Holiday Treats of the Season, for Gifts and At Home Celebrations

By Lisa Payne

Ceecee’s Christmas Crack Toffee

The name says it all for this one. You will not be able to stop eating it. It’s sweet and salty and takes only 15 minutes to make. My good friend Ceecee made this for her cookie exchange one year so I stuck her name in there to remind me that I owe all of my tastebud pleasure to her.

Ingredients:

• 50 saltine crackers

• 2 sticks salted butter, cubed

• 1 cup soft light brown sugar packed

• 2 cups chocolate chips (my favorite are Ghirardelli milk chocolate)

• ½ to 1 cup mini red and green M&Ms, chopped nuts or sliced almonds if desired. I don’t use any of these, but my kids like it with the M&Ms.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a large jelly roll pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray the liner with non-stick spray and then line the pan with saltine crackers.

2. Place the butter and sugar in a saucepan over low to medium-low heat. Stir until the butter is melted. Once the butter is melted, bring to a boil for 3 minutes stirring constantly.

3. Once it’s nice and bubbly and caramel color, remove pan from the heat and pour evenly over saltine crackers. Spread mixture with a knife. It does not have to be perfect. Move quickly during this process so the toffee does not harden on you.

4. Place pan in the oven and bake for 7-9 minutes. The mixture will spread evenly over the crackers as it bakes.

5. Remove the pan from the oven and cool slightly. Melt the chocolate and then pour over the top with a spatula. Sprinkle with the topping of your choice and freeze for 15 minutes. Once the chocolate has hardened, break the pieces off the foil or parchment and place in a container. Will stay fresh for 1-2 weeks.

Cinnamon Christmas Bread

I love this Cinnamon Christmas Bread recipe adapted from the Julie Blanner blog. I make this to gift friends and neighbors. They always want the recipe so here it is – let me know what you think! Makes 2 loaves of bread. Buy disposable pans to bake them in, if gifting.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar

• 4 cups flour

• 2 Tbsp. baking powder

• 1 tsp. salt

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup whole milk

• 2/3 cup vegetable or canola oil

Topping:

• 1 ½ Tbsp. cinnamon

• 2/3 cup sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease two loaf pans

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl or mixer, beat eggs, milk, and oil.

4. Gradually add dry mixture to wet until moist.

5. Pour mixture an inch below the top of the loaf pan to compensate for the rise.

6. Combine topping, spoon on each loaf and swirl in with a knife, leaving some on top.

7. Bake 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.