Christmas Recipes

You can help improve your child's reading comprehension by doing reading and following instructions. One great way to do that is to follow a recipe with your children. You may like to try a few of our Christmas recipes.

Gingerbread Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
4 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. soda
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp. ginger

Whip together shortening, sugar, and eggs until creamy. Add remaining ingredients. