Today I am linking up with Christmas is in the Air for our favorite Christmas/Holiday foods. When I think Christmas I always think Christmas BAKING! Anyone else been watching Food Network's Holiday Baking Champion Series - my oldest son and I love it! When I think about Christmas and Baking TWO things come to mind...SWEETS and BREAKFAST!
We ALWAYS wake up Christmas morning in OUR house. (It's a big deal to me) So that means we need BREAKFAST, and if it's Christmas morning it needs to be a SPECIAL breakfast! Grandparents usually come over sometime that morning so I like to whip up a BIG breakfast so they and anyone else that stops by can have a bite to eat.
First up is a hearty Sausage and Biscuit Casserole - I don't usually prefer sausage but in this casserole it is perfect! This is even better the NEXT day! My mom always takes some home with her!
You can find the recipe from Plain Chicken HERE.
The other casserole that I always make is the opposite of the one above -it is super yummy sweetness!
French Toast Souffle with Pecans
This recipe evolved from one I found years ago on All Recipes.
Clearly I need to take a picture of this next time I make it!
Recipe:
1 loaf French bread cut into cubes
1 pkg softened cream cheese
8 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
2/3 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 c pecans (can toast these or use candied)
Place bread cubes in greased baking dish.
Beat eggs, mix in cream cheese, milk, whipping cream, syrup, brown sugar and vanilla, mix until smooth. Pour over bread evenly. Refrigerate over night.
In the morning remove from fridge and let stand for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 375 degrees.
Sprinkle pecans on top and Bake for 30 minutes or until knife in center comes out clean. Serve warm with additional syrup if desired.
A must have on Christmas morning is hot chocolate! Not the powdered stuff either! A crock pot full of the yummiest hot chocolate ever!
I first had this at a party at my friend Abbie's. She had a whole hot chocolate bar! It was so fun.
Recipe:
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
6 cups milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips ( I like milk but some prefer the semi-sweet)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon opt (I like this, The Hubs does not)
Stir together in crock pot and warm on medium until chips are melted and it is hot. Reduce heat to keep warm and serve with marshmallows, peppermints, whipped cream even a little booze (I promise I won't judge because I will probably do the same)
If I have time I will also make scones or biscotti or muffins too!
The second area of Christmas Baking I love is - SWEETS!
5 of us girls get together and all bake our favorite Christmas treats while watching movies and drinking wine! We then share the treats and everyone gets lots of different goodies!!! It is so fun!
First up these little peanut butter cup bites! I am asked to bring these to EVERY gathering whether it is Christmas time or not!
And they are so easy! I totally cheat with all the Holiday baking going on and use store bought peanutbutter cookie dough! My kids pretty much make these!
Unwrap Reese's mini PB cups
Take Peanutbutter cookie dough and make 24 smallish balls.
Place each ball in a mini muffin pan.
Bake at 375 for 8 minutes!
As soon as you remove from oven place a Reese's mini on each cookie.
Carefully remove to let cool. Chocolate will be runny for awhile!
Next up a personal favorite!
Cranberry Bliss Bars!
These babies are 2.35 each at our Starbucks! And while I love them I don't love the price! So when I saw the recipe on Pinterest I had to try! The turned out perfect! They are a bit of work but I just remember that price tag and I'm ok with it!
Find the Recipe from Recipe Girl HERE!
And the final sweet I HAVE to have at Christmas isn't a baked good.
It's my Aunt Nettie's Bars - thinking I need to come up with a fancy name for these. Along with a picture!
They are so easy and SO good!
Recipe:
1 cup Kayro syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups cornflakes
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
In a sauce pan over med-high heat bring syrup and sugar to a boil, remove from heat add peanut butter stir to combine and immediately pour over 6 cups of cornflakes, stir until well coated then press in a greased jelly roll pan. Melt chips together in bowl and spread over top of corn flake mixture in pan! Let cool and cut into small pieces as these babies are rich! Watch them disappear!
There you have it! Man I am in the Christmas mood now, and I wanna go bake something!
Check back next week for the last installment! And be sure to click the image above for the full linky party!
Find Joy in the Journey,
Tess
Omgsh these look amazing! Thanks so much for linking up! I am seriously going to have to attempt to make a few of these! The cranberry bliss bars look amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat breakfast casserole looks phenomenal!! I'm am starving after looking at all of these. They look awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThese look so good. I'm obsessed with anything that mixes peanut butter and chocolate. Thanks for linking up with us!
ReplyDelete