C2C - DIY Cute Christmas Treats

Hi everybody!!!!!!!!!!!

I am really really starting to get into the holiday spirits now because I was just walking on the streets and I heard Christmas carols <3

Another thing is that today I will be sharing some easy DIY Christmas treats which I really love as well. Two of my favourite things, food and Christmas....... How lovely!!!

Right lets get on with it now....

Santa Hat Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients:-

• 18 or 1 3/4 cups oreos (finely crushed)
• 2 1/2 tbsp melted butter
• 8 oz, softened cream cheese
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp venilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup + 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 25 small strawberries 
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar

Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8 by 8 inch baking dish with two sheets of tinfoil. Make sure your sheets are long enough that you will have an overhang of foil over the edges of the pan. Brush the foil with 1/2 tbsp of melted butter.
2. In a mixing bowl, using a fork blend together crushed oreos and 2 tbsp melted butter until the mixture is well combined and evenly moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom o the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on medium-low speed, blend together cream cheese and granulated sugar  until mixture is smooth. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and mix until well blended. 
4. In a separate microwave safe bowl, heat the white chocolate chips with 1/3 sup of heavy cream in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth.
5. Pour the white chocolate mixture into cream cheese mixture and blend on low speed until combined. Pour mixture over prepared crust in baking dish.
6. Bake for 40 minutes then turn the oven off and without opening the oven door, allow cheesecake to rest for 15 minutes. Remove it from the oven and allow it to rest at room temperature for another 30 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and freeze or refrigerate for 3-6 hours.
7. Once the cheesecake is fully chilled and set, remove from freezer/refrigerator and lift the cake out of its pan using the foil overhang. Cut the cheesecake into squares.
8. In a mixing bowl, using an electric hand mixer set on high speed, whip remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form, then add powdered sugar and mix until soft peaks form.
9. Cut a flat top off of each strawberry and lay them flat side down over top of cheesecakes. Fill a pastry bad with sweetened whip cream and pipe around strawberry then finish with a small amour over the top of the "hat".

Reindeer Cupcakes

Ingredients:-

• Cupcake mix from the box
• Pretzels
• Chocolate frosting
• Nilla wafers
• M&Ms
• Any white candy

Method:-

1. Bake cupcakes of your choosing following the instructions from the box.
2. Frost with chocolate frosting
3. Top with pretzels for antlers, a Nilla wafer for the face, white candy for the eyes.
4. Dip your M&Ms or any round candy into your chocolate frosting for a brown nose and have a red candy for Rudolph's nose.

Peppermint Fudge Cupcake Jars

Cupcakes

Ingredients:-

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 oz dark/semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup + 3 tbsp butter cut into pieces
• 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 8oz wide mouth mason jars

Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each until melted and smooth, Set mixture aside and let cool for 10-15 minutes.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder,baking powder and salt. Using a wooden spoon, stir the sugar into the chocolate mixture until combined. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating with your spoon until combined after each addition and then beat in the vanilla. Gently fold in flour mixture. Be careful not to over mix.
3. Place the mason jar on a cookie sheet. Divide the mixture evenly among the 8 jars approximately until half full. Bake for 22-25 minutes until a cocktail stick inserted into the center of the jar comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
4. Remove form oven and carefully transfer jars to a cooling rack and cool until close to room temperature before topping with ganache.

Peppermint Ganache

Ingredients:-

• 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract

Method:-

1. Place chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat cream i microwave until bubbles for around the outside. Pour it over the chocolate chips and immediately cover the bowl with plastic wrap. 
2. Let it sit for 5 minutes then add peppermint extract and then whisk until smooth. Let it cool until thickened slightly,
3. Pour 1 1/2 - 2 tbsp of ganache over the top of each cupcake jar.

Frosting

Ingredients:-

• 3 tbsp flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• Crushed candy canes

Method:-

1. Whisk together the flour and milk. Heat in a small sauce pan on medium heat. Whisk cautiously until it starts to thicken. Let it cook while stirring until it is a paste-like consistency.
2. Put this mixture in the fridge to cool completely.
3. In a electric mixer, beat the butter and the sugar until combined and fluffy. While beating, add in the thickened milk mixture and the peppermint extract. Beat to combine then scrape down the sides.
4. Continue to beat on medium-high heat until it becomes light and fluffy.
5. Pipe the frosting on each jar and sprinkle on some crushed candy canes.

You can also tie a ribbon on the mason jars and it can act as a beautiful gift as well for family or friends.

Strawberry Christmas Tree

Ingredients:-

• 13"styrofoam tree
• 8" cardboard cake round
• 3 one pound cartons of strawberries
• 2 packets of chocolate, melted
• Waxed paper
• Tape

Method:-

1. Cover the tree with waxed paper. Tuck in the ends and tape to secure it to the cone. Use melted chocolate to stick the tree to the base,
2. Remove the greenery of the strawberry leaving you with a flat surface.
3. Dip the flat parts of the strawberries into some melted chocolate and place them on the tree starting from the bottom and working your way to the top - if you can find different sized strawberries, place the big ones at the bottom and small ones at the top
4. Scoop the melted chocolate into a small plastic bad and snip off the tiniest hole in one corner. Pipe out a few stars on a piece of wax paper and pop them in the fridge until they are hardened. Use a little more chocolate to place the stars at the top of your tree.

This will look stunning if you are hosting a party or having friends and family over. It is really eye-catching but so easy to do!

Eggnog Cookies

Cookies

Ingredients:-

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp rum extract
• 1/2 cup eggnog

Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt nutmeg and cinnamon for 30 seconds and set it aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, whip together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until pale and fluffy. Mix in egg yolks one at a time, blending just until combined after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract, rum extract and egg nog. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
3. Scoop dough out by the heaping tablespoonfuls and drop onto parchment paper lined baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Allow to rest on baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Frosting

Ingredients:-

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 3-5 tbsp eggnog
• 1/2 tsp rum extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar

Method:-

1. Using an electric mixer, whip butter until very pale and fluffy. Add in rum extract and 3 tbsp of eggnog and mix in powdered sugar. Add additional eggnog to reach desired consistency.
2. When the cookies are cooled completely, frost with eggnog frosting and sprinkle tops lightly with nutmeg.

And that was 5 amazing DIY Christmas treats perfect for the holiday season, super festive, really easy to do and something that everyone will love. I hope this has helped give you a couple of ideas of what to make in the kitchen this festive season.

Feel free to comment below sharing your favourite Christmas treats and don't forget to look out for tomorrow's Countdown2Christmas blogpost! I promise it will be a good one!

Merry Christmas, xx

Twitter: @jessieashleyyy

Instagram: @fashionjessieee

Email: jessicashleyyy@gmail.com