"Lumps of Coal"

This recipe is great for kids of Christmas morning. Instead of leaving cookies for Santa, Santa can leave a joke gift of "lumps of coal." I found this recipe one day while perusing Pinterest, it's from a blog all about recipes for different kinds of rice krispie treats, which I thought was cool! Here's the link to the blog, Mallow and Co. http://mallowandco.blogspot.com/2012/12/coal-rice-krispy-treats.html

Ingredients

3 tbsp butter
6 cups marshmallows
1 tsp vanilla
5 cups of cocoa Rice Krispies
1 cup crushed oreos
black food coloring

Directions

Pour Rice Krispies and Oreos into a large mixing bowl. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat until melted. Turn the heat all the way down and add marshmallows. Stir until all marshmallows are melted. Then, add in the vanilla and black food coloring. Once all is melted, remove from heat and pour over Rice Krispies. Keep stirring until everything is black. Spoon out chunks of mixture and place on cookie sheet. Place in refrigerator for at least 20 min. Serve cold.


photo and recipe courtesy of http://mallowandco.blogspot.com/

Fruit Pizza

This "dessert" is perfect for non-chocolate lovers. Me being the chocolate lover I am, don't have many recipes on here without chocolate, but this is a great option. My advice is to use the best in-season fruit you can find. Frozen fruit is fine, but everything is better fresh.

Ingredients

1 pouch sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup cream cheese frosting
3 1/2 cups of assorted fresh fruit- strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, rasberries, grapes

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Stir sugar cookie mix, melted butter, and egg. Press dough into a bottom of a pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes. Cool completely, this will take 45 minutes. In a different mixing bowl, beat whipping cream until small peaks form. Next, gently stir in frosting. Spread over cooled sugar cookie. Arrange fruit. Store in refrigerated setting and serve cold.

"Skinny" Cupcakes

I found this recipe and tried it and have fallen in love. It "supposedly" only has 110 calories per cupcake serving which is good enough to convince me.

Ingredients

1 package of Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix (won't use the recipe)
1 12 oz. can of Sprite
1 8 oz. container Fat Free Cool Whip
1 package of fat free Vanilla Jello Instant Pudding (won't use the recipe)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. First, mix the cake mix and 12 oz. can of Sprite in large mixing bowl. You want to mix so the batter has no lumps. Pour 1/4 of batter into cupcake holders. Bake for 20 minutes. In a mixing bowl, whisk cool whip and Jello mix until smooth. When the cupcakes have completely cooled, frost. Enjoy, try not to eat too many in one sitting!

Gobble Gobble

These are one of my favorite holiday cookie ideas. My aunt makes them every year, and as tedious as they are, they are always the talk of the party. I know there are plenty of people in the kitchen on Thanksgiving so rally up an assembly line, and get to making! These turkey cookies are perfect to keep kids busy and out of the way when they are begging to help.

Ingredients

1 jar of chocolate frosting
1 small bag of red hots
1 bag candy corn
1 bag Reece's Peanut Butter Cups
1 package Keebler's Fudge Stripe Cookies

Directions

Take the fudge stripe cookies and spread them across a large cookie sheet. Next, smear a small amount of frosting on the bottom of each unwrapped Reece's Peanut Butter Cup and place in the middle of the cookie. Next, smear a tiny amount onto one side of a piece of candy corn and place on top of the peanut butter cup. Lastly, frost two red hots and place on the cracker, up against the peanut butter cup. You can always add eyes with frosting if you want to be precise.

Another idea, is to use Rolo Chocolate Cups instead of Reece's Peanut Butter cups if you prefer. Both work great. Everyone will get a kick out of these adorable desserts!

Not Your Usual Chocolate Covered Strawberries

I love the holidays, but mostly because of the food associated with them. Usually strawberries are a summer treat, but if your like me and you get to enjoy some warm weather over the holidays, these are a great option for dessert.

Ingredients

1 carton large strawberries
1 package bakers white chocolate
green sugar
red sugar

Directions

Wash and dry large strawberries. Do not cut off tops, it looks more appealing and is easier to dip. Heat white chocolate over low-medium heat. Wax paper is again needed to let the strawberries dry on. Dip the strawberries halfway in the white chocolate. Then dip the strawberries a quarter of the way in sugar. Place on the wax paper and let dry. Then, place the strawberries in the refrigerator and let cool for a couple hours. These are best served cold.

Feel free to get creative with the sugar. I normally use a color that reflects the holiday, orange for Halloween or red and green for Christmas. Blue is also really cute for Fourth of July because then the strawberry is red, white, and blue. Enjoy!

Chocolate Pretzels

Another recipe perfect for treats and easy to make, are the original chocolate covered pretzels. The perfect mix of sweet and salty all in one bite. This is a great snack to have for on the go. And takes as little as 20 minutes to make. Who doesn't love that?

Ingredients

1 bag pretzels of your choice
1 package of baker's chocolate

Directions

Heat up chocolate on the stove top on medium-low heat. Set out wax paper to place pretzels on for cooling. It is easiest to use a fork or tongs when dipping the pretzels into the chocolate I have found out. Place the pretzels on the wax paper after they have been completely emerged in the chocolate. Let dry and then place in freezer.

Similar to the chocolate covered marshmallows, you may add sprinkles or color dyed sugar for visual appeal.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallows

Forgot you needed to bring a dessert to a work party? Need a simple holiday treat for neighbors even kids can help make? Chocolate covered marshmallows with pretzels is your answer. It tastes like a mini s'more without the hassle of a camp fire. This recipe sounds as easy as it is to make.

Ingredients:

1 Bag Large Marshmallows
1 Bag Pretzel Sticks
1 Package baker's milk chocolate

Directions:

Take pretzel sticks, and place one stick into one marshmallow. Make sure the stick is at least halfway through the marshmallow for the most stability. Follow instructions to heat baking chocolate and dip the marshmallow completely into the chocolate. Place on wax paper. For added appeal, pour sprinkles over chocolate covered marshmallows while cooling.

You have a cute, easy treat that any chocolate lover will love. Time to devour!