Four different easy, quick, and fool-proof Christmas treats that the kids can help with! Perfect for gift-giving and enjoying with the family. Peppermint bark cookies, toffee cashew clusters, microwave fudge, and rudolph bites.
PEPPERMINT BARK COOKIES.
A few quick tips:
- I recommend a high quality white chocolate for flavor purposes, and for the best possible melt. My favorite white chocolate to use is Guittard or Ghirardelli.
- Line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal of these peppermint bark cookies
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Peppermint Bark Cookies
Four different easy, quick, and fool-proof Christmas treats that the kids can help with! Perfect for gift-giving and enjoying with the family. Peppermint bark cookies, toffee cashew clusters, microwave fudge, and rudolph bites.
Ingredients
- 1 package (10 ounces) Grasshopper Cookies
- 1 bag (12 ounces) high quality white chocolate chips*
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract optional, NOT mint
- 7 full sized candy canes
Instructions
- Place the cookies in the fridge just while preparing the chocolate. Crush the candy canes in a blender or food processor to get crumbs. Prepare a large sheet pan by covering it with parchment paper.
- Pour the chocolate chips into a large microwave safe bowl. Add in the vegetable oil and peppermint extract. (Add extract for an extra peppermint-y treat!) Mix well.
- Microwave in bursts of 20 second stirring in between each burst for about 10-15 seconds until the chocolate is melted.
- Patiently and slowly melting the chocolate will ensure you don't burn it. To make it easier, you can separate the white chocolate into 2 batches and only melt one at a time!
- Remove the cookies from the freezer and place one cookie on a fork over the bowl of melted chocolate. Use a spoon to spoon chocolate over the cookie and fork.
- Tap the fork on the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.
- Transfer the dipped cookie onto the prepared sheet pan.
- Immediately sprinkle the crushed candy canes over top. Repeat for all the cookies.
- If desired, dip just half a cookie in the melted chocolate for some fun variety!
- Let the cookies harden at room temperature.
Video
Recipe Notes
*I recommend Guittard or Ghirardelli for flavor purposes and also because it melts the best and mixes well with the extract. Cheaper white chocolates are more prone to seizing/not melting well.
FOOLPROOF MICROWAVE FUDGE
A few quick tips:
- Use high-quality chocolate chips. My favorites are Ghirardelli® and Guittard® (not sponsored). The higher the quality of chocolate, the tastier your fudge will be!
- To avoid burned fudge, microwave the mixture for 30 seconds at a time, and stir it for at least 20-25 seconds between each microwave burst. Remember, the ingredients are still being heated even after they have been removed from the microwave.
- Line the pan. To make sure the fudge will come out nicely, be sure to line the pan with parchment paper or foil.
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Foolproof Microwave Fudge
Four different easy, quick, and fool-proof Christmas treats that the kids can help with! Perfect for gift-giving and enjoying with the family. Peppermint bark cookies, toffee cashew clusters, microwave fudge, and rudolph bites.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons SALTED butter melted
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk*
- 3 cups high quality milk chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or peppermint extract
- 1 cup Andes peppermint crunch chips or crushed peppermint
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large microwave safe bowl, add the butter and melt.
- Pour in the sweetened condensed milk on top of the butter and whisk to combine.
- Add in the chocolate chips and stir.
- Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds stirring in between each burst for 10 seconds until the mixture is melted.
- Remove and add in the extract. Stir.
- Spoon into the prepared 8 x 8 pan and smooth to make the fudge even.
- Top with the crunch chips or crushed peppermint.
- Cover and place in the fridge for about 2-3 hours until set up.
Recipe Notes
*Make sure you have sweetened condensed milk and not evaporated milk. Do not use a lower fat version or it won't set up correctly. Cook time refers to chilling time.
TOFFEE CASHEW CLUSTERS
A few quick tips:
- Use high-quality chocolate chips. My favorites are Ghirardelli® and Guittard® (not sponsored). The higher the quality of chocolate, the tastier your fudge will be! (You can use chocolate chips or the baking bars for these toffee cashew clusters.)
