Festive Caramel Bars

This recipe is from my mom's collection of holiday sweets and treats. She usually likes to make caramel bars, but this year we made these Festive Caramel Bars. 

Festive Caramel Bars

Cook Time: 30-35 min

Total Time: 50 min

Ingredients

• 32 individual wrapped caramels
• 2/3 c evaporated milk
• 1/2 c margarine, melted
• 1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 c uncooked quick oats
• 1 2/3 c (10 oz pkg) Nestlé Toll House® Holiday Morsels
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 c flour

Baking Instructions

1. Combine caramels and evaporated milk in heavy saucepan; cook over low heat. Stir occasionally until caramels are melted and mixture is blended.
2. Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Add the melted margarine, mixing until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup top layer. 
3. Press remaining mixture onto bottom of greased 9 x 13-in baking pan. Bake at 375° F for 10 min.
4. Sprinkle 1 cup of holiday morsels over partially baked crust. Drizzle melted caramel mixture over morsels. Sprinkle over reserved crumb mixture and remaining holiday morsels on top. 
5. Continue baking 20-25 min or until golden brown.
6. Cool slightly; chill for 30 min. Cut into bars. 

Chocolate Peanut Bark

Chocolate Peanut Bark

Easy chocolate treat to make for any occasion!

Prep Time: 10 min

Total Time: 30 min

Ingredients

• 1 pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 jar of unsalted dry roasted peanuts (16 oz)

Baking Instructions

1. Line cookie sheet with wax paper. 
2. Pour unsalted dry roasted peanuts onto lined cookie sheet. Spread out evenly.
3. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 to 60 second intervals, stirring each time until morsels are evenly melted.
4. Pour melted chocolate onto peanuts. Let chocolate peanut bark cool on cookie sheet for 5 min. 
5. Place cookie sheet into the refrigerator for chocolate to settle for about 15-20 min.
6. For serving, break chocolate peanut bark into individual-sized pieces.

Simple Holiday Hershey Kisses Tarts

 

Simple Holiday Hershey Kisses Tarts is my festive variation on my mom's Simple Fudge Tarts recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens 100 Best Cookies (2006). We had a handful of Hershey's Kisses, a bag of holiday M&M's, and some Betty Crocker cookie mixes leftover from baking our other cookie exchange cookies, so I decided to combine these ingredients and create something to fill the open space on our dessert tray.

Simple Holiday Hershey Kisses Tarts

A simple fudge tart made with holiday Hershey's Kisses, M&M's, and a whole lotta love!

Prep Time: 30 min

Total Time: 1 hr 20 min

Serves: 36 holiday tarts

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® chocolate chip cookie mix
• 1/2 c butter or margarine, softened
• 1 egg
• 36 Hershey's Kisses candies, unwrapped (I used Hershey's Kisses Candy Cane and Dark Chocolates filled with Mint Truffle)
• 1 c of M&M's® Mint Chocolate Candies
• 1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional topping)

Baking Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Spray mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Make chocolate chip cookie dough as directed on package, using butter and egg. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place 1 ball into each muffin cup.
3. Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven; firmly press 1 Hershey Kiss candy into the center of each cookie. Let the candy settle for a couple of minutes. Top each with 3 M&M's. Cool for 20 minutes. Loosen edges of cookie with a fork and remove to cooling racks.

Optional: Place chocolate chips in a small microwaveable bowl. Microwave for about . Scoop melted chocolate into a resealable plastic bag and cut off a tiny corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over the holiday tarts. Let stand for about 10 minutes or until hardened.