Fab Five Friday: Holiday Treats

With holiday get togethers and parties upon us, I thought it would be a good time to share my five favorite holiday themed foods.  These are all quick and easy to put together, so you have plenty of time to party.

#1 Oreo Ornaments

For these, you need:

• White Oreo Cakesters 
• Red and green gel frosting
• Red, string licorice
• Lifesavers
• A little frosting

To make them, you simply loop the licorice and put through the hole in the lifesaver.  Then using a small amount of frosting, set the lifesaver on one outer side of the cakester.  Decorate as you please with the red and green gel frosting!

#2 Custard Filled Santa Hats

You will need:

• Prepared Jell-O Custard
• 2 sheets Puff Pastry, cut into triangles and baked according to package
• White Frosting
• Red Frosting
• Red Sprinkles

Put a dollop of custard on one side of a cooked puff pastry and place another puff pastry piece on top, so it's like a sandwich.  Frost the top with the red frosting and put red sprinkles on. Then put an edge of white frosting along the bottom and a dollop of white frosting on the tip.  

#3 Frosty Cheese Ball

What You'll Need:

• (2) 8 oz. boxes of plain cream cheese, warmed to room temperature
• 1 c. coarsely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 t. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 t. dried chives
• 1/4 c. Craisins
• 1/8 c. slivered almonds
• 1 baby carrot
• 2 raisins
• 5-6 craisins
• A piece of fabric for scarf
• Black Paper
• Piece of Cardboard
• Tape/Glue
• Foil
• Small, lightweight bowl
• Crackers

Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Worcestershire sauce, chives, craisins, and slivered almonds all together until well blended and form into ball.  Refrigerate for about a 1/2 hour and smooth the surface of the cream cheese.  Place carrot in middle, 2 raisins above for eyes, and the craisins to form a mouth.

Cut out a piece of cardboard in the shape of a circle wide enough to cover frosty's head.  Cover with foil and on one side glue a piece of black paper (this is the top, the foil will face down on the cheese ball).  Cut another piece of black paper wider then the bowl you will be using and wrap around bowl.  Secure with tape or glue.  Wrap scarf at base for decoration.

Set the cardboard circle down on the cheese ball and then place the covered bowl on top of the cardboard.  Fill with crackers.

#4 Holiday Hugs

What You'll Need:

• Small pretzels
• Peppermint Hershey kisses
• Holiday M&Ms

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  On a foil lined pan, place one kiss per pretzel.  Bake for 3-5 minutes, until kiss begins to melt.  Take out of oven and place one M&M on the top.  Let cool completely.

#5 Crescent Roll/Veggie Christmas Tree

What You'll Need:

• 1 roll of Pillsbury crescent rolls
• 1 - 8 oz. container veggie cream cheese, warmed to room temperature
• 1 T. milk
• Carrots
• Red pepper
• Broccoli
• Yellow Pepper
• Chopped nuts of your choice

Slice Pilsbury crescent rolls into 1/4" slices.  Place crescent rolls into tree shape and bake according to package directions.  While the tree is cooking, mix the cream cheese and milk together.  Let the rolls cool completely, spread with cream cheese mixture.

Cut a star out of the yellow pepper; slice the carrots into pieces along with the broccoli; and cut the red pepper into strips.  Decorate the tree with cut veggies and put nuts on the base of the tree.

Hope you enjoy all of these yummy, quick-to-make treats:)

Until Next Time!

Megan