FROSTY DONUTS

I'm not sure who deserves credit for this idea, but I saw it online and thought it looked too cute to pass up.


During this time of year things can get pretty crazy and there isn't always a whole lot of time to spend making fun Christmas treats with your kids. However, it isn't Christmas unless we make some kind of fun Christmas treat, right? Here is the perfect treat to make without having to spend hours baking something. I know my kids sure had fun!

Items needed:
one package of mini powdered donuts
candy corn (you can also use carrots cut to the right shape and size)
brown or black frosting


Directions:
Place a candy corn in the hole of the donut and use the frosting to make the eyes and mouth. So easy and really cute!

PUMPKIN CAKE

This is a recipe that my family has been making for years, and it's one that I look forward to around this time of year. My husband on the other hand, likes this recipe enough that he will sometimes ask me to make this cake for him for his birthday... in JULY! It really is so yummy, and it's great for those who don't like pumpkin pie because it still has that yummy pumpkin taste without the slimy texture.

CAKE WET INGREDIENTS:
4 eggs
1 2/3 c. sugar
1 c. oil
2 c. canned pumpkin



CAKE DRY INGREDIENTS:
2 c. flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 t salt
1 t baking soda

DIRECTIONS:
Mix wet ingredients together and set aside. Mix dry ingredients together and add to the other pumpkin mixture ingredients. Lightly spray bottom of cookie sheet. Spread mixture into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 28-34 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick inserted comes out clean.

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

8 oz cream cheese

1 cube butter or margarine

2 tsp vanilla

4 c. powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Soften cream cheese and butter. Beat all ingredients together and spread on cooled cake.
NOTE: I feel that the cake tastes better if you let it sit in the fridge for several hours before serving.

This is a cake that you just can't get enough of!

TURKEY COOKIES

A friend of mine makes these every year with her family. These are the cutest little turkeys, and they're such a fun thing for kids to make to help them get excited for Thanksgiving. Aren't they just so cute?

Items needed:

fudge swirl cookies (the kind without the hole in the middle look better)

chocolate kisses

candy corn

caramel candies

mini chocolate chips

Directions:
Unwrap the candy and cookies so that they are all ready to go before your warm the caramels. Set 2-3 caramels on a piece of wax paper and warm them in the microwave for about 10 seconds. You don't want them to melt, so be sure to watch them. Make sure you don't warm too many at once, otherwise you won't have enough time to put them together before they cool. Place a caramel on a chocolate kiss, place the bottom of the cookie firmly against the caramel, add the candy corn for the beak, and then add the mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Voila... you have the perfect little turkey cookie! Let them cool completely before you move them around too much.

You can also wrap them up cute and give them to a friend or neighbor.

CREEPY CRUNCH

I love making this recipe and changing it up a little as seasons change. It's super easy and it's done within a matter of moments. All it requires is popcorn, white chocolate, and your favorite candies. Some candies I use for Halloween are peanut butter M&M's(really any kind of M&M's) Reese's Pieces, peanuts, candy corn, etc. Then for Christmas and Valentines day I will add small, red gummy candies.
This is another great treat to give to your friends or neighbors, especially for BOOING your neighbors(when you leave a yummy treat and a paper ghost on your neighbors doorstep and run).

INGREDIENTS:
bag of microwave popcorn(popped)
small package Reese's Pieces
1/2 cup peanuts
1 pkg white chocolate chips or 12 oz white almond bark

DIRECTIONS:
Melt white chocolate in sauce pan on low to medium heat. Make sure you constantly stir it while it is melting so that it doesn't burn. In a large bowl, combine popped popcorn, candy, and peanuts(Note: some candies may melt when the hot, melted chocolate is added. You may want to add the candy after you have stirred everything else together and the chocolate has had a moment to cool slightly). After white chocolate is completely melted, pour over popcorn mixture and stir until completely coated. Spread it out on a piece of wax paper and let cool completely. I put my wax paper on a cookie sheet so that I can put it in the fridge to let it cool faster. Once it is completely dry, break it up into pieces and it's ready to eat!
Put it in a cute cellophane bag or a fun and festive bowl. You can even add your friends favorite 2 liter of pop with a cute, little saying such as, I think you're "SODA" great. Leave it on their doorstep and RUN!

KREATIVE KITCHEN KRAFT-Witches Shoes

This is a fun and creative way to give a little Halloween treat to your friend or neighbor. These are the cutest little witches shoes that I found at Skip to my Lou, and they're super easy to make! Click here to get the outside template of the shoe, and click here to get the inside template of the shoe.

BEST SUGAR COOKIES

I've been trying to find a really yummy sugar cookie that stays soft and chewy and doesn't get hard and crunchy. I also hate having to let the dough chill and then having to roll it out. Well, I've FINALLY found it! I found this recipe at http://www.allrecipes.com/. I changed it up just a bit and I'm loving it! Some of the cookies I rolled in sugar and some I topped with a yummy cream cheese frosting;)

INGREDIENTS:

1 c butter

1/3 c shortening

1 1/2 c white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 1/2 c all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until dough comes together. Roll dough into walnut size balls (if you want a sugar coated cookie, now is the time to roll the balls in sugar). Place them on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes or until the bottom of the cookies are a light brown. Let cool on baking sheet for about 30 second to 1 minute before removing, and let them finish cooling wire racks.

I love not having to wait to finish the cookies while the dough chills, and I especially love not having to roll the dough out a million times when I just don't have the time.

The frosting is one I would usually use for a cake, but I thought it sounded so good on a sugar cookie. This recipe makes quite a bit of frosting (perfect if your making a couple batches of cookies). I added a little bit of whipping cream to make the frosting fluffier. Be careful when you add this to the frosting. Make sure you mix all of the other ingredients together first, then carefully fold in the whipping cream. I suggest adding a little bit at a time until you get the flavor and consistency you desire.

FROSTING:

8 oz cream cheese

1 stick butter

2 tsp vanilla

4 c powdered sugar

whipping cream to taste

Soften cream cheese and butter. Beat ingredients together and then add the whipping cream.

CINNAMON CARAMEL POPCORN

I love cinnamon and this a perfect way to satisfy one of those major cinnamon cravings:) I got this recipe from a website I just discovered called http://www.ourbestbites.com/. They have some great recipes!
This popcorn is covered in a delicious caramel with cinnamon and white chocolate. It's making my mouth water right now as I am thinking about it! It's a perfect treat to share with your friends and neighbors, or to keep for YOURSELF while watching a good movie.

INGREDIENTS:
12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)
1 C pecan halves, roughly chopped
1 C brown sugar
3/4 t cinnamon
1/4 C Karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 C)
1t vanilla
1/2 t baking soda
3 squares almond bark (about 4 oz)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more. Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil. Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!