by Bethany Harvey

Created on: December 07, 2007

Ah, Christmas desserts! What comes to mind but soft cut-out cookies with lots of frosting, Gooey fudge thick with chocolate, or melt in your mouth peppermint bark. I make all of these and more with my children each year. With lips smacking and fingers licked we manage to save some to share with family and friends. Here are my favorite and best for you to try and share.

*Christmas sugar cut-outs*

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees or you can chill dough for up to 3 days*

Ingredients:

2 large eggs
1 can evaporated milk ( 12 oz size)-not sweetened condensed
vinegar-white
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
5 -7 cups flour
2 cups granulated sugar
dash of cinnamon
1 cup butter ( 2 sticks) softened-no substitutes

1. Pour milk into a large glass measuring bowl. The amount should measure 1 & 1/2 cups. If not- add enough water to make 1 & 1/2 cups. Let sit at room temp. or put into microwave til slightly warm. Add 1/4 cup vinegar. Let sit to thicken ( about 10 min.)

2. Combine butter and sugar together until well blended. Add the eggs and mix well. Add vanilla. Stir.

3. Add 1 tsp of baking soda to milk and vinegar mixture. Stir slightly. It should foam up. Add to egg mixture and mix well.

4. Add 2 cups of the flour and mix well. Then add 5 more cups of flour. Mix well. Dough will be very sticky.

5 At this point you can chill dough or use it right away. If chilling dough cover well and refrigerate up to three days or freeze for one month for best results. If using right away heat oven to 350 degrees. Use enough flour to roll dough so as to not stick to rolling pin or table. Use any cutter you wish.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes just til set and lightly brown on the bottom. Do not over bake. May be less in some ovens.

7. Cool and frost with favorite frosting and decorate with favorite sprinkles or candy.

*Easy Fudge*

2 bags Chocolate chips ( 12 oz. size)-1 semi sweet and 1 milk chocolate
1 tsp vanilla
1 can sweetened condensed milk

optional-
colored sprinkles
walnuts or other favorites

Grease a 8 or 9 inch pan ( any type) with butter

In a microwave safe bowl pour in 1 bag of semi sweet chips and a 1/2 bag of milk chocolate chips. Add the milk. Stir to coat the chips and microwave on high til the chips start to melt-about 1 - 2 minutes depending on your oven. Take out and stir. Chips should be soft and gooey. If not, return to microwave for another minute or less. Watch to not over cook. You do not want to boil this mixture. Chips do not need to melt completely. Add vanilla, stir. Add nuts if desired. Pour into pan and gently press sprinkles on top, if desired. Cover and let cool.

*Peppermint Bark*

2 bags white chocolate chips
1 tsp. peppermint extract
candy canes 3 or 4 smashed into small pieces.

1.Grease a cookie sheet with butter and set aside.

2.Put the candy canes into a heavy ziploc baggie and seal. Take a heavy object such as a rolling pin and smash them into Small pieces. Set aside.

3.Pour the chips into a microwave safe bowl and heat till gooey and melted about 2 minutes being careful to not boil them. Add the 1 tsp peppermint extract and stir. Add 1/2 of the smashed candy canes. Stir. If chips are not melted heat 1 more minute and stir.

4.Spread into the greased pan and press the rest of the crushed candy into the top. Cover and cool. When cool break into pieces and store in a ziploc baggie and enjoy

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