Things really get kicked up a notch in our kitchen around Christmas time! We LOVE to bake and when it’s for other people, our imaginations tend to run a little wild. We’ve been doing lots of creative baking lately, thanks to all the fantastic pinterest posts out there! And though we can’t share the physical products with most of you, we can at least share the ideas, experience and recipes for your enjoyment :0)

Christmas Traditions From Our Kitchen

Cinnamon Pecan Shreddie Crunch

This is something my mom would make all the time and a recipe I have not been able to find online anywhere! A quick call to my mom fixed that problem. This is HIGHLY addictive, delicious and cinnamony!

4 cups Shreddies (if you live in the US you probably won’t have access to this – the closest you can try to get is whole wheat chex maybe? Sorry :D)
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (or walnuts – I used both)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Mix the first 3 ingredients together in a large bowl. Melt butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a pan on medium heat, stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Let boil for 2 minutes WITHOUT stirring.

Stir in baking soda and pour over cereal. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Bake @ 250 for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Poor Man’s Turtles

This is SO easy! All you need are pretzels, pecans and a caramel filled candy like rolo or candy eggs. Place the caramel candy on top of the pretzel. Bake @ 350 for a few minutes to soften chocolate. Press the pecan on top and you’re done! Delicious!

Speculaas

I wrote about these in our Sinterklaas post – they’re so delicious and most people have never had them before! Crispy, spice cookies and a great one to add to your family’s baking! We used this recipe from The Dutch Baker’s Daughter.

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites

Another Pinterest recipe accomplished! Peanut butter mixed with icing sugar and pretzel bits, refrigerated and rolled in chocolate. To die for!

Christmas Peppermint Meringue Drops

My husband LOVES meringues. Absolutely LOVES them. These are a bit of a Christmas spin off regular meringues – add a drop of peppermint extract to your meringues as you’re beating them. Bake as per directions, then cool. Once cooled, dip in melted chocolate and roll in crushed candy canes. Mmmm, minty! (Be careful how much mint you add though – it can easily lean more towards tasting like toothpaste if you get a little too happy :D)

Candy-Dipped Pretzel Sticks

I’ve been wanting to do these for a while, but never found big enough pretzel rods. So we used the small sticks and the kids did great at dipping and rolling!

Dip pretzel sticks in melted chocolate, then roll in candy bits. We used skor bits, oreo cookie crumbs and crushed candy canes.

Sugar Cookie Turtle Bites

I have been slightly obsessed with caramel lately.

Ever since I discovered how to make it quickly and easily in the crock pot with a can of sweetened condensed milk. Oh my.

These cookie bites are like the mini brownie bites – but not! Take your favourite sugar cookie recipe. Roll into 1 inch balls and press into a mini muffin pan. Make sure the dough goes up the sides of each cup.

Bake @ 350 for 5 minutes, checking, until just starting to brown around the edges (may need longer). Remove from the oven and gently press the cookie down if it is puffing up.

Put a few chocolate chips in the center, top with caramel and chopped nuts. Let cool then remove from pan.

Sugar Cookie Reindeer

With the leftover sugar cookie dough we made reindeer! Someone is really brilliant and discovered that the gingerbread men upside down looks like a reindeer. What a great way to shake up the regular old cookie shapes!