Tag Archive | Holiday Recipes

Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

image_4Anything is better with Nutella, right? Well that’s certainly the case with these little tasties. A rich buttery cookie is taken straight to heaven when rolled in coconut and a lovely gem of nutella placed in the center. It’s actually a really easy cookie to whip up and oh so yummy. A great cookie recipe for holiday baking or cookie exchanges and it will quickly become a family favorite. Yummy to the max!

Nutella Thumbprint Cookies
Yields 36 cookies

  • 3 sticks (3/4 pound) butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
  • 7 ounces sweetened flaked coconut
  • Nutella (the amount depends on how generous you are but you’ll need approximately 1/2 cup)

Directions: 

1. In a mixer, cream together the butter sugar for several minutes.

image

Add the vanilla and gradually add the flour and salt until well combined.

image_2

2. Transfer the dough onto a piece seran wrap, form into a large ball, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill. If you’re in a hurry you can also pop it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.

Dough in seran wrap

3. Preheat oven to 350°. Form the chilled dough into balls, approximately 1 1/4 inches, or weighing 1 ounce if you’re using a scale.

Rolled dough into balls

Dip the balls into the egg wash, roll in flaked coconut, and transfer to an ungreased cookie sheet. Use your finger or thumb to form an indentation in the dough for filling with Nutella. 🙂

rolled balls in coconut

Using a teaspoon, fill each indentation with about 1/4 teaspoon of Nutella.

filled with nutella

4. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes or until the edges are a light brown and the coconut is toasted. Since all ovens vary slightly, I always recommend baking one cookie first to see what the exact time is to avoid burning an entire sheet.

baked nutella cookies

5. Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack. Eat the cooled Nutelal Thumbprint Cookies with a glass of milk or hot cocoa. Enjoy!

Plated Cookies

The Ultimate Halloween Party: 31 Spooky Recipes

It’s that time of year…witches, goblins, ghosts, galore. With Halloween breathing down our necks, I’m seeing so many adorable recipes for Halloween parties. So here is my list of the 31 most spook-tacular recipes for planning the ultimate Halloween Party!

Marshmallow Witches

 marshmallow witches
Recipe Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/marshmallow-witches

Tombstone Brownies

Tombstone-brownies
Recipe Source: http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/1000075/tombstone-brownies

Giant Glowing Pumpkin Cookies

glowing pumpkins
Recipe Source: http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/giant-glowing-pumpkin-cookies/cf2d57fb-baf5-4457-8940-767d930a92aa

Pumpkin Popcorn Balls

pumpkin popcorn balls
Recipe Source: http://www.somewhatsimple.com/pumpkin-popcorn-balls/

Halloween Rainbow Party Bundt Cake

halloween bundt cake
Recipe Source: http://www.cookingwithsugar.com/amazing-halloween-rainbow-party-bundt-cake-recipe/

Monster Fingers

Monster-Fingers-300x275

Recipe Source: http://www.culinaryadventuresinthekitchen.com/2012/10/06/monster-fingers/

Butterfinger Eyeballs

butterfinger eyeballs
Recipe Source: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/134764/butterfinger-eyeballs/detail.aspx

 

Witches’ Hats

witch hats
Recipe Source: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/witches-hats/c04c58a6-9fb7-46ef-a45f-9bfabbf96b0d

Frankenstein Cake

frankenstein cake
Recipe Source: http://www.hungryhappenings.com/2010/10/Frankenstein-cookie-Halloween-desserts.html

Little Monster Cupcakes

little-monster-cupcakes-l
Recipe Source: http://cupcakekidcafe.com/adorable-halloween-cupcakes/

Skeleton Cupcakes

skeleton cupcakes
Recipe Source: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/skeleton-cupcakes-10000001875466/

Pumpkin Rice Krispee Treats

pumpkin-crispies
Recipe Source: http://candy.about.com/od/halloweencandyrecipes/r/jackolanterns.htm

Melted Wicked Cupcakes

wicked cupcakes
Recipe Source: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/melted-wicked-witch-cupcakes/e89b00a9-bcc1-4851-8555-49457d0eadbe

Chomping Monster Cookies

chomping monster cookies
Recipe Source: http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/chomping-monsters/69e7b7ef-e3b9-452a-9966-3ad3f271cf9f

