This year we had so much Halloween candy that the kids still haven't finished it. But then again we still have some Easter candy....
A friend recently told just to let them pig out for a day or two and then they won't want anymore. I sure don't know what to think about that philosophy! Anybody else tried it?
Now it's time to think about stockings and every year I buy special candy to go inside. And every year we still have Christmas candy come Spring. Well not this year!
This year I am not buying ANY Christmas candy!!! I know what you're thinking; those poor mistreated kiddos. HA! Not a chance!
I am making all homemade treats and a few toys for their stockings this year. And trust me these are simple to put together, because if they weren't, I wouldn't be doing it.
#1 - Turtles
These are the perfect combination of sweet & salty, chewy and crunchy!
Ingredients:
Small pretzels in shape of circle, square or regular
Rolos
Pecans
Place pretzels on cookie sheet- can be lined w/ parchment paper for quick cleanup.
Place a rolo on each pretzel. Melt in over at 350* for about 3 minutes, don't go to long or you'll have a mess!
Remove from oven and quickly press 1 pecan into each slightly melted rolo.
Chill (or in my case, put it out in the garage where it's refrigerator temp already)
Enjoy!!
I will be putting these in some cute holiday bags I got from the dollar store.
These don't last long in my house; I make sure to hide a batch so that they last till Christmas!!
#2 - Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks
My kiddos LOVE marshmallows in their hot chocolate so this is bound to be a hit!
Ingredients:
Mashmallows
Chocolate chips
Candy canes or peppermints, crushed
Coffee straws or craft sticks
Here is a great tutorial on how to make these!
#3 - Popcorn Balls
These are a yearly tradition in my mom's house! She used to make these for all our friends and neighbors at Christmas time. I am hoping to carry on that tradition this year with my little ones!
Ingredients:
Approx. 9 cups Air popped popcorn - this is my popper
1/2 cup Jello (small box) - my favorites are Lime and Cherry
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup white Karo syrup
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter
In microwave safe bowl (a large one) boil to soft stage, about 7 min. Stir every couple minutes. You may want a lid as this can sometimes bubble up over the edge.
Mix with popcorn. Rub some butter on hands, work popcorn into balls. Be careful, mixture is hot!
Wrap in plastic or sandwich bags to store.
#4 - Chex Mix
I make just the regular ol Chex Mix! It is my family's all-time favorite.
Ingredients:
3 cups each - rice, corn, wheat chex
1 cup nuts, whatever you like. I used dry roasted peanuts
1 cup bite-sized pretzels or sticks
6 T butter
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt (optional) I don't put this in anymore and it's still quite tasty
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
Heat oven to 250*; melt butter in large roasting pan. Stir in seasonings and sauce. Add chex, nuts and pretzels. Stir until coated. Heat in oven 45 min- stirring every 15min. Cool on paper towels; store in airtight container.
Variations to this recipe are endless! Put in whatever sounds good to you! There are also recipes for sweet mixes such as Muddy Buddies and Peppermint Puppy Chow.
#5 - Peppermint Pretzels
These could be made with white or dark chocolate - I plan on doing some of both!
Dark Chocolate recipe
White Chocolate recipe
And these will be wrapped up in those decorative treat bags from the dollar store too!
#6 - Candy Cane Reindeer
Just a candy cane and a few crafting supplies and you've got yourself a treat that doubles as a toy! And just think how adorable these little guys will look peeking out of the stockings!
This one is super simple!
Check it out here.
#7 - Clothes Pin Airplane or Butterfly
Now, obviously this one isn't a treat but rather a fun homemade toy that kids could help make or even use as an ornament on the tree.
These may seem a little more time consuming but the look on a kids face when they receive this gift is so worth it! And they really don't take that long to make!
Airplane Tutorial
Butterfly Tutorial
And here's another one - An Ant! So many possibilities!
Another easy idea is to double (or triple!) each recipe of these treats and fix up a little plate for friends and family! Enjoy!
Happy Holidays!
MadCounty Mama
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