Easter Baskets and Bunnies Cupcakes

Easter Baskets and Bunnies Cupcakes recipe.

We need:
1.75 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
1 cup of milk
0.75 cups of HERSHEY’S Cocoa
0.5 cups of vegetable oil
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1.5 teaspoons of baking soda
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
2 eggs
some salt

Heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin cups with paper bake cups.

In large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 min. Stir in boiling water. Fill muffin cups 0.66 full with batter.

Bake 25 min. or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Prepare CREAMY VANILLA FROSTING; frost cupcakes. Immediately press desired color tinted coconut onto each cupcake. Garnish as desired to resemble Easter basket or bunny.

St. Valentine’s Breakfast Biscuits

St. Valentine’s Breakfast Biscuits

We need:
1.5 cups of flour
0.7 cup of sugar
0.5 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
0.5 cup of milk
10 tablespoons of unsalted butter (melted and kept hot)
1 teaspoon of baking soda
some salt
a heart shaped cutter

In a bowl mix the flour, baking soda, sugar and salt. In a separate bowl mix the hot butter and cocoa powder until smooth. Stir the egg and milk into the chocolate mixture. Pour the wet mixture over flour mixture. Fold through gently with a rubber spatula until all of flour mixture is moistened. Do not try to make a smooth dough. Place the dough on sheet of wax paper and push into a rectangle of approximately 10×5 inch.
Chill the dough for about 15 min.
Cut out as many shapes as you can from the dough. Transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400 F on the center shelf for about 12 min., or until the tops have dried and started to crack and the bases have started to color. A St. Valentine’s dish is ready.

Holly Christmas Cookies

A Christmas recipe for children: Holly Christmas Cookies

We need (for 18 cookies):
16 oz of large marshmallows
4.5 cups of cornflakes cereal
2.25 oz of cinnamon red-hot candies
0.5 cup of butter (softened)
1.5 teaspoons of green food coloring
1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract

In a saucepan over low heat, melt together the marshmallows, butter, vanilla, and food coloring. Mix in the cornflakes cereal.
Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper, and decorate with red hots. Set aside, and allow to cool.

A similar recipe: Christmas Wreaths

Christmas Sugared Walnuts

A Christmas appetizer recipe: Christmas Sugared Walnuts

We need (for 4 cups):
1 lb of walnut pieces
0.5 cups of powdered sugar
0.5 cups of unsalted butter (melted)
1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon (ground)
0.25 teaspoon of allspice (ground)
0.25 teaspoon of ginger (ground)
0.12 teaspoon of cloves (ground)

In a 3.5 quart slow cooker, stir the walnuts and butter until combined. Add the powdered sugar, stirring to coat evenly. Cover and slow-cook on high for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and slow cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the nuts are coated with a crisp glaze, about 2 hours.

Transfer the nuts to a serving bowl. In a small bowl, combine the spices and sift them over the nuts, stirring to coat evenly. Cool the nuts completely before serving.

German Christmas Gingerbread

German Christmas Gingerbread recipe.

We need (for 14 servings):
2 cups of packed brown sugar
1.7 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1 cup of softened butter
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup of blanched slivered almonds
1 cup of raisins
3 eggs
0.7 cups of honey
0.5 cups of orange juice
0.25 cups of orange liqueur
4 teaspoons of baking powder
2 teaspoons of ground ginger
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
0.25 teaspoon of ground cloves
0.25 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

Whisk together the flours, baking powder, and spices.
In a large bowl, cream the butter or margarine with the brown sugar. Beat in the eggs, then the honey, orange liqueur, sour cream, and orange juice. Beat the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, and then stir in the raisins and almonds. Turn batter into a greased and floured tube pan.
Bake cake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 80 minutes, or until it tests done with toothpick. Transfer German Christmas Gingerbread to a rack to cool.

Christmas Persimmon Pudding

Christmas Persimmon Pudding

We need:
2 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup of margarine
2 cups of sugar-preserved dried persimmons
1 pint of persimmon pulp
2 eggs (well-beaten)
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda

Cream 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of margarine. Add the 2 well-beaten eggs and 1 cup of sour cream.
Sift 2 cups of flour with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt, then add to the wet mix above.
Add the 1 pint of persimmon pulp and mix well.
Carefully fold in 2 cups of the sugar-preserved dried persimmons.
Wring out a pudding cloth in boiling water and spread it in a deep dish. Turn the batter into the pudding cloth. Tie up the cloth and suspend it over boiling water in a deep, covered vessel. Keep it steaming for 4 hours, using boiling water to replenish any lost water in the steaming kettle.

See also other Christmas pudding recipes:
Vegetarian Christmas Pudding
and Baked Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce.
Both variants are interesting. They can be flamed.

Christmas Fruit Mince

Christmas Fruit Mince recipe

We need (for 10 servings):
3 cups of dried currants
2.5 cups of brown sugar (firmly packed)
1.5 cups of dark raisins
1.5 cups of golden raisins
1 lb of cooking apples (peeled, cored, and finely chopped)
0.75 cups of candied peel (chopped)
0.75 cups of brandy
1 teaspoon of ground allspice
1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
juice of 2 lemons
some grated zest

In a large bowl, place all the ingredients and mix well to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and leave overnight.
Pack the mixture into sterilized jars and close tightly. Leave in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks.
Stir the mixture well before using fruit mince.

Christmas Swirl Brownies

Easy Christmas Swirl Brownies

We need:
1 package of cake style brownie mix
1 package of cream cheese
1 bag of M&Ms holiday edition
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
0.33 cups of sugar
0.25 cups of cream

In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and cream cheese until fluffy. Add the egg, cream and vanilla extract. Mix well and set aside.
Prepare the brownie mix according to instructions. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper and then pour 2/3 of the batter into the pan. Place 0.5 cup of the M&Ms over the brownie batter. Then spoon the cream cheese mixture over the M&Ms and batter. Finally, scoop the remaining brownie mixture over that. Using the tip of a knife swirl the mixture for a marbled effect.
Bake for approximately 45 minutes at 350F (180C, Gas Mark 4) until baked through but still moist (don’t overbake). Cool before cutting into squares.

Holly Christmas Cookies

The recipe of Holly Christmas Cookies.

We need (for 18 servings):
16 oz of large marshmallows
4.5 cups of cornflakes cereal
0.5 cups of softened butter
2.25 oz of cinnamon red hot candies
1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1.5 teaspoons of green food coloring

In a saucepan over low heat, melt together the marshmallows, butter, vanilla, and food coloring. Mix in the cornflakes cereal.
Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper, and decorate cookies with red hots. Set aside, and allow to cool.

Meringue

This is the easiest recipe for Meringue.

For 1 portion we need just:
2 egg whites
4 tablespoons of sugar

Beat egg whites until foamy (use wire whip to secure greatest volume). Add sugar 2 T. at a time, beating vigorously after each addition until sugar is completely mixed. Continue to beat until mixture stands in peaks and stays piled. Beat at least 4 minutes. Pile on pie filling, place in moderate oven 350 F. 15 minutes.