- Line the pan for easy clean up and removal
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Toffee Cashew Clusters
Four different easy, quick, and fool-proof Christmas treats that the kids can help with! Perfect for gift-giving and enjoying with the family. Peppermint bark cookies, toffee cashew clusters, microwave fudge, and rudolph bites.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces white baking chocolate chopped*
- 14 ounces milk chocolate chopped
- 4 cups roasted and salted cashews
- 1 and 1/4 cups toffee bits
- Optional: vegetable oil
Instructions
- Prepare a large sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Roughly chop all of the chocolate into small pieces using a serrated knife.
- Place the chocolate in the bottom of a metal or glass heat-proof bowl.
- Meanwhile, fill a large saucepan with about an inch of water and bring to a simmer in the saucepan over low heat.
- Place the bowl of chocolates over the simmering water making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water.
- Stir the chocolate as it softens. When all but a few small chunks are melted, remove it from the heat and continue to stir until completely melted.
- If the chocolate is too thick, add in a few teaspoons of vegetable oil to thin. Add slowly and stir until well mixed in.
- Add in the cashews and toffee bits and stir until well coated.
- Drop by tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheet pan.
- Refrigerate 10-15 minutes or until set. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes
*Make sure to measure the chocolate to ensure you have the right amount. Use chocolate bars not chocolate chips!
RUDOLPH BITES
A few quick tips:
- You can also use melted chocolate pipped into a bag or frosting in a bag to pipe on the eyes and nose.
Product Links:
- Red Hot Candys (You can use these in place of the mini M&M’s for noses if needed)
- Mini M&Ms
- Edible Candy Eyes
- Pretzel Twists
Rudolph Bites
Four different easy, quick, and fool-proof Christmas treats that the kids can help with! Perfect for gift-giving and enjoying with the family. Peppermint bark cookies, toffee cashew clusters, microwave fudge, and rudolph bites.
Ingredients
- 3-4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 20 Miniature Reese's Cups
- 1 bag of pretzel twists
- 20 Miniature Red M&Ms
- 40 edible eye candies
Instructions
- Break the pretzel twists in half and further break off pieces to get them to look like antlers. A lot will just break and not work out, but after breaking a few, it get's easier 🙂
- Find the soft spot in the reese's and press the pretzel antlers into that spot.
- Using the peanut butter, spread some on the back of the mini M&M and attach to the reese's.
- Spread more of the peanut butter on the back of the edible eyes and attach those.
- Continue to press and secure any of the pieces that aren't sticking until firm.
- Enjoy 🙂
More Christmas Treats
- Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Microwave Fudge (Just 5 Ingredients)
- Candied Walnuts
- Turtle Bark
- S’mores Fudge
I’m so happy to make the rudolph bites for my mom for Christmas, she has been looking for a good recipe and I have finally found it!!!!
Hello. None of the recipes indicate how much it makes. I am making the clusters for a cookie swap . Can you let me know if I go by recipe, how many will that make? Thank you.
Hi Emily! The amount of clusters really depends on how large you scoop them out; you should be able to get 30 or more clusters.
Hi Chelsea,
I am going to try the Toffee Cashew Clusters. You recommend using baking bars instead of chips. If I use chips instead of bars how will that effect the recipe?
Thanks!
Cindy
Hi Cindy! I hope you love them 🙂 It’s easier to burn the chocolate if using chips and it might seize up on you. The bars don’t have the additives that chips do making them easier to melt evenly and mix with the other ingredients. If you do use chips I would recommend very high quality chips (Ghirardelli or Guittard)
What is a baking chocolate bar? And where do I find that?
Here’s an article on the difference between baking chocolate and chocolate bars you’d eat: http://www.livestrong.com/article/430248-baking-chocolate-vs-chocolate-bars/
You can find chocolate baking bars on a baking aisle next to chocolate chips 🙂 Enjoy Nancy!
You are QUEEN of adorable treats!!!
That fudge is SO happening this season!
OMG! Those Rudolph bites are super cute!! They all looks delish Chelsea!
I want to make these with my sons for Christmas!
These are amazing! So simple, yummy, and the perfect Christmas gift for the neighbors!
hey girl these all look so yummy!