Making your own gift is still considered by many as the most thoughtful form of giving. When you present a homemade gift, the receiver knows that you took the time to think about their personal tastes and carefully crafted a gift just for them. If you’re unsure of what to make, a guaranteed hit with almost anyone is a tasty dessert that can be enjoyed with friends and family throughout the holiday season.

“If you are baking for a neighbour, babysitter or teacher, getting your children involved in the process is a great way to spend some quality time together in the kitchen,” says Trish Magwood, chef and mother of three. “From picking the recipe to mixing up ingredients and putting on the finishing touches, kids love to get their hands dirty and taste the fruits of their labour!”

To ensure your family has a great time in the kitchen, choose a “kid-friendly” recipe, such as “White and Dark Chocolate Truffles” from www.ricekrispies.ca, that incorporates some familiar ingredients for your young sous chefs.

Rice Krispies White and Dark Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

1 pkg white chocolate chips

50 mL (1/4 cup) butter, softened

250 mL (1 cup) Rice Krispies Vanilla Flavour

300 mL (1 1/4 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preparation:

1. Melt white chocolate chips and butter in medium bowl in microwave or over saucepan of boiling water. Stir until smooth. Let cool at room temperature about 30 minutes.

2. Form white chocolate mixture into 2.5 cm (1-inch) balls. Roll in cereal, pressing cereal into truffles to coat well. Roll in palms to re-shape balls. Refrigerate about 30 minutes, until firm.

3. Melt semi-sweet chocolate as in step one. Dip prepared balls in chocolate to coat. Lift out with fork, allowing excess chocolate to drip off. Place on waxed paper lined baking sheet. Let cool about 1 hour.

www.newscanada.com

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Celebrate the holiday season this year by hosting a cookie exchange party. Visit www.kissescookies.com for tips and recipe ideas.

Become the ultimate cookie exchange host

(ARA) – Cookie exchange parties are a holiday tradition that provides a fun-filled reason for friends and family to enjoy each other’s company and fill up their holiday cookie trays. This season, bakers and holiday entertainers can visit www.kissescookies.com to find a one-stop shop for receiving and sharing holiday baking and party planning tips that are sure to sweeten any holiday get-together.

For those looking to create the ultimate cookie exchange, the experts at Hershey’s Kisses Brand Chocolates offer the following tips to turn any holiday party into a sweet success. The iconic chocolate treat also will serve as the party-planning partner for holiday hosts by sponsoring 1,000 cookie exchange parties nationwide. To apply to host a Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates Cookie Exchange and for recipes and additional party tips visit www.kissescookies.com.

Cookie exchange tips:

* When sending out invitations, include a unique cookie recipe for each guest as a suggestion. Also ask your guests to RSVP with the recipe they plan to make so that you can be sure not to double up on a specific type of cookie. You can find a variety of creative recipes at www.kissescookies.com.

* Once you have all the RSVPs, inform your guests how many cookies they need to bring. One dozen per guest is a good start, but if you’re having a large party, it might be a good idea to reduce this quantity to only a half-dozen cookies so that guests aren’t overwhelmed with baking.

* Encourage your guests to bring copies of their recipe for everyone. Also ask them to bring along sealable containers for the cookies they’re taking home. Have a few extra containers on hand in case someone forgets.

* To give your party added fun, set out gift tags, gift bags, ribbons and pens so that your guests can create gifts for co-workers, neighbors, teachers and friends.

* Play holiday music and offer simple refreshments like hot cocoa, warm apple cider, coffee, tea and eggnog to keep the holiday ambiance going.

To get your party planning started, consider the following recipes for your cookie exchange:

Kisses Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes four dozen cookies

Kisses Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
Cookies:
48 Hershey’s Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates
1 cup softened butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup Hershey’s Mini Chips Semi-Sweet Chocolates

Chocolate drizzle:
1/4 cup Hershey’s Mini Chips Semi-Sweet Chocolates
1 teaspoon shortening

Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and remove the wrappers from the milk chocolates. Beat together butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl until well blended. Add flour and blend until smooth. Stir in the mini chips. Mold scant tablespoons of dough around the milk chocolates, covering completely. Shape into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool completely.

Prepare chocolate drizzle by placing the mini chips and shortening in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at medium heat for 30 seconds and stir. If necessary, microwave at a medium heat for an additional 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth when stirred. Drizzle mixture over each cookie.

Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies
Makes three and one half dozen cookies

Ingredients
Cookies:
1 cup softened butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped almonds

Chocolate filling:
42 Hershey’s Kisses Brand Milk Chocolates with Almonds
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon Hershey’s Cocoa
1 tablespoon softened butter
2 1/2 teaspoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and remove the wrappers from the milk chocolates. Beat together butter, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla extract together until well blended. Stir together flour, cocoa and salt in a separate bowl and mix into the butter mixture. Roll dough into one-inch balls and roll in chopped almonds. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and press thumb gently into the center of each cookie. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely.

