Bake up some sweet and easy holiday treats
By Staff
Jenny Harper, Special to the Enquirer
Baking together as a family when I was growing up is a cherished holiday memory. My brother, sister and I would make Spritz cookies to give away as gifts-and as I recall we made quite a mess too! Today, this sweet holiday tradition is something my family anticipates eagerly. We enjoy kitchen time together making holiday goodie trays for teachers, neighbors and others who look forward to our sweet gifts.
I like to focus on recipes that look and taste impressive, but don't require much time. These bite-size, easy-to-make treats are "eye candy"-they're tempting on your holiday table, can dress up a last-minute cookie tray, and are melt-in-the-mouth delectable.
Get creative with gift containers for your treats, and let the kids wrap them up and make personalized gift tags:
For holiday treats that create sweet holiday memories, visit www.VeryBestBaking.com.
Swirled Around Candy Bites
(Makes 6 1/2 dozen candies)
78 1-inch paper candy cups
1 3/4 cups (11.5-ounce package) Nestl/ Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsels, divided
1 2/3 cups (10-ounce package) Nestl/ Toll House Swirled Milk Chocolate &Peanut Butter Morsels *
Whole roasted peanuts or pecan pieces (about 1/3 to 1/2 cup needed)
Place candy cups on baking sheet.
Place 1 cup milk chocolate morsels in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Microwave on medium-high (70 percent) power for 1 minute; knead. Microwave at 10- to 20-second intervals, kneading until smooth.
Cut small corner from bag and squeeze bag to pipe chocolate about 1/4-inch deep into about half of the candy cups. Place a peanut (if using Swirled Milk Chocolate &Peanut Butter Morsels) or a pecan (if using Swirled Milk Chocolate &Caramel Morsels) and 5 to 6 Swirled Morsels into the chocolate. Press down slightly. Melt remaining milk chocolate morsels in another plastic bag. Finish filling the remaining paper cups with melted chocolate, nuts and morsels.
Refrigerate for a few minutes to set chocolate. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.
Sugar Spritz Cookies
(Makes 3 dozen cookies)
1 package (16.5 ounces) Nestl/ Toll House Sugar Cookie Bar Dough, softened
Assorted food coloring, candies and sprinkles (optional)
Cookie press
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Mix cookie dough and food coloring in medium bowl. Fill cookie press with dough following manufacturer's directions. Press dough onto baking sheets.* Sprinkle with candies and sprinkles.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until very light golden brown around edges. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
If dough becomes too soft, refrigerate for about five minutes or until slightly firm.
