to make these and coconut balls during the holidays. I would be sick from eating so many!
did anyone already say homemade Chex Mix? It tastes so much better than the kind you buy in the bag. There are lots of variations too. I just made a Halloween version with all the free CVS candy corn. I just searched Halloween Chex Mix on my Swagbucks bar and the recipe came right up. So good!
great idea!!! thanks for sharing!!
The muddy buddy mix is so super yummy to!
Gingerbread pecans…probably similar to the spiced pecans mentioned previously. I also like to make baklava. It’s pretty easy to make.
I make a Rainbow cake.
-Bake 2 cake layers, as directions show, cool in pan
-Prepare jello gelatin mixture as box directs then pour in pan over cake layer
-Soak for about 6-8 hours
-Take out of pan, will be really easy to come out
Put on festive cake plate and frost with Cool Whip (with a little vanilla extract mixed in)
Got this from my mom about 25 years ago and everyone still LOVES it
meant to add- I usually make this at Christmas time and use strawberry for one layer and lime jello for the other.
When my girls were little we called this Jesus Birthday cake and we never made it any other time . Did your post bring back some memories for me they are 33 and 32 now. thanks
What a neat idea…going to have to try that…now when it says, “Soak for about 6-8 hours,” do you mean on the counter or in the refrigerator? thank you.
Small pretzels topped with a melted rolo and a pecan. So yummy and easy to make.
I make those every year, too. Soooooo easy and they taste like turtles!
My friend made these the other day minus the pecan and with a pretzel on top too! Super yummy!
There’s one thing I always make for parties & snacks – espeically good for a shower or party with light finger food. Get the square pretzels from the chip aisle, then get some white candy melts from the craft dept (the ones that look like big flattened chocolate chips), & any color M&M’s you want. When you make them line your baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil first & preheat oven to 350. lay out a layer of pretzles & put a candy melt on each one, pop in the oven for 2 -3 mins (til they’re a little glossy & gooey but haven’t lost their shape). take them out & immediately put 1 M&M on top of each one. since they’re on parchment you can then take them off the pan to cool & even immediately make another batch if you wish. they’re the perfect combo of salty & sweet! & of course they’re easy to customize with whatever M&M’s you want!
I have used that for years, it’s the GREATEST idea!!! two thumbs up!!
We do those too…my hubby loves them. I use a regular hershey’s kiss and then put a regular m&m on it. They look like little christmas trees.
I did a similar thing a couple of years ago with pretzels, Hershey’s kisses or Hershey’s hugs & M&M’s. They really are simple & tasty!
I always like to make gingerbread men and decorate them with frosting and M&Ms. I found a recipe a few years ago that makes them with butterscotch pudding instead of molasses which makes them much softer.
Can you share your recipe?
Pumpkin walnut bread-it makes the whole house smell so good 🙂
I usually make Christmas crack. Everyone that has LOVES it!! I’ve been known to eat the whole thing myself 😀
1C butter (real stuff)
1C light brown sugar
40 saltines (one sleeve)
12oz chocolate chips
chopped nuts
boil butter & brown sugar. I’ve seen anywhere from 3 – 5 minutes. Pretty much until it is pulling away from the sides of the pan.
Line a jelly roll pan (15×10) with saltines (I line it with foil first & spray with Pam). Pour butter/sugar over & spread it out. Bake for ~5 minutes at 375 degrees. I watch it until the whole thing is a little bubbly. I think it took mine around 7 minutes last time. Just make sure the edges don’t burn.
Remove from oven & pour chocolate chips over the top. Let them melt (you may want to put the whole thing in the oven again for a minute or two). Spread them out & sprinkle with chopped nuts. (I take a handful or two of regular peanuts & crush them in a bowl with the bottom of a glass). I let it cool at room temp for about an hour, then stick it in the fridge for a half hour or so.
This sounds so good! How do you store it/how well does it keep? (As if there will be any left!) Thanks!
I’ve made this and frozen it with great success! We actually pull these goodies out of the freezer just a few minutes before serving. Peanut butter balls freeze amazingly well, too. 🙂
I’ve been making pretty much the same thing for years — only with white sugar and pecans instead of peanuts. I’ll have to try your version this year — it sounds yummy! Another thing I make is marbleized mint bark — 1/3 cup chocolate chips
12 oz bag white chocolate chips
½ cup candy canes crushed
Line a baking sheet with foil; set aside.
