Christmas Eve Delights

Christmas Eve is nearing, and the air smells of freshly baked cookies. One of my families traditions that never fails, is a massive amount of cookie baking. When every other tradition fails to happen, the cookie bake-off still stands. Christmas music ringing in our ears, women dancing in the kitchen and deep, masculine voices floating in from the living room couches. With the excitement of little voices finally quiet, we bake. Time for some of my favorite Christmas recipes to appear.

Chocolate Holiday Pretzels

 

Ingredients:

-3(10 oz.) bags of Checkerboard Pretzels

-1 (17 5/8 oz.) bags of holiday M&M's (Red & Green)

-3 (13 oz.) bags of Hershey's Hugs Kisses

-3 (13 oz) bags of Hershey's Chocolate Kisses

 

Cooking Directions:

-Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

-Place unbroken pretzels on wax paper-lined cookie sheets in a single layer.

-Unwrap Hugs, and place one on each pretzel.

Tip: Only one type of Kiss per sheet. Hugs do not take as much time to soften.

-Place the hugs/pretzels in the oven. Hugs: 4 minutes Kisses:5-6 minutes.

-As soon as removed from oven, place M&M's on the top of each kiss/pretzel.

-Place cookie sheet in freezer for 8-10 minutes.

-Repeat until you have the desired amount.

 

Seven Layer Bars

 

Ingredients:

-1/2 Cup of butter(Melted)

-1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs

-1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

-1 Cup Butterscotch morsels

-1 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Morsels

-1 1/3 Cups Flaked Coconut

-1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

 

Cooking Directions:

-Heat oven to 350 degrees(325 for glass dishes).

-Coat 13X9-in. baking pan with Pam Spray.

-Combine Graham Cracker Crumbs and melted butter.

-Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.

-Pour sweetened condensed milk on top of the graham cracker crumb/butter mixture.

-Layer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and nuts evenly on top of the sweetened condensed milk.

-Press down firmly with a fork.

-Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

-Cool the layer bars, and then cut into bars or diamonds.

-Store at room temperature.

 

Rasberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix (1 lb 1.5 oz.)

-1/2 Cup Butter(Softened)

-1 Egg

-3 Tbsp. All-Purpose Flour

-1/3 Cup Seedless Rasberry Jam

-1 Cup White Vanilla Baking Chips

 

Cooking Directions:

-Heat oven to 375 degrees.

-In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, and flour until dough forms.

-Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls.

-Place about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

-Using your thumb, make an indentation in the center of each cookie.

-Spoon 1/4 teaspoon jam(maybe a little more) into each indentation.

-Bake cookies 8 to 10 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes.

-In a small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips on High 1 to 2 minutes or until the chips have melted.

-Pour the melted chips into a small resealable plastic bag.

Cut a hole on one bottom corner of the bag, and squeeze gently onto the cooled cookies.

 

 

 

The kids are fast asleep, and Santa has already ate his cookies, drank his milk, and let his reindeer eat their food (Oats with red and green pellet sprinkles) that the children provided. He also wrote them a letter back, and he is now working on stockings, and placing the presents under the tree. Merry Christmas Eve everyone.