Chocolate-Butterscotch Holiday Treats

with Missy Tippens

I wanted to share one of my favorite holiday treats for our last day of the 12 Days of Christmas Treats. Thank you so much for taking part! If you're listed as a winner, please contact the author on her Facebook page or website. Our winners for the week are:

Friday: The winner of one of my books of choice: Terrill R.

Saturday: From author Mary Jane Hathaway...Trixi is the winner of Season of Hope and Lisa Hudson wins the Cookie Swap Christmas cookbook. 

Monday: The winner of Jan Drexler's prize of a signed copy of Mattie's Pledge is DebH.

Tuesday: Mindy Obenhaus's winner will receive 'Tis the Season Cookbook  and a copy of Falling for the Hometown Hero. The winner is Wilani.

Wednesday: Cate Nolan's winner of Christmas in Hiding is Debbie Rhoades. Choice of print or e-book.

Thursday: The winner of Ruthy Logan Herne's Cowboy Christmas Homecoming is...TBA! I'm posting this before she's had a chance to draw a winner. :) Stay tuned to the comments for the announcement.

And now my recipe!

Missy's Chocolate-Butterscotch Treats

I started with Mindy's recipe for Chocolate Peanut Bliss: click here. But I doctored it up, mainly to make it stretch further.

1 pack vanilla almond bark

1 pack chocolate almond bark

1 pack (4 oz) Baker's German Sweet Baking Bar (I'm convinced this is the secret ingredient making it so yummy)

1 bag semi-sweet chips (12 oz)

1 bag butterscotch chips (12 oz I think)

32 oz. dry roasted peanuts

½ of a large bag Chow mein noodles

Chop the chocolate bark and bar. This was taking me forever, so I just started digging the tip of the knife into the chocolate to break it up in chunks.

Toss all the chocolate and chips into the Crock Pot. I turned it on high to start the warming but then turned it down to low.

While the chocolate melted (stirring occasionally), I gathered the other ingredients along with my silicone baking sheets and parchment paper.

When the chocolate was melted (don't over-cook it!), I used a whisk to smooth it out (some of the chips didn't want to melt really well).

Once smooth, stir in the nuts and noodles. Then spoon onto the paper/silicone mats and let sit until hardened. This step took a couple of hours, so be sure to leave time--especially if you're planning to pack them up as a gift.

These are definitely something kids can help make. I guarantee everyone will love them!

Merry Christmas y'all! I hope you enjoy the time with friends and family. And also remember the Reason for this season. We'll be closed through the long weekend but will see you back next week!


www.missytippens.com

Butter Pecan Turtles from the Land O Lakes Butter Box aka Caramel 'N Chocolate Pecan Bars

One of my favorite candies is Pecan Turtles whether they come prepackaged like these

 or in one of those lovely boxes of Sees chocolates - these are called Pecan Buds.

My neighbor always brings me Sees as a thank you for taking care of her cats when she is away. Nice kitties. Even nicer neighbor!!!


So one of our very favorite holiday treats has always been the Butter Pecan Turtles recipe I got off the Land O Lakes butter box many years ago. I saved that battered old piece of cardboard for a very long time before it just disappeared (or possibly disintegrated).

Fortunately, there is Google. I found the recipe.

https://www.landolakes.com/recipe/17409/caramel-n-chocolate-pecan-bars/

(The site was really slow to load for me, so I'm giving you the recipe here.)

When I told my daughter I was doing it for this post, she remarked, "Oh, you mean those incredible bars I used to eat way too many of until I felt sick?"

Um, yeah. How's that for a ringing endorsement?

So, here you go -

There are two parts to the recipe. First you make the shortbread cookie part.

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1cup firmly packed brown sugar
• ½cup Land O Lakes Sweet Cream Butter, softened (I always used salted)
  
  
  
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 3-quart bowl combine crust ingredients. Mix at medium speed, scraping sides of bowl often, 2-3 minutes or until well mixed and particles are fine. Pat firmly into ungreased 13 x 9 x 2" pan.
  
  *** Now you need 1cup whole pecan halves (not chopped) ***
  
  
  Then you have the caramel layer.
  
• ⅔ cups Land O Lakes Sweet Cream Butter(again, I used salted)
• ½cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1cup milk chocolate chips
  
  
  Caramel Layer: In a heavy 1-quart saucepan combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until entire surface of mixture begins to boil. Boil 1/2 to 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  
  
  Now it's time to assemble:
  
  Sprinkle the pecans over the unbaked crust.  I know it says to use them whole, not chopped, but I liked them broken up. It seemed to allow the gooey caramel to cover them more.
  
  Pour the caramel evenly over the pecans and crust.
  
