Making Christmas Treats

Today was a kitchen day for us!  I had planned to just bake and decorate sugar cookies today, but the cooking session went so well, that we just went ahead and did all of our Christmas treat cooking.  We made and packaged 65 tins and bags!  We also saved a sampling of each item plus almost all of the sugar cookies for our family to enjoy.  After this marathon session in the kitchen, I made a salad for supper!

This is what we made:  sugar cookies, reindeer food, seasoned oyster crackers and rice krispie goodies.

Sugar Cookies
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup softened butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda

Cream butter and sugar.  Add egg, vanilla, and almond.  Mix. Gradually add the flour and baking soda.  Divide dough into two discs and wrap in plastic wrap.  Chill for at least two hours.  Preheat oven to 375.  Roll cookie dough on a floured surface and use cookie cutters to make various shapes.  Bake cookies for 8 minutes.  Move to wire racks to cool.

Icing
1 box powdered sugar
2-4 Tbs. milk
2 Tbs. meringue powder

Beat icing mixture until the desired consistency is reached.  You can divide the icing into smaller bowls and use food coloring or paste to color it.  Spread on cooled cookies.

I usually double this recipe.  Today we made stars, circles, stockings, trees, gingerbread girls and boys, and candy canes.

rolling out the dough for the sugar cookies

 cutting out the cookies

cookies waiting to be iced

cookies cooling

decorating the cookies

some beautiful cookies

some more pretty cookies

Rice Krispie Goodies

(my favorite!)

6 cups rice krispies

1 cup sugar

1 cup light karo syrup

1 cup peanut butter

1 bag chocolate chips

1 bag butterscotch chips

Cook sugar, syrup, and peanut butter in a saucepan over medium low heat.  Pour this mixture over the rice krispies and stir until well combined.   Press into a 9 x 13 glass dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.  Microwave the chips until melted.  Stir them well, and then spread over the rice krispie mixture.  Allow to cool completely before cutting into small squares.  I usually place the dish in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

 stirring the rice krispie mixture

 waiting for the melted topping

 stirring the topping

 spreading the topping

 Reindeer Food
1 box rice chex
1 stick butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 bag milk chocolate chips
3 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter, peanut butter, and chips in the microwave.  Pour over the rice chex and stir until well coated.  Pour the powdered sugar over the mixture and toss until completely coated.  Spread on wax paper to cool.

 tossing the reindeer food

 cooling reindeer food

Seasoned Oyster Crackers

1 box oyster crackers

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 package ranch dressing powder

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. dill weed

1/4 tsp. lemon pepper

Mix oil and seasonings in the bottom of a large mixing bowl.  Add box of crackers and toss to completely coat.  

 We put some of the treats in tins.

 Some of the treats were put in bags.

We will be sharing these treats with friends and family members over the next few days.