So many sweet treats contribute to the holiday season, whether it is reindeer chow to snack on while waiting for Santa, or Christmas crack for a fun and crunchy sweet treat, or jelly donuts for family time during Hanukkah. These three recipes are easy to make and perfect for holiday preparations.
First up on the snack list is reindeer chow, a sweet and salty mix of chocolate, peanut butter and pretzels. This is the perfect treat to prepare for the incoming reindeer during this time of the year. This recipe was made by Beth Branch, who based it on the popular snack puppy chow.
Three cups of Chex cereal, two cups of powdered sugar, three cups of pretzel twists, one cup of chocolate chips, a half cup of peanut butter, one 7.6-ounce package of peanut butter cups and one 12-ounce bag of holiday M&M’s are the ingredients.
The instructions are simple: first, melt the peanut butter and chocolate in thirty-second microwave bursts until they are smooth enough to mix. Then combine the melted mixture with the Chex cereal and sprinkle in the powdered sugar until evenly distributed. Finally, combine the coated cereal, candy pieces, and pretzels. For a more personalized taste, people can add or substitute any of the ingredients
This recipe is simple, easy to customize, and fun to make. Enjoy this crunchy snack any time. For more information about this recipe and in-depth instructions, go to Country Living Food.
The second, simple and sweet treat goes by the name Christmas crack. This treat is crunchy and has a caramel sweetness to it. This specific recipe comes from Jennifer Debth, but overall the holiday treat originated in London during the 1800s.
The ingredients for this recipe include one cup of brown sugar, one sleeve saltine crackers (about 42 crackers), one cup of butter, one 12-ounce bag of chocolate chips, two cups of white chocolate chips and any preferred candy to add to the top.
First, place greased parchment paper on a cookie sheet and place the crackers on it in a row. Boil the butter and brown sugar together for three minutes until it becomes a thick consistency, making sure to stir constantly.
Next, pour the mixture evenly over the crackers and put it in the oven at 375 degrees for five minutes. While the crackers cool, spread the chocolate chips on and spread over the crackers until every inch is coated.
Finally, for the finishing touch, add the candies to the top of the crackers and let it cool in the freezer or fridge until firm, about an hour.
Just like the reindeer chow, this recipe is super easy to customize, as anything can go on top. This is the perfect traditional holiday treat that does not require a lot of effort and time. For more in-depth instructions and information about this recipe, go to Show Me The Yummy.
The final treat is a traditional Hanukkah dessert, sufganiyot. This treat, originating in Israel, is known to many as jelly donuts. This recipe may not be traditional but it is sure to be enjoyed either way. For a more traditional Israeli recipe, try making ones from Toriavery.com. These donuts are soft and warm, and a good family treat. The jelly is tangy and goes along very well with the fluffy donut.
To make this treat a little easier, this recipe uses pre-made biscuits as the outside of the donut, and from there the only ingredients to add are powdered sugar and jelly. The most difficult part of the process is frying the biscuits, which requires some practice and may not be perfected the first time. If the biscuit pieces are too big, the inside will be completely uncooked, but if it is too small or the oil’s temperature is too high, it may burn on the outside. The frying process requires some patience and strategy, but once it is mastered, it is pretty easy to go from there.
After frying the donuts, put them in a bowl with paper towels and allow to cool. Once cooled, make a hole in the donut and fill it, by spoon or piping bag, with any type of jelly desired. Finally, sprinkle with a good amount of powdered sugar and it is finished. For this version of jelly donuts by Tiffany with more instructions, go to Living Sweet.
The holiday season is perfect for cooking family favorites in regards to food, these recipes are sure to become favorites fit for the whole family. Enjoy trying these sweet recipes during this special time of the year.
