A Favorite Holiday Tradition…the Treats!

Our family loves spending time together by playing games, telling stories, and laughing!
Our family loves spending time together by playing games, telling stories, and laughing!

I love getting together with my family for Christmas. Not only do we stuff our bellies full with my grandma’s fabulous cooking, but we fill our day (and usually the following days after) with lots and lots of games. But while we are laughing and trying to beat each other, one of my favorite things is getting to snack on treats that everybody makes and brings to share. My grandma’s counter is usually completely littered in jars and containers filled with delicious treats! My mouth is watering just thinking about it…. yum!

Here are some recipes of a few favorites.

Cinnamon Walnut Brittle

From Taste of Home.

Ingredients: 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 tsp butter, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions: Butter a baking sheet and set aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the sugar and corn syrup and microwave, uncovered, on high for 3 minutes, then stir. Cook again, uncovered, on high for 2.5 more minutes. Stir in the walnuts, butter & cinnamon. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 more minutes, or until the mixture turns a light amber color. Quickly stir in baking soda and vanilla until mixture turns light and foamy. Immediately pour onto prepared pan and spread evenly with a metal spatula. Once cool, break into pieces.

We love Christmas treats!
We love Christmas treats!

Peanut Butter Balls

There are many recipes for these, but we don’t add anything fancy to these. Just creamy peanut butter mixed together with powered sugar. Add the sugar until the peanut butter is no longer sticky and can roll into a ball. I can imagine that drizzling chocolate on these would be delicious! Ours never last long enough to add any extras.

German Chocolate Pie

Ingredients: 1/3 cup white sugar, 3 Tbsp cornstarch, 1.5 cups milk, 4 oz chopped German sweet chocolate, 1 Tbsp butter, 2 egg yolks, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 pie crust baked, 1 beaten egg, 5 oz evaporated milk, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut, 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions: In a medium saucepan, combine the 1/3 cup sugar and cornstarch. Stir in the milk, chocolate and 1 Tbsp butter. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Reduce heat, cook and stir for 2 more minutes. Gradually stir 1 cup of the mixture into the egg yolks. Return mixture to the saucepan and bring to boil. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes, then add the vanilla. Pour the hot pie filling into the baked pie shell. In a clean saucepan, combine the beaten egg, evaporated milk, the 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup butter. Cook and store over medium heat until the mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in the coconut and pecans. Spread the pecan mixture evenly over the pie filling. Cool the pie on a wire rack and chill thoroughly.

The first pie I ever made.
The first pie I ever made.

 What yummy treats are you making this holiday season?  Which ones can you not live without?

 

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Maria Clark
Maria is a Kansas native who fell in love with an Oklahoma boy and is here to stay – but she is okay with that! She calls Stillwater home and has three spunky but totally sweet girls who keep her unbelievably busy. Maria has a background in event planning and gets fulfillment out of hosting friends in their home. She also loves all things organization.

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