Are you ready?
Except for the cooking that is?
I am!!
Mainly because Hubby handles cooking the main meals, and I handle the baking, grocery shopping, cleaning etc. (aka: he gets all the glory).
Fortunately for me, my baking has been pared down to a few seasonal favourites that we bring out every year – quick and easy Christmas treats that everyone enjoys and aren’t a lot of work.
First up is my Great-Aunt-Mary’s Divinity fudge – you’ll want to have an electric mixer to make this one because it does take a LOT of stirring – but it’s so worth it with its marshmallowy softness and hint of vanilla!
My Aunt Nancy makes the perfect gingersnaps; crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside with just the right amount of spiciness. I add a light layer of white chocolate to half for the sweet teeth in my family.
While my mixer was putting the creaminess into the divinity fudge the other day, I whipped out a second batch of fudge – this easy, 5-minute turtle fudge. Very little mixing, VERY rich, and with a soft caramel layer in the middle.
I showcased “Andy’s Candied Nuts” as a Valentine’s treat, but they are perfect for setting out in a bowl to snack on between meals. Simple, sweet and with that crunch that I crave.
No Christmas treats list would be complete without a recipe for shortbread. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth, buttery shortbread and my Uncle Doug made the best that was ever made.
(forgive the photo quality – the cookies are spectacular, the photographer isn’t)
This no-bake chocolate cream pie requires four ingredients and takes about 5 minutes to make – but you don’t have to tell anyone that.
If you’re looking for a recipe for group functions or classroom treats, you’ll definitely want to try my Mom’s meringue poppers as your Christmas treat. You can make a ginormous batch of them with a tiny little recipe.
No-bake cake batter truffles are devoured the minute they are set out on a plate. A favourite of our girls’, I only make one batch to help stave off the diabetic coma that all of these Christmas treats promote.
If you’re looking for a “snuggle in and watch a movie with the family” kind of Christmas treat, this super simple (and delicious) caramel popcorn is perfect. Made in 5 minutes in the microwave you can get a batch ready without heating up the oven or stove and it will be ready before the beginning credits have even finished rolling.
These are a few of our favourite Holiday treats (to be spaced out over the entire Christmas Holiday) when ‘quick’ and ‘easy’ are the key components to any recipe.
Gosh I love the Holidays!
My pants don’t, and I’m sure my blood-sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides skyrocket, but what can I say?
Happy Holidays!
