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Let's be honest—most of us don't have the time to make a Pinterest-perfect gingerbread house. I'd love to, but I am stressed just thinking about the construction of those cookie walls and the sticky mess in the kitchen. Let's just say I'm still having flashbacks from previous Christmas baking projects. Instead, I will be keeping it simple this year, with easy festive treats that are kid-proof and won't have me reaching for extra eggnog.
5-Ingredient Peppermint Bark
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This amazingly easy bark has the elegance of the store-bought stuff.
Mini Strawberry Santas
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These festive strawberry treats are the cutest little Santas ever. They'll take you just minutes to make, and everyone will love eating them.
Reindeer Cookies
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Oh, pretzels, where would we be without you? You taste great, and you also make cookies look like reindeers!
Grinch Kabobs
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These fresh fruit treats are the perfect healthy snack for the little ones during the holidays. They're delicious served with a little chocolate sauce on the side.
Chocolate Pretzels
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Pretzels save Christmas again. This recipe is so simple, the kids can help out. Just try to resist eating them all as you make them!
White Chocolate Covered Pretzels
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Let it snow with sweetness when you make these easy dipped pretzels. Before the chocolate hardens, you can top them with red and green sprinkles for a classic Christmas color scheme. To make these even easier, dip pretzel sticks about halfway into the melted chocolate and add sprinkles to make wands!
Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies
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Add a little green coloring to your cornflake treats to make these mini Christmas wreaths. Add some red hot candy ornaments to make them extra festive! You could also make these into one large wreath for an impressive presentation.
Candy Cane Cocoa
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Christmas cuteness in a warm and cozy cup of cocoa, topped with whipped cream and embellished with crushed candy cane.
Holiday White Chocolate Popcorn
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Popcorn is one of the greatest snacks ever made, so why not put it to use during the holidays? This is a very simple and delicious recipe.
Candy Cane Cookies
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A great peppermint flavored cookie that's Santa approved! A sweet, vibrantly colored twist on a traditional sugar cookie.
Hard Rock Candy
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Spicy, cinnamon-flavored hard candy. Wrap pieces of it in decorative bags for perfect stocking stuffers. You can vary the flavor by substituting lemon, orange, anise, or other oils.
Butter Snow Flakes
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A wonderful Spritz cookie recipe with a touch of cinnamon— These are simple, elegant, and freezer-friendly for make-ahead holiday menus.
Christmas Santa Cupcakes
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Children love these easy-to-assemble cupcakes decorated as little Santas. Make the holidays special for the little ones by using candy appliqués to bring Santa Claus to life!
Sugar Cookie Icing
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A must-have in your holiday baking arsenal. This icing dries hard and shiny, while the colors stay bright. Choose as many different food colorings as you desire.
Christmas Reindeer Cupcakes
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Turn ordinary cupcakes into reindeer cupcakes with just a few easy moves. Watch the video to see how it's done, and get more ideas for decorating Christmas cupcakes.