
This is my final recipe post for 2020 and I’m going all-out with a holiday baking edition. So no matter what holiday you celebrate, or even if you don’t celebrate, gather your ingredients and get ready to make some delicious goodies to share this season.
***
Peanut Crisp Bars
(with thanks to my mom)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. light corn syrup
1 c. peanut butter
2 c. crispy rice cereal
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar, packed
1 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla
1 1/4 c. powdered sugar
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and a dash of salt. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanut butter and then stir in cereal. Pat mixture evenly into a greased 8×8″ or a 9×9″ square pan.
In a small saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; add milk and vanilla. Stir in powdered sugar and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
Spread butter mixture over cereal mixture; chill. Cut into bars.
***
Cherry Bonbon Cookies
(with thanks to my dad)
For the cookies:
1 1/2 c. flour
1/8 t. salt
1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. powdered sugar
2 T. milk
1 t. vanilla
24 maraschino cherries, drained well and patted dry
For the glaze:
1 c. powdered sugar
1 T. butter, melted
2 T. maraschino cherry juice
additional powdered sugar
Make the cookies:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. In another mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add milk and vanilla to the butter mixture and beat well. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until well blended.
Divide dough into 24 portions. Shape each portion around a cherry, forming a ball. Place cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a baking rack.
Make the glaze:
Combine 1 c. powdered sugar, butter, and cherry juice until smooth and a little runny. Add more cherry juice if too thick.
Drizzle glaze over cookies; dust with additional powdered sugar if desired.
***
Coconut-Macadamia Nut Bars
Bottom layer:
1 c. flour
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
Top layer:
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 T. flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 c. shredded coconut
1 t. vanilla
1 c. diced macadamia nuts
2 eggs
Combine ingredients for bottom layer in a medium bowl. Beat well and press into 9×9″ pan. Bake for 12 minutes.
Mix ingredients for top layer until well-blended. Spread mixture over hot bottom layer and bake for another 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
Until next time,
Amy
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Oh boyohboyohboy. I need to make those peanut butter crispy bars now!! And I love your philosophy we should enjoy everything we eat. And believe me thereβs nothing better than desserts!
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Right?! We’ve been having our stollen every day for breakfast, and it’s like eating dessert first thing in the morning! Bring it on!
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Haha. Well, I made my “famous” coffee cake for Thanksgiving, but just ordered orange/cranberry scones for Christmas from a local bakery where we’ve known the baker for 20 years. That’s homemade, then, right? π
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Famous coffee cake sounds like it would be right up my alley. I’ve been bookmarking coffee cake recipes lately. And yes, those scones are homemade…by someone. That totally counts. Merry Christmas, my friend!
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I’ll send you my coffee cake recipe soon. It’s a keeper! xo
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Thank you, Pam!!
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Love your easy and delicious recipes Amy. Peanut butter crisps sound yummy! π xx
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Thanks, Debby. Let me know if you give any of them a try. Glad you dropped in!
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I’m not much of a baker, but the peanut butter crisps look doable, lol π
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Definitely doable and delicious! xo
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π x
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So which one is low cal.? I wasn’t sure. Lol. These all sound delicious. π
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Um, they’re all low-cal if you compare them to a steak dinner or a Big Mac!!
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π
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These sound lovely. I’m fond of baking at this time of year, too. @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
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Thanks, Samantha. As I write this, I’m waiting for a batch of chocolate biscotti to come out of the oven. Happy holidays!
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My favorite is Coconut-Macadamia Nut Bars. Thanks for the recipe, Amy. π
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Sure, Miriam! I hope you enjoy them. We are big coconut and mac nut fans in this house. π
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We eat them separately. It would be interesting to see how it tastes when combine them. π
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I can answer that: divine!
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I can taste it now π!
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Something to eat while reading it doesn’t get better than that…the peanut crisp bars sound delicious π
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I do love those bars, Carol. They’re quick to make…and quick to disappear. π
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I’m sure they do, Amy they do sound delicious π
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Yum… These look delicious. Thanks for helping me gain another pound, Amy! LOL
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It’s always my pleasure to do that, Pat. My new mantra is, “I regret nothing I eat.” If I have to walk an extra mile, then so be it. I LOVE desserts. β€
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Thanks! Happy December! Desserts and books- great combo
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My pleasure, Jean! Let me know if you give any of them a try. Have a great December!
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