Carefully microwave white chocolate chips in bowl until they are just beginning to melt, stir well until creamy, microwave 20-30 sec more. Stir in crushed candy canes.
Pour the melted white chocolate mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
Spread white chocolate mixture to about 3/8 inch thickness; using microwave melt the chocolate chips and drizzle peppermint mixture with the melted chocolate chips in striped pattern.
Gently zigzag a narrow metal spatula through the chocolate and peppermint layers to create a swirled effect.
Let candy stand several hours or till firm (OR chill about 30 minutes or till firm).
Use foil to lift firm candy from the baking sheet; carefully break candy into pieces.
Store, tightly covered, for up to 2 weeks.
I make this too with white sugar and a tsp of vanilla. I think the white sugar tastes better than the brown, but either way it’s amazing! It’s always requested!
Laura, I store it in tupperware containers and keep it in the fridge. It tastes so much better with a chill to it.
I make a Turkey Ball- very easy- very good!!
1 pkg sliced SMOKED turkey breast- grind in mind grinder (not food processor)
1 pkg cream cheese (softened)
2 heaping tablespoons mayo
parsley
pecan chips
mix ground turkey breast, cream cheese and mayo until well blended- Form into ball and roll in parsely & pecan chips- chill until ready to serve- serve with Ritz crackers or saltines
My mom used to make these for friends during the holidays and everytime I take it anywhere it is a big HIT! ENJOY!
I love to make cinnamon apple crisp, it smells up the whole house in such a nice way and it tastes even better. Now if only I had that recipe handy…
I make pumpkin muffins. You can also make a cream cheese frosting to go with them or add chocolate chips but they’re great even when they’re plain. As a bonus, they also freeze well!
https://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,194,152173-248204,00.html
We make Hay stacks:
butterscotch chips melted
Chinese noodles
I melt one bag then take off heat- mix in noodles once they are covered add amt of peasnuts as desired and drop spoon fulls in wax paper to cool
Super easy and yummy
My sister in law makes these and I inhale them!!!!
The taste of peppermints makes you know the holidays are upon us. I love Peppermint bark.
Ingredients
Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white chocolate
Peppermint flavorings, optional
Directions
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)
OMG this is a must this christmas! I can’t wait to make now.
Ok, I make a fantastic peppermint oreo dessert. It’s to die for, and it looks festive! It’s crumbled oreos to form a crust. Then smash in peppermint ice cream to fill your pan half way. Next, sprinkle w/ magic shell. Set in freezer for a half hour. Spread cool whip on top to fill pan. Freeze until stiff. Then sprinkle w/ crumbled candy canes. It keeps forever since it’s frozen!! You can pretty much make it any size, or even little personal ones.
This has been in our family a long time. It is one of my favorite desserts. I made one pan last year and with my family (brothers and wives) it was gone in a day. Ours is slightly different, instead of magic shell (which I might have to try) we melt 2 squares of unsweetened choc, 1/4 c butter, 2/5 c sugar, dash of salt, 1/2 t vanilla, 2/3 c evaporated milk over low heat until smooth and slightly thickened, cool and then spread over. Yours sounds much easier, but very good.
OMGoodness! I love all these ideas.
Thanks for the list!!
We have a family cookie recipe that I love, it is called Date Nut Rock Cookies and is kind of like a spice cookie!!
We do something like Jennifer’s Christmas crack but we do it with graham crackers (buy those on sale). We call them 10 minute cookies.
1 stick butter, 1 cup brown sugar, chopped pecans or other nuts (to taste)
Melt butter and mix in sugar, cook for a few minutes. Add nuts.
Lay graham crackers on greased cookie sheet, cook in preheated (350) oven for 10 minutes. We love these
ok I grew a double chin and a shelf butt just by reading these…but theys sound worth it!
LOL!!
I agree…I am sitting at home on a cold Saturday afternoon reading and imagining all these holiday recipes and I feel like I’ve gained ten pounds!!! 🙂
I make the brownie recipe and frosting from the back of the Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa container – I cook them in small little muffin tins – I always get rave reviews! They are the BEST and the frosting is like fudge!
I like to switch it up. but I normally go with a holiday flavored cupcakes.
Decorated for the holiday at the time.
This is my FAVORITE recipe! Plus, I try to get Snickers mini’s on sale or clearance after halloween to stock up for this recipe for Christmas time. All my family request this cookie too!
