Holiday Baking

We have begun our holiday baking!  So far, we have made three things:  Wreath Cookies, Bumpy Cookies, and Rice Krispie Goodies.  This was our first year to make the wreath cookies, and I am pretty sure that we will not make them again.  They were not a family favorite, although they did turn out looking pretty!

Wreath Cookies

1 package vanilla candy coating

green paste food coloring

2 1/2 cups crushed shredded wheat cereal

mini M&Ms

Microwave candy coating until melting following package instructions.  Add green food coloring until desired color is achieved.  Add cereal, stirring gently to coat.  Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper, shape into a wreath shape, and quickly press in M&Ms for decorations.  I had to reheat the cereal/candy mixture for a few seconds before dropping out the last of the cookies.   Let cookies dry for about 30 minutes before storing.

Letting the cookies dry

A wreath that Leah made

A plateful of wreath cookies

 Bumpy Cookies

(my mother-in-law's recipe)

1 package vanilla candy coating

3 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups crunchy peanut butter

1 jar roasted peanuts

4 cups rice krispies

Melt candy coating in microwave following package directions.  Stir in peanut butter.  Mix all other ingredients in a large bowl.  Pour candy/peanut butter mixture over and mix thoroughly.  Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.  Allow to dry for about 30 minutes.  This made 103 cookies yesterday!

Letting the bumpy cookies dry

Rice Krispie Goodies

(This recipe came from a friend I met while Jimmy was in medical school, 20 years ago! The wives of the med students had a cookie swap, and we shared recipes too.)

1 cup light Karo syrup

1 cup sugar

Stir and heat until melted.

Add 1 cup peanut butter.

Stir until blended and melted.

Pour over 6 cups rice krispies.

Press mixture into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.  Press down with your hands.

Melt 1 bag chocolate chips and 1 bag butterscotch chips in microwave.  Stir to blend completely.

Spread melted chips over the rice krispies.

Place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before cutting into small squares.

We made 3 pans of rice krispie goodies yesterday, but I failed to take any pictures of them! I packaged the rice krispie goodies and bumpy cookies (saving a portion for our family to snack on!) into little pails.  We shared these with about half of the families at church last night.  I plan to make the seasoned oyster crackers and reindeer food to take to the rest of the families on Sunday.  We have 39 families in our congregation,  and I just couldn't get the goodies ready for all 39 families at one time!  I printed out labels with each family's name on them so I could keep up with which families I have given gifts to. 

All packaged and almost ready to deliver....I added a bow to each pail before giving these.

For the next two days I plan to clean house, grocery shop, put bows on presents, cook for my upcoming family Christmas party, and make the remaining food gifts for Sunday.

Happy Holiday Baking!