Home for the Holidays
In 2020, COVID-19 put a damper on the holiday season. This year, we’re hoping to have family gatherings, parties, and meals to celebrate. With that in mind, here are a few of our favorite easy holiday sweets recipes to enjoy as your friends and family get together in your kitchen.
Sweet and Spicy Almonds
You can make these delicious almonds as spicy as you like! These make a great addition to a charcuterie tray.
- 2 ½ c. almonds
- ¼ c. granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsp coarse salt
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 T honey
- 1 T water
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Spread almonds onto a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until fragrant.
- While almonds are toasting, combine sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl.
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook honey, water, and olive oil, stirring until combined – one minute.
- Add almonds to the skillet and toss to coat.
- Transfer nuts to the sugar mixture bowl (do not scrape extra glaze into the bowl) and toss to coat.
- Cool in a single layer.
Caramel Pecan Cream Cheese Dip
The following trio of dips are delicious with any kind of apples. Slice apples ahead and soak in lemon or orange juice to keep the flesh from turning brown.
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ⅓ c brown sugar
- Chopped pecans
- Caramel ice cream topping
- Blend cream cheese and brown sugar.
- Form into a ball and roll in pecans.
- Top with caramel.
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Dip
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ¾ c brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ c crunchy peanut butter
- Mix ingredients well.
- Serve with sliced apples.
Toffee Cream Cheese Dip
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ¾ c brown sugar
- ½ c granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 6 oz English toffee bits (Heath)
- Mix ingredients well.
- Serve with sliced apples.
Nutty Cookies
You won’t believe how easy these cookies are… and how much your friends and fam will love them!
- 42 Club crackers
- ½ c butter
- ½ c granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 c sliced almonds
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Place crackers in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add sugar and bring to a boil.
- Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. The mixture will look foamy.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla carefully.
- Pour mixture evenly over crackers and sprinkle with nuts.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until light brown. Remove from the pan immediately and place on wire racks to cool.