1. Simple Holiday Rum Balls (Non-Alcoholic Option Available)These classic, rich treats are easy to mix and roll. They look sophisticated but use crushed cookies and powdered sugar as their base.
Ingredients
Vanilla Wafers (crushed): 1 1/2 cups
Powdered Sugar: 1 cup, plus extra for rolling
Cocoa Powder: 2 tablespoons
Dark Corn Syrup: 1/4 cup
Rum or Orange Juice: 1/4 cup (Use orange juice for a non-alcoholic option)
Instructions (Ready in 15 minutes + chill time):
In a large bowl, combine the crushed vanilla wafers, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. Mix well.Add the dark corn syrup and your liquid of choice (rum or orange juice).
Mix until everything is thoroughly moistened and a thick dough forms.Roll the mixture into small, bite-sized balls (about 1 inch).
Place the extra powdered sugar in a shallow dish and roll each ball in the sugar to coat completely.Store in an airtight container for at least 24 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.2. Saltine Toffee Bark (Christmas Crack)This is a holiday favorite for a reason—it’s cheap, incredibly addictive, and only requires a short bake time (about 5 minutes) to melt the butter/sugar, but the rest is no-bake!Ingredients:Saltine Crackers: 1 sleeve (about 40 crackers)
Butter (unsalted): 1 cup (2 sticks)Brown Sugar (packed): 1 cupChocolate Chips: 1 bag (12 ounces)
Optional: Holiday sprinkles or chopped nuts for topping.Instructions (Ready in 30 minutes):
Preheat your oven to 400
Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, and lightly spray the foil.Lay the saltine crackers in a single layer on the prepared sheet, covering the entire surface in a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar together over medium heat. Bring to a boil and boil for exactly 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
Pour the hot toffee mixture evenly over the saltine crackers.
Bake for 5 minutes. The toffee will be bubbly.Immediately remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the hot toffee. Let them sit for 5 minutes to melt.
Spread the melted chocolate gently with a spatula.
Sprinkle with desired toppings. Cool completely at room temperature or chill in the refrigerator until the chocolate is hard.Break into irregular pieces.
3. Quick Rice Krispies Treat TreesGive the classic rice cereal treat a festive makeover! These use minimal ingredients and are a fun, easy activity to do with kids.Ingredients:Butter:
4 tablespoonsMini Marshmallows:
4 cupsRice Cereal: 6 cupsGreen Food Coloring: A few dropsDecoration: M&M's, sprinkles, and small pretzel sticks (for the "trunk").Instructions (Ready in 20 minutes):In a large pot, melt the butter over low heat.
Add the marshmallows and stir constantly until they are completely melted and smooth.Remove from heat and stir in the green food coloring until the mixture is uniformly green.
Add the rice cereal and stir quickly until it is fully coated.While the mixture is still warm, press the mixture into a 9x13 inch pan lined with parchment paper.Once cool enough to handle, use a knife to cut the treats into triangles (trees).
Decorate each triangle with small candies (ornaments) and press a small pretzel stick into the base for the trunk.
We hope you have enjoyed this four-week series on Easy and Affordable Holiday Desserts from wnctimes! Whether you needed a quick treat for a party or a budget-friendly gift, we hope these simple recipes made your holiday season a little sweeter.
We would love to hear from you—let us know if you used any of these recipes by leaving a comment below or by tagging us on social media!
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