It’s called Santa Suprise. I first found it on brightideas.com (the recipe is longer there).
– 1 cup butter, softened
– 1 cup creamy peanut butter
– 1 cup brown sugar
– 1 cup white sugar
– 2 eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 24 Snickers miniature candy bars
Directions:
1 Preheat oven to 300°F.
2 In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3 In a large bowl, mix together butter, peanut butter, and sugars until light and fluffy.
4 Add eggs and vanilla and combine thoroughly.
5 Then mix in flour mixture.
6 Cover and chill dough 2-3 hours.
7 To form cookie, scoop a tablespoon of chilled dough and flatten.
8 Place a miniature Snickers in the center and form the dough into a ball around the Snickers.
9 Place on a greased cookie sheet.
10 Bake for 10-20 minutes.
11 Cool cookies on a rack.
12 Optional: I like to decorate the cookies with powdered sugar and drizzle melted chocolate for a great effect.
ENJOY!
I love Tiger Butter. It tastes just like Reese’s cups. Melt 1lb white almond bark in microwave. Stir in 6 ounces of peanut butter until completely blended. Pour into a 13×9 glass dish lined with wax paper. Melt 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave. Use a knife to swirl the chocolate into the mixture using a figure 8 motion. Refrigerate.
I love this recipe too! It’s a no-brainer and tastes great!
Bacon Cheddar Dip
This is so easy and every one loves it at my family gatherings and work.
1/2 cup to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ( depending on how much cheese you like)
1/4 cup real bacon bits ( I mean the ones that say “real” bacon bits)
1 pint sour cream …you could use light or fat free
1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
Just mix those 4 ingredients together and put in the frig to chill for about 30 mins before serving. I serve mine with Ritz crackers or Townhouse. I’m sure you could try whatever kind of cracker that is on “sale”.
I make this because it’s easy and cheap.
Snowman poop 🙂
1 bag of marshmallow
half a cup of peanut butter
1 bag of chocolate chips
melt pb and chocolate and then coat marshmallows with the mixture
I like the ease of my microwave cashew brittle-it turns out like I got it from a candy shop!
Oh I have fond childhood memories of making stained-glass window cookies with my brothers. You make a simple sugar cookie dough and make it in the shape you want to be the outline, then you bake it on a foil lined cookie sheet until light golden. Next you use crushed hard candies (transparent works best, we used to use sour balls) to fill in the window part and pop back into the oven for just a minute or two (careful not to brown or burn) then let them cool and pull off the foil carefully.
Oh I remember making these with my mom too! She would always put a hole in the top of the cookie before baking, then run a piece of yarn through the hole and hang them on the tree. Thanks for a wonderful memory moment! I think I’ll try it with my granddaughter this year.
Garbage Bag Mix!!!
1 bottle of Orville Red.popcorn oil
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1box of crispix cereal
2 bags of bugles
1 bag pretzels
1 bag fritos
1 box ranch munch ems
2 bag bagel chips
1 small box cheerios
1 box cheese nips
1 can mixed nuts
2 boxes wheat thins
1 container of cheese balls
2 bags of peanut M&M’s
Mix oil and garlic salt in cup
Place all other ingredients in large garbage bag and place half the oil with half the mix then shake then add the rest and shake again.
Freezes well too!
Every year I make these cookies, it kinda looks like a big flat calzone, covered in icing with sprinkles and filled with fudge, I slice them about 1/2 inch thick. They are so rich and yummy… everybody loves them. I make cookie plates for a lot of people and these are everyone’s favorite cookies.
Recipe please? This sounds yummy!
We start Christmas morning with a coffee cake that comes from my father’s side of the family. It’s surprisingly delicious and amazingly easy (plus, made from ingredients you usually have on hand.)
Sift together: 1.5 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 2 t baking powder and 1/2 t salt. (I don’t sift, I just stir w/ a fork)
Break 1 egg into a 1 cup measure, then fill to 1 cup with milk. Stir into dry ingredients. Beat well. Pour into a greased 8x10x2 pan.
Melt 3T butter and spoon/spread over batter.
Mix 3T sugar and 1.5 t cinnamon and sprinkle over top.
Bake at 350 for about 20 min.
[Double recipe for a 9×13 pan. Bake 35-40 min]
Yum- love this one, I’ve been wanting to try a coffee cake, thanks!
