I love cookies, baking, goodies during the holidays. Lots of fond memories surround those times in the kitchen while growing up.
One of the favorites that I usually do is peanut butter balls.
Peanut Butter Balls
Candy Ingredients:
3 sticks butter, melted
2 C peanut butter
2 boxes (2 lbs) powdered sugar
Mix in large bowl with hands until crumbly. Form into small balls. Place on tray covered with parchment/wax paper/aluminum foil.
Coating Ingredients:
1 large pkg chocolate chips
1/2 cake paraffin wax
Melt in double boiler. With toothpick, dip peanut butter balls in chocolate. Let cool. Store in air tight container.
Each year, my mom would make these to hand out to people at Christmas. One of the “rules” was that they gave back their original package (tin or other container) to be refilled. People loved it. Now, I often will make these to go along with a goody package for various people. Munchkin enjoys dipping them in the chocolate.
Another baking tradition in our home is monkey bread on Christmas morning. This is a tradition that started in my childhood and has carried over into my marriage. Growing up, my sister and I would help mom make monkey bread each Christmas morning. Now, Munchkin is helping me make monkey bread on Christmas morning. This year we’ll need to find a different way to make it as we can no longer use the prepackaged dough. Here’s the traditional recipe:
Monkey Bread
2 cans of buttermilk biscuits
Butter
Cinnamon Sugar mixture
Cut biscuits up into fourths. Rolls the pieces in butter, then cinnamon sugar. Place in baking dish (I like to use a bundt pan to make it a little more fancy; I’ve also used shaped cake pans). Continue doing this until you’ve used all of the biscuits. Cook according instructions on biscuit can.
Baking and cooking in the kitchen is a fun way to connect with family members during the holidays. If you do a little throughout the season, you won’t get stressed with too much baking. Many recipes can be frozen and taken out of the freezer as needed.
“When I pray, you answer me, and encourage me by giving me the strength I need.” Psalm 138:3
We LOVE monkey bread!! I guess we’ll have to make some now that you’ve got me thinking of it! 😀
Merry Christmas!
Two great recipes!
My MIL MAKE Peanut Butter Balls also. She brings us a big ziplock bag full of them they are gone with in 2 days. Also when I was a littler girl, my SS teacher make Monkey bread one Sunday. I have loved it ever so. Thank you for sharing. God Bless!
Yeah, I can see monkey bread like that would be hard if you’re gluten-free. Hopefully you can find a biscuit recpe that would work for you.
Karen
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/3rsandahug
Great recipes! Thanks for sharing.
Renee’
http://rmboys2.wordpress.com/
what sweet memories! I love that you are making the same ones with your dd!
Blessings!
Bobbi