Vampire Chocolate Chip Cookies

vampire cookies
Recipe Source: http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/cookies/vampire-teeth-cookies.html

Melted Witch Puddles

witch puddles
Recipe Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/melted-witch-puddles

Halloween Candy Hands

candy hands
Recipe Source: http://cakewhiz.com/cakewhiz/post/Halloween-glove-treat-bags.aspx

Jack-o’-lantern Quesadillas

jack-quesadillas-ay-1875798-l
Recipe Source: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/jack-o-lantern-quesadillas-10000001875798/

Crescent Mummy Dogs

crescent mummy dogs
Recipe Source: http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/crescent-mummy-dogs/d52a57d7-ab8a-4a1c-8dae-f9f90d03b912

Pizza Mummies

pizza mummies
Recipe Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/pizza-mummies

Salty Bones

Salty Bones
Recipe Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/salty-bones

Graveyard Dip

graveyard dip
Recipe Source: http://joandsue.blogspot.ca/2012/11/graveyard-dip-and-brain-dip.html?m=1

Pretzel & Cheese Broomsticks

broomsticks

Recipe Source: http://www.navywifecook.com/2012/10/halloween-week-broom-sticks.html

Jack-o’-Lantern Burgers

Jack-o’-Lantern-Cheeseburgers-2
Recipe Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/jack-o–lantern-burgers

Zombie Eyes

zombie eyes
Recipe Source: http://www.recipetips.com/recipe-cards/t–160764/zombie-eyes.asp

Healthy Treats

healthy treats
Recipe Source: http://timefortheholidays.blogspot.com/2013/10/healthy-halloween-recipes.html

Bloody Syringe Shirley Temples

bloody syringe drink
Recipe Source: http://www.neatorama.com/2013/09/12/Bloody-Syringe-Shirley-Temples/#!nf4U9

Halloween Punch

halloween punch
Recipe Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/halloween-punch

Slushy Punch

slushy punch
Recipe Source: http://lilluna.com/slushy-punch-recipe/

Zombie Punch

zombie punch
Recipe Source: http://www.thedailyblarg.com/2011/10/halloween-party-recipes.html

Pumpkin Party Cooler

pumpkincooler

Recipe Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/268772/pumpkin-party-cooler

4th of July Poke Cake

Final Cake

With 4th of July just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to take a spin on the traditional poke cake and make it a little more patriotic. Poke cake’s are very easy and great for hot summer days. They involve baking a cake from a box, poking holes all over the cake, pouring jell-o all over the cake, and chilling it in the fridge for a few hours. You can use pretty much any kind of cake mix and jell-o flavor so it’s easy to mix it up and have fun with it. The result is so yummy and since the cake is nice and chilly it is so refreshing after a long day in the heat.

NOTE: This cake is super simple but does take several hours for the jell-o to chill so plan to make in the morning or a day ahead of time.

Ingredients:

  • 1 white cake mix (And ingredients to prepare the boxed cake, which is typically egg whites, vegetable oil, and water)
  • 1 pint blueberries
  • 1 small box strawberry jell-o
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1 8 oz. tub Cool Whip
  • 1 16 ounce container strawberries

Directions: 

1. Prepare cake mix according to the directions and pour batter into pan. Sprinkle with blueberries, reserving a handful for the “stars” in the the flag. Bake cake according to directions on box.

Blueberry Batter

2.  After cake has cooled for 15 minutes, take the end of a round spatula and poke holes all over the cake. (I don’t suggest using a fork. That’s what I did the first time and the jello didn’t spread evenly).

Poked Cake

3. In a small bowl, mix jell-o with hot water. Add cold water and stir. Pour all over cake. Chill for 3 hours.

Jello on cake

4. Set aside several strawberries for your flag (about 1 cup). In a food processor or blender,   purée remaining strawberries. Spread evenly over the cake.

Strawberry over cake

5. Slice remaining strawberries thinly. Frost cake with Cool Whip and using remaining blueberries and strawberry slices, decorate cake as an American flag, using blueberries for the “stars” and strawberry slices as the “stripes”.

Final Cake

Happy 4th of July!

Final Slice