I’m not sure what these are called but kids love them. One bag of chocolate chips and one bag of butterscotch chips melted add one bag of crushed ruffled chips spoon out on wax paper and let cool.
I love to make the following items: Everyone asks for it every year.
White Chocolate Chex – SIMPLE AND YUMMY
1 box of corn chex mix (I use generic)
1 package of while almond bark
Melt chocolate and mix with chex. Spread on pan and put in refrigerator for a 20 mintues until hard. Break apart and store or place in bags with a cute ribbon. I’m not a fan but this tastes awesome. It’s a must try!!!!!
I’ve been “brewing” vanilla since the beginning of the summer to divide for christmas gifts. Vanilla beans and vodka……www.heavenlyhomemakers.com – one of my favorites.
Jalapeno jelly……so easy. http://www.allrecipes.com – christmas jalapeno jelly. It’s the best and my family uses it as a marinade on meats and rubs. It comes out beautiful with red and green. My favorite is serving it with cream cheese. Yummy. This year I even tried make candied jalapenos and they turned out wonderful. I’m using them as gifts!!!!
sheree
Our family traditions is Wassel (a spiced cider type drink) and monkey bread each Christmas morning.
We make HUGE batches of cookies as we plate them and take them to the neighbors and make goodie bags for the postal carrier, trashguy, propane guy ect…
An easy one is ritz crackers used to make sandwhiches w/peanut butter and then dipped in chocolate. They are easy and soooo good!
I love to do chocolate dipped pretzel rods. I buy the really big rods and dip them in melted semi-sweet chocolate and white chocolate. I then let my kids sprinkle them with green and red crystal sprinkles. Once they set, I bag them up in pretty Christmas bags, tie with ribbon, and give them as teacher gifts. I have one in grade school and two in mother’s day out, so this is a cheap and great teacher gift idea! I know I would love it if I was a teacher 🙂
A fun “decoration” treat we made last year was mice. you will need almond slivers, hershey kisses, whole cherries with the stem, and chocolate almond bark. You will also need some sort of icing to make the eyes. You dip the cherry in the melted almond bark and attach the hershey kiss to the side that does not have the stem and put two almond slivers in between the kiss and the cherry to make the ears and the stem of the cherry makes the tail. Put a couple eyes on there and you have a mouse. Cute little idea, takes a little time but cute!
Someone mentioned Chex Mix earlier, and this is the recipe that my mom got off a Chex cereal box years ago. I love it so much she would send me a gallon bag of it while I was away at college!
1 stick (1/2 c.) margarine
1 1/4 tsp season salt
4 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 2/3 c. EACH of corn, rice and wheat Chex
1 c. salted mixed nuts
1 c. mini pretzel twists
Preheat oven to 250 and melt margarine in a 9×13 shallow roasting pan (I’ve seen my mom use a just a glass 9×13 baking dish though). Add season salt and Worcestershire sauce to butter and stir. Add cereals, nuts and pretzels to pan and stir coat. Put in the oven for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towel to cool. Store in air tight container.
Cranberry Salsa has become my signature Holiday item. I often package it up and give it as a gift.
1 package fresh cranberries (like the regular size pkg in the produce section) coarse chopped in the food processor
2-3T. chopped cilantro
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 granny smith apple
2 T. canned jalepeno chopped
1/4 c. apple juice
1/4 c. sugar
1t. salt
Mix it all up and eat with tortilla chips. You can also blend it more to make it a thinner salsa but I like mine chunky. It must be kept refrigerated. It is a fresh salsa but lasts for several days.
I often package it up in jars and then cut tortillas into Christmas shapes and bake them into my own tortilla chips. It makes a nice little gift for a neighbor or co-worker.
my family does a big brunch for xmas. i make the breakfast casserole, my brother makes the biscuits and gravy, and mom makes the monkey bread. the monkey bread is usual nibbled on while the biscuits and gravy are cooking. YUM i love the holidays
i do snicker cookies. Chop up snicker mini’s and tuck them inside each sugar cookie mix and bake them per the package instructions. the snicker melts into the cookie dough. Yummy. you can substitute other mini’s also, maybe butterfinger, reeses, rolo’s would be good
Everyone is submitting yummy treats some of which I can not wait to try. This is the most requested item I get when attending holiday parties. It is not a cookie or candy but it is a treat! It is very thick like a milkshake or whipped cream.
Williamsburg Eggnog
6 eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup brandy
nutmeg
Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick.
Slowly add the cream, milk and spirits.