  Bake at 350 degrees  for 18-22 minutes, or until entire caramel layer is bubbly and crust is light golden brown. Remove from oven.
  
  This part is fun. Immediately sprinkle the chips over the hot bars. Allow the chips to melt slightly (2-3 minutes).  Then slightly swirl the chips as they melt; leave some whole for a marbled effect.
  
  Cool completely; cut into 3-4 dozen bars.
  
  Just try to wait until they're cool to eat them!
  
  A cookie that masquerades as candy! Can't beat that.
  
  
  
  GIVEAWAY -
  
  I have another copy of Christmas in Hiding to give away.
  
   

Festive Thumbprint Cookies as the Twelve Days of Christmas Treats Continues with More Giveaways!

Holiday greetings from chilly Texas!

Yes, with Christmas only five days away, Texas has been plunged into the deep freeze. Okay, for all of you who live north of the Red River, stop laughing. I know the Texas meaning of cold can differ greatly from yours, however our temperatures tumbled into the teens over the weekend. And I don't care where you live, sixteen degrees is cold!

Of course, Christmas wouldn't be the same without all those twinkling lights. So we decided to take a drive last night to see the Red Tree. The homeowner lights one tree every year but, boy, does he do it in a big way.

Is that not a beautiful site?

However, a couple of houses down, we saw another tree dripping in lights.

Wow!

The only way to top that is with some yummy holiday treats and the cookie I'm going to share with you today is one of my faves.

There are several reasons I love these cookies. First, the dough is buttery, so it has a nice texture. Second, they're coated in pecans and I LOVE pecans. Lastly, the little dollop of jelly is such a festive and delicious addition.

Here's what you'll need for these yummy treats:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs, separated

1 tsp. almond extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Red currant jelly (if you can't find red currant jelly, seedless raspberry is a good substitute)

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well.

Add egg yolks.

And almond extract, 

beating until blended.

Next, combine your flour, salt and cinnamon.

And gradually add to the butter mixture, 

Blending on low speed until fully incorporated.

Cover and chill dough for one hour.

After you've wrapped a few presents or danced to some Christmas tunes,

preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Shape chilled dough into 1 inch balls.

Lightly beat your egg whites, then dip each ball into the egg white

And roll in pecans.

Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Now, press your thumb into each cookie to make an indentation.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Cool 1 minute on baking sheets. Press centers again while cookies are still warm.

Fill center of each cookie with jelly.

The red currant jelly really is a nice touch. A little more tart, but still plenty sweet.

Yes, this is the week when holiday baking kicks into high gear. The week that you go through more butter and sugar than the entire rest of the year. But hey, it's Christmas, so why not splurge.

Now it's time for a giveaway.

This week, I'm giving away a copy of 'Tis the Season, a kid-friendly cookbook

AND

a copy of my latest release, Falling for the Hometown Hero.

Because let's face it, heroes are fun no matter what the season.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered. Let's talk about Christmas lights. Do you enjoy going out to look at them? What's your preference, colored or clear?

In closing, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a blessed and Christ-filled Christmas.

It's easy to get caught up in all the hoopla of the season, but lest we forget THE REASON for the season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!

Mindy Obenhaus lives in Texas with her husband and kids. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com.

Christmas Eve Simmering Potpourri and Other Traditions

Jan here, with a post full of Christmas traditions, because what is Christmas without traditions? 

When my husband and I celebrated our first Christmas together thirty-four years ago, we had to merge strong traditions from both sides of extended family.

We inherited his family's creche, and stuck with my family's tradition of opening presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve.

And we started a few of our own traditions that we're handing down to our children. 

Of course, as our children form their own homes with loved ones, they'll sort through the family traditions and start their own. That's the way it's supposed to work, right?

One tradition we started several years ago is a Christmas Tea on Christmas Eve. After church, whoever wants to meets at our house for spiced cider, little sandwiches with meat or cheese spreads, spanokopita (recipe here), Black Forest Ham pinwheels (recipe here), and other Christmas goodies.

We chat a little bit, but the main event of the evening is a game. It was dominoes one year, Carcassonne another. Sometimes it's Settlers of Cataan. It's always a fun (and highly competitive!) time!

Wynter is waiting for her share!

And in the background is the heavenly scent of spices and fruit in a simmering potpourri.

Simmering Potpourri

Ingredients:

1/2 bag fresh cranberries

1 apple

1/2 orange

3 or 4 cinnamon sticks

1 Tablespoon whole cloves

Cut up the apple and orange (go ahead and eat the second half!)...

...and put everything in a pot with a couple quarts of water. I like to use my little one gallon crockpot, but you can use a pot on the stove, too.

