FOOD
Baking
Spirits Bright
SHORTCUT CHRISTMAS TOFFEE 50 saltine crackers 1 cup salted butter, cut into cubes 1 cup light brown sugar 2 cups chocolate chips 1 cup red, green, and white M&Ms Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a large jelly-roll pan with foil, and spray with cooking spray. Line pan with saltine crackers, breaking some in half to fill pan, if necessary. Combine cubed butter and brown sugar in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until butter melts and mixture is wellcombined. Bring to a boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Once bubbling and caramel-colored, remove saucepan from heat, and pour butterbrown sugar mixture evenly over crackers. Spread mixture evenly with a rubber spatula. Bake crackers 7 to 9 minutes. Remove crackers from oven and sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips. Allow to soften and spread evenly. Sprinkle M&Ms on top of chocolate, and place pan in freezer 10 to 15 minutes or until chocolate hardens. Break crackers into pieces. Package individual amounts in clear cellophane bags for gifting, or store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks. FESTIVE MUG CAKES ½ cup cake mix (Tip: Be extra-festive with a Funfetti Holiday Cake Mix) 1 egg 1 tablespoon oil 3 tablespoons cold milk Vanilla frosting Chocolate candies or crushed peppermint Spray the inside of a microwave-safe mug with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine cake mix, egg, oil, 28 Bham Family December 2021
PHOTOGRAPH BY MATHILDE LANGEVIN FOR
and milk, stirring until combined. (Mixture will be a little lumpy.) Pour cake mixture into mug, filling about onethird full. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Let sit for 1 minute; microwave an additional 30 seconds if necessary. Allow cake to cool for 5 minutes. Place frosting in a zip-top plastic bag, and snip off end of one corner. Pipe frosting onto cooled cake. Sprinkle with candies or peppermint. CHRISTMAS TREE BROWNIES Brownies Peppermint sticks, if desired Green frosting Sprinkles Prepare your favorite brownie recipe, and cut cooled brownies into triangles. If you want to add tree trunks, push a peppermint sticks into bottom of each triangle, like you would a lollipop. Place frosting in a zip-top plastic bag, and snip off end of one corner. Pipe frosting onto brownie triangles, starting at top of each triangle and going down in a zigzag shape. Sprinkle frosting with your favorite sprinkles. Place a star sprinkle at top of each “tree.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