Chill.
Whip the egg whites until soft peaks form and slowly blend into mixture.
Leave to chill for a few hours.
Sprinkle with nutmeg just before serving.
Mmmm that sounds delish, I love me some good eggnog! I’ll try it, I haven’t had luck with homemade eggnog. My daughter has her own chickens and I don’t worry using those eggs in this type recipe.
I don’t know if it’s been posted yet, but Oreo truffles are to DIE for! Super easy and people go crazy for them. You can Google the recipe – it’s all over the place. Mmmm…I’m getting hungry reading all these recipes!
Oh, and I just thought of one more: Chocolate dipped Ritz crackers. You just spread a spoon of peanut butter between two Ritz crackers. Melt white or chocolate candy coating (I like the white the best with these). Coat the cracker sandwich in chocolate and let cool. A friend of mine used to make these every Christmas….the ingredients might sound weird, but they taste so good! Very thrifty too. 🙂
These are so good! If you want them ‘holiday-ish’, just drizzle some red and green chocolate over them after they cool. Oohs and aahs are sure to follow.
I make this every Christmas. It’s my husband’s absolute favorite, and I get rave reviews!!!
Wow! I cannot wait to start holiday baking! This site is better than a church cookbook!!!
Our favorites include Peanut Clusters, Chocolate covered pretzels, no-bake cookies, and peanut butter blossoms which are all listed already.
My husband’s favorite is Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 c, flour
Mix and roll into 1 inch balls. Drop in the miniature muffin pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. When cooked, press peanut butter cup into center of hot cookie. Cool for a few minutes before removing from pan.
These do not last long at my house!
Make a standard pan of brownies and instead of frosting them, put a packging of Andie’s mints across the top when the brownies are still warm and spead them once they melt. Works great with the standard mints or the peppermint ones they put out at the holidays–and so easy!
Another favorite roll out kraft caramels (yes, it’s a pain) and wrap them around small pretzels and then dip them in chocolate and roll the in coconut, crushed M&M’s, nuts or crushed candy canes. A lot more time, but people always love these!
I saw a recipe for this, but they suggested using the round caramel sheets for making caramel apples. You just cut them into strips to wrap around the rods. I bought a package and tried it – they were a huge hit! (And so much easier than rolling out the little caramels.)
I always make homemade scone mixes as gifts, everyone loves them and has their favorite flavor. An excellent (cheap) book for recipes is, Simply Scones by Leslie Weiner and Barbara Albright. It’s full of sweet and savory scone recipes.
This one is my favorite and I’m always asked to make it..
PUMPKIN CRISP with Cream Cheese Icing
1- 16oz can pumpkin
1- Lg can evaporated milok
1c- Sugar
1/2 tsp- cinnamon
3- eggs
Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a wax lined 13×9 pan. Add 1 box of yellow cake mix and pour over top of mixture
Sprinkle 1c of pecans on top. Melt 2 sticks of margarine and pour over entire mixture. Bake at 350 for 50-60mins. Let cool then invert pan and remove wax paper.
Cream Cheese Icing
Cream together 1- 8oz cream cheese and 1 1/2c of powdered sugar. Then add 3/4c of cool whip. Spread over top. Chill til ready to serve.
Super easy “festive” and inexpensive treat that works well in gift boxes or tins –
Popcorn (popped)
Thin pretzel sticks
Frosted Cheerios
Craisins
Red/Green MnM’s
Mix in large bowl then melt White Chocolate slowly in microwave stirring every 30 seconds to 1 minute until melted. When melted pour white chocolate on top of mix and stir gently, then pour it all out on a cookie sheet to cool. Super “Christmasy” (is that even a word?!) all red, white and green. I am loving all these fun ideas!!
SNOW BALLS, everyone loves them! SUPER EASY 🙂
8 oz cream cheese
1 pack oreo cookies
1 package vanilla almond bark
*don’t rememeber how many this makes because i usually do 3 packs of each at a time!
crush oreos in a food chopper, mix crumbs with softened cream cheese.
roll into balls, and dip into the almond bark. let set, and EAT!
My sil makes buckeyes which I love, and I like truffles they are so good and pretty easy. My mom used to make chex mix, but since I moved out she quit making them, I may have to request it this year.
I like to make No Bake Cookies….the kids call them reindeer poop cookies around the holidays.
oh yeah, I was going to mention those…with cocoa and oatmeal, etc?