Holiday Baking

Hosting holiday parties are always so much fun–especially when tons of sweets are involved! I am (of course) hosting a Christmas party, and have been looking around for different cute recipes to make for the party. I am a big believer in making baking more fun and creative–it allows your guests to enjoy their sweets as much as you enjoyed baking them! Here are a few fun and easy recipes to make any festive party more fun!

Reindeer Cupcake

1. Bake cupcakes of your choosing. I’m always a fan of vanilla mix!

2. Frost with chocolate frosting.

3. Top with pretzels for the antlers, a Vanilla Wafer for the face, white M&Ms for the eyes (or any other type of white candy), black icing for the eyeballs, and brown and red candies for the nose (M&M’s are typically the easiest).

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Cakes

What you will need:

*1/2 cup butter, softened
*1 cup packed brown sugar
*2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
*1/2 teaspoon baking soda
*1 egg
*1 teaspoon vanilla
*2 cups all-purpose flour
*1/2 cup buttermilk
*1 oz. bottle red food coloring

Filling ingredients:

*6 oz. cream cheese, softened
*3 Tablespoons butter, softened
*1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
*3 cups powdered sugar
*Milk (as needed)

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter with a mixer for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until fully mixed. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Alternately add flour and buttermilk, beating on low-speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in red food coloring.
3. Spoon dough from a rounded measuring teaspoon 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes; transfer cookies to wire rack and cool.
4. Making frosting; in a large bowl combine cream cheese, 3 TB butter, and peppermint extract. Beat with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 3 cups powdered sugar. Add milk, if needed, to make a filling of spreading consistency.
5. Spread filling onto flat sides of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat side down, pressing lightly together.

Chocolate Coated Candy Canes

What you will need:

*1 box candy canes

*1-2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or white chocolate chips (or both!)

*1 Tablespoon shortening

1. Melt the shortening and chocolate of your choice in a double-boiler or a microwave-safe bowl. If you are using the microwave, be careful not to burn the chocolate. After the chocolate is melted and smooth, let it cool down a little.

2. While the chocolate is cooling off, unwrap all of your candy canes.

3. Dip the bottom of each candy cane into the chocolate and coat. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off, then place the candy cane on a wire rack. Be sure that you have a piece of foil underneath the wire rack to collect the bits of chocolate that will drip off.

4. Decorate with sprinkles!