Tis the season for baking. Winter break brings hours in the kitchen, making goods for the neighbors and friends. Here are some of my favorite holiday recipes:

Snowman Pretzels

You will need:

1 bag of pretzel sticks

1 cup of white chocolate – melted

Mini chocolate chips

Orange Tic Tacs

Gummy Rings

Gumdrops

Melt one cup of white chocolate and spread it over the end of a pretzel stick. Place the pretzel sticks on a sheet and let dry. Put the mini chocolate chips on the snowman for eyes and buttons and use the Orange Tic Tac for a nose. Tie the fruit by the foot around the snowman’s “neck” to make a scarf. Use some of the melted chocolate to form a hat out of the gummy ring and gumdrop and place it on the top of the pretzel.

Gingerbread Men

You will need:

½ cup butter – softened

¾ cup packed dark brown sugar

1/3 cup molasses

1 egg

2 tablespoons water

2 2/3 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon allspice

Candy and icing to decorate the gingerbread men

Mix cream, butter, and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the molasses, egg, and water and beat. Then add flour, ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and mix well. Separate the dough in half and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and roll out the dough to 1/8 in. thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut the dough with a gingerbread man shaped cookie cutter and place at least 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are firm. Cool completely, decorate, and enjoy!

Buckeyes

You will need:

1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter

½ cup butter – softened

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

6 cups confectioners’ sugar

4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Toothpicks

Mix peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and confectioners’ sugar in a large bowl. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and placed on wax paper-lined baking sheet. Place a toothpick into the ball for later use. Put the balls into the freezer for 30 minutes or until firm.

Melt chocolate chips until smooth.

Dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate and leave a portion of the peanut butter showing. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Christmas Sugar Cookies

You will need:

1 ½ cups butter – softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Icing and other materials for decorating

Mix butter and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Add in the eggs and vanilla and beat. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll out the dough so it is at least ¼ in. thick. Use cookies cutters for holiday themed shapes. Place dough at least 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Cool, decorate, and enjoy!

Recipes Retrieved From:

Snowman Pretzels: http://betterinbulk.net/2012/01/snowman-pretzels-snow-day-treats.html

Gingerbread Men: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/gingerbread-men-cookies

Buckeyes: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buckeyes-i/

Christmas Sugar Cookies: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-rolled-sugar-cookies/