Christmas Recipes: Rice Krispie Treats, Oatmeal Cookies, Hot Chocolate

December 25, 2010

We are continuing our Christmas recipe series today with some family time favorites.

rktreats.jpgToday’s recipes include Traditional Oatmeal Cookies, Crockpot Candy and Rice Krispie Treats — perfect recipes for the family to make together. And what would Christmas be without Hot Chocolate? Our quick and easy recipe can easily be increased to make enough for everyone, plus it’s easy to include some extra cocoa powder for a deeper, darker treat.

To submit your recipes to share with our readers, email them to news@northescambia.com.

Crock Pot Candy
submitted by Brooke Mixon

  • 16 oz Salted Peanuts
  • 16 oz UnSalted Peanuts
  • 4 oz German Chocolate Bark
  • 1 pkg Almond Chocolate Bark
  • 1 pkg Butterscotch Morsels

Put all ingredients into crock pot. Cook on low for 2 hours. Do not stir or open lid. After 2 hours, turn off crock pot, stir candy and drop in clusters onto wax paper. Let cool and enjoy. This recipe will make 70-90 pieces of candy, depending on the size.

Traditional Oatmeal Cookies

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
  • 3 cups of Quaker Oats (Quick)
  • 1 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Slowly stir in oats. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto an ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on sheet, remove to wire rack.

Rice Krispie Treats

  • 1/4 cup butter
    1 (10 oz., about 40) pkg. regular marshmallows or 3 cups miniature marshmallows
    6 cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal

In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and continue to stir until the marshmallows have completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal coating them well with the melted marshmallow mixture. Using a buttered or silicone spatula, press the mixture evenly into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan which has been buttered or sprayed with non-stick spray or lined with wax paper. Cut into squares when the mixture cools. Makes 24 squares.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

Microwave butter with marshmallows on high setting for 2 minutes in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir together when melted. Microwave again on high for 1 additional minute. Stir in cereal, mixing until well coated. Press into pan as above.

Hot Chocolate

  • 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
    2 tbsp. sugar
    2 tbsp. water
    1 c. milk
    a bit of vanilla, if desired

Combine cocoa, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Heat it on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the paste from sticking to the pan. After about 1 to 2 minutes, add milk and vanilla. Mix it all together until it reaches your preferred temperature.

Comments

4 Responses to “Christmas Recipes: Rice Krispie Treats, Oatmeal Cookies, Hot Chocolate”

  1. FBush on December 26th, 2010 8:31 pm

    Another good thing is to use Cheerios instead of Rice Crispies and that makes them very good too.

  2. Angi on December 26th, 2010 1:25 pm

    To: ■CandysVinceGill
    I also remember those popcorn balls as a child, it has been so many years since I have actually even saw anyone make them; they are so delicious..

    To: Beegee: I have also used the fruity pebbles too for the crispies treats, it makes them much more colorful, and the kids usually love them.

    You can also use Frosted Flakes to make them and (optional) drizzle a little softened peanut butter over them…

  3. CandysVinceGill on December 25th, 2010 9:29 pm

    where is good popcorn ball recipe, that was always a favorite at our house, we would have differant flavors with colors to match, i need the recipe, anybody out there got one?

  4. Beegee on December 25th, 2010 8:24 pm

    I use Fruity Pebbles instead of Rice Crispies in the treats!!!! Kids at church love them….and they very colorful!!!!