Check out this list of easy holiday treats you can tackle in between bouts of draping tinsel!
Wassail
Wassail is a traditional holiday drink that makes an excellent addition to an all-ages party because it doesn't have to contain alcohol. Before you skip right past this section—Wassail can be altered to your specific preferences, but the easy base remains the same.
Take four cups of orange juice, six cups of apple juice, and two cups of pineapple juice and bring them to a simmer in a large stockpot. Then add in cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to your taste.
We recommend taking a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a few cinnamon sticks, a teaspoon of clove, and a quarter teaspoon of nutmeg.
Double or triple the batch depending on the number of thirsty party-goers, and add orange and apple slices for presentation and flavor. Simmer on low for as long as you’d like. Almost as good as the taste of this citrus holiday drink? How great it makes your home smell while you're making it!
Have a little (or a lot) of extra time before the holiday party starts? Give mug making a try and craft custom Christmas mugs your guests can take home as a party favor.
Snowman Snacks
Keep up the winter wonderland cheer in your kitchen with this easy holiday snack. You will need a crockpot, six ounces of vanilla almond bark, a funfetti cake mix and six cups of Honey Nut Cheerios.
To start, melt the almond bark in the crockpot on low. Don't cook the bark on high or it will burn. After the bark is melted, stir in the Cheerios and let it sit for three or four minutes. Then sprinkle the box of cake mix over top and mix.
Place the mixture on a cookie sheet to cool and let cool for an hour or two before serving. You can store this simple snack in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Watching almond bark melt as slow as watching the snow melt? Jazz up your mantle with holiday decor while you wait for things to heat up and melt down in the kitchen.
Grinch Kebabs
Pleasing a party of kids has never been easier. While you’re making your weekly grocery trip, grab strawberries, bananas, and green grapes, as well as a pack of wooden skewers. Take the skewers and cut them in half or thirds or, if you'd rather, use a pack of long toothpicks instead.
Once you have your sticks ready, cut the tops off of the strawberries and slice the bananas into half-inch slices. Then it’s time to assemble your Grinch kebabs.
Take a green grape and slide it vertically down the toothpick or skewer. Then slide a banana slice on, followed by the strawberry. The strawberry should look like the top of a Santa hat with the pointy end at the top.
If you’re looking to score a few extra points with your sweet-toothed guests, add a mini marshmallow to the top of the Grinch’s Santa hat to complete the look with a little sugar.
After the Grinch is all green and assembled, head to the yard and add a little Christmas cheer to your lawn with a few easy Christmas lawn DIYs.
Dipped Pretzels
Dipped pretzels are an easy, festive treat. Start by gathering your ingredients—you'll need pretzels (squares, rods, traditional or all of the above) and either a creamy mustard for savory snack, or chocolate (white, dark, and milk) for a sweet, indulgent offering.
If you take the dessert rout, you can use crushed candy, colorful sprinkles, or anything else you can think of as toppings.
Warm the dipping chocolate in separate bowls. If you don't use a double boiler to warm it on the stove, pay close attention and stir frequently. While chocolate can be melted in the microwave, it can also be very easily burned.
As you melt your chocolate, consider adding a teaspoon of coconut oil to the mixes. This won’t alter the flavor, but it will change the consistency and make the chocolate easier to work with.
After you've melted the chocolate, you can dip and drizzle different kinds of chocolate or mix it up however you choose. After you dip, lay the pretzels evenly spaced on parchment or wax paper. As the chocolate begins to dry, sprinkle a few of your favorite toppings on the pretzels.
The best time to add toppings is about a minute after the pretzels have been dipped—before the chocolate begins to cool and harden too much. Have fun customizing this treat and coming up with your own flavor combos.