Heat, covered, until the water gets steamy and the cranberries get soft. Then reduce the temperature, remove the lid, and let the Christmas scent make its way through your home.

I hope you enjoy your Christmas Eve as much as we do! What are your plans for the festive night?

And it wouldn't be the Twelve Days of Christmas Treats without a giveaway, would it?

Comment today for an opportunity to win a signed copy of "Mattie's Pledge"!

Here's a little bit about the story: 

Mattie Schrock is no stranger to uprooting her life. Even as her father relocated her family from one Amish community to the next, she always managed to find a footing in their new homes. Now as the Schrock family plans to move west from Somerset County to a fledgling Amish settlement in Indiana, she looks forward to connecting with old friends who will be joining them from another Pennsylvania community—friends like Jacob Yoder, who has always held a special place in her heart.

Since Mattie last saw Jacob, they’ve both grown into different people with different dreams. Jacob yearns to settle down, but Mattie can’t help but dream of what may lie over the western horizon. When a handsome Englisher tempts her to leave the Amish behind to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob be the anchor that holds her secure?

Tender, poignant, and gentle, Mattie’s Pledge offers readers a glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s—and into the yearning heart of a character they’ll not soon forget.

Quick Snickerdoodle Cookies and a Giveaway!

Missy Tippens

Thanks for joining us for The 12 Days of Christmas Treats!!

The holidays are fun. They're exciting! But as we race through December, they can become stressful, can become a chore. Many of us have perfectionist tendencies (um...cough, cough), and we can get so caught up in the decorating and gift buying and party going that we lose the joy of the season. We forget that we don't have to create a perfect Christmas for our families. We just need to enjoy the time with our families. So if you're feeling overwhelmed by trying to make beautiful desserts worthy of being featured on a cooking show.... Stop it. And try this simple treat.

Snickerdoodle cookies. Made with a mix, of course. :)

All you need is a stick of butter, an egg, and some water. (I'm sorry for the sideways photo! No time to go edit it.)

The mix is simple.  Set aside the cinnamon sugar packet. Just melt the butter. Mix all the ingredients.

Then take a small amount of dough and form into balls. Roll each one in the cinnamon sugar mix. Then place on the baking sheet.

Then bake according to directions. They turned out really good! I wanted a lot of cookies so I made them really small. Everyone enjoyed them!

I'm giving away an e-book today! A copy of any one of my books, your choice, for Kindle or Nook. Please leave a comment to be entered!

www.missytippens.com

Russian Tea Cakes - and a Giveaway

Yesterday Mindy posted about Butter Spritz cookies. Those were definitely a favorite with my girls when they were growing up. But somewhere along the line, the family favorite changed over from spritz to Russian Tea Cakes.

These super easy, delicious treats look like little snowballs.

They also camouflage themselves as pfeffernusse which means a lot of people pass them by, mistaking them for their spicier Dutch cousins. The better for those of us who know of their secret goodness!!!

While we're sharing cookbooks, let me show you the shape of the one this recipe comes from. It's so old (See copyright below) and tattered, and it falls open automatically to the Russian Tea Cakes page.

I love the introduction. (Click to enlarge.)

These are SO easy, I almost hate to give it away.

The recipe calls for:
1 cup of butter
1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups of flour
1/4 teaspoon of salt (I never add this. I just use salted butter instead of sweet)
3/4 cups of chopped pecans

Additional powdered sugar to roll the cookies in.


So first you soften the butter. If you're in a rush, you can use the microwave (because this recipe is pretty forgiving). 

Cream the butter and sugar and add vanilla and try to avoid eating it all at this point because the dough is SO good.

Mix in flour, salt (if you're using it) and pecans.

This is where I also like to play with substitutions. Mini-chocolate chips work GREAT! I've been known to use rainbow sprinkles for colorful fun.



And this year I bought these.

Oh my stars.  I am going to have to find lots of excuses to bake with these babies!


So you roll them into little balls and bake at 400 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes. As soon as you take them out, you (carefully) roll the hot cookies in the powdered sugar. Once they've cooled, you roll them again.

And then you have something pretty like this.

The Betty Crocker website has a cool adaptation where you basically create a solid chocolate middle. Check that out here. Chocolate-Filled Russian Tea Cakes

FoodGawker has an entire page on possible variations. Ahhhhh. So many pretty cookies.

Russian Tea Cakes


And now for the giveaway.

It's a year old, but I still have a few copies of Christmas in Hiding, so if you want in on the drawing, just let me know.  The heroine, Callie, LOVES everything Christmas, but it's hard to celebrate when you're running for your life! Fortunately, she has Jackson to help.