Prepare chocolate filling by combining powdered sugar, cocoa, butter, milk and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Beat mixture until smooth. Spoon or pipe about 1/4 teaspoon of the chocolate filling into each thumbprint on the cooled cookies. Gently press one milk chocolate into the center of each cookie.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Instead of baking massive batches of cookies, your dessert buffet can inspire awe with three to five bite-sized versions of different types of desserts — an array of small cookies, candies, bars and cupcakes.

It is easy to make existing recipes bite size — simply cut bars into one-inch square portions or prepare cookies in smaller shapes and reduce the bake time accordingly. Feel free to experiment with recipes that feature trendy or unusual flavors since the small treats are perfect for first-time tastings and give nibblers permission to sample more than just one. And, of course, use only the best ingredients, such as real butter and premium chocolate because you only celebrate the holidays once a year.

For inspiration, visit www.ButterIsBest.com to view dozens of holiday recipes and tips for baking. Sign up for the Holiday Magic e-newsletter and you’ll receive a daily e-mail with a holiday cookie or candy recipe, along with helpful baking tips from nationally acclaimed pastry chef Gale Gand.

Espresso Chocolate Squares

The following bite-sized recipe from America’s Dairy Farmers pairs coffee with a buttery chocolate layer that kicks up these rich, cheesecake-like Espresso Chocolate Squares.

Espresso Chocolate Squares
Makes two dozen bars

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup butter, chilled and cut into pieces
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Filling:
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee powder
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 eggs

Glaze:
6 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil; butter bottom of foil. Whisk together 1 1/4 cups flour, confectioners’ sugar and cocoa together in medium bowl; add 3/4 cup butter. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until butter is the size of small peas. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips; press into bottom of pan. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean; cool slightly.

Meanwhile, stir 1/4 cup cream and 1 tablespoon instant espresso together until coffee is dissolved. Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter together. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and allspice; beat until blended. Slowly beat in cream and coffee mixture. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until smooth. Pour batter over crust.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are slightly puffed and center is set; set pan on a cooling rack.

Glaze
Melt 6 tablespoons chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon cream, 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/4 teaspoon instant espresso in medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Drizzle over bars and refrigerate until set. Cut into bite-sized squares.

Cover and store bars in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Additional Recipes

Lemongrass Snowballs

Asian-inspired Lemongrass Snowballs have a cake-like texture with the exotic flavors of lemongrass and coconut and a mild, not-too-sweet citrus flavor.

Lemongrass Snowballs:
Makes 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon lemon extract or lemon baking oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut, fine or medium shred
2 1/2 tablespoon lemongrass puree or 1 tablespoon lemongrass powder*
2 cups (12-oz. package) white chocolate chips, chopped and divided
Additional coconut and lemongrass powder for decoration (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. Add lemon oil or extract. Gradually beat in flour, coconut and lemongrass. Stir in 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place 1/2 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake on middle rack until cookies are set and light golden brown on bottom, 10 to 12 minutes.

Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes; remove to cooling racks to cool completely. Microwave remaining white chocolate chips in heavy-duty plastic bag, kneading at 10- to 15-second-intervals, until totally melted and smooth. Cut a tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle over cookies. Sprinkle with additional coconut and lemongrass powder, if desired. Refrigerate cookies for about 5 minutes or until chocolate is set. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

*Either lemongrass puree or ground powder can be used. The puree can be found in squeeze tubes in most supermarket produce sections and dry powder can be found in either the spice section or in the Asian food section of the international area.

Aztec Fudge

The slow heat of ancho chile pepper warms the heart and stomach in the Aztec Fudge.

Aztec Fudge:
Makes 64 pieces

Ingredients:
20 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ancho chile pepper*
1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, cut into pieces
3 cups miniature marshmallows
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Line an 8-inch square pan with foil, allowing edges to extend beyond pan; butter the foil.

In a large bowl, combine chopped chocolate, cinnamon and ground ancho chile pepper.

In a medium saucepan, combine sweetened condensed milk, sugar and butter. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar and butter are melted and mixture begins to boil. Add marshmallows and stir for 1 minute until melted. Remove from heat and immediately pour over chopped chocolate mixture; let stand 2 minutes or until chocolate is softened. Add vanilla; stir until smooth.

Pour mixture into pan and refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. To cut fudge, pull on foil edges to remove foil and fudge from pan. Remove foil, place fudge on cutting board; cut into 64 pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

*Add more or less ancho chile pepper to desired spice level.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.