Christmas Baking Spree

While we wait for our home study to be typed up and sent back to use for approval, Austin and I had a baking extravaganza :) We made chocolate pudding peppermint cookies, mint chocolate chip cookies, chocolate peppermint bark, peanut butter fudge, Hershey kisses pretzel bites, and cracker toffee. I will post links to all of these recipes for those who are interested! Last year's favorite among my boys was hands down the mint chocolate chip cookies. However, this year they both decided they like the chocolate peppermint cookies better! These will be a definite among baking years to come.

Baking supplies ready to go!

Austin helped a lot, but all in all this took about 5 hours to complete and- being that he is 7 years old- he lost interest after about hour 3 ;) 

The finished products!

Yum, so so good :)

Chocolate chunk peppermint pudding cookies: http://www.iheartnaptime.net/chocolate-chunk-peppermint-pudding-cookies/

Mint chocolate chip cookies: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/mint-chocolate-chip-cookies/22bebeda-ea36-441a-9909-ae78409d6da6?WT.mc_id=taf_recipe_BC

Cracker toffee: http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/12/chocolate-saltine-toffee.html

Peppermint bark: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2011/12/11/chocolate-bark-the-easiest-candy-ever/

Pretzel kisses: http://cookiesandcups.com/candy-cane-pretzel-kisses/

Peanut butter fudge: http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/2012/11/peanut-butter-fudge-recipe/

Some tips: 

- Buy the good white chocolate. I may sound like Ina from Barefoot Contessa, but when you buy the generic brand it doesn't turn out the same at all! It just would NOT melt, and got chunky, so I had to mix it in with the milk chocolate and it didn't make the pretty black and white layers that are in the original recipe. 

- A little peppermint extract goes a LONG way! Don't use too much, I used even less than called for in the 2 mint cookie recipes. 

While baking, we also made some cute and easy Christmas presents for Austin's teacher, bus driver, karate instructor... you get the idea! I used a printable found here: http://www.tammymitchellphotography.com/2012/11/19/free-download-free-printable-tag-we-wish-you-a-merry-kissmas/ 

We just got some cute jars/ mugs from WalMart, filled them with Hershey kisses, and VOILA! 

Enjoy! 

~Erin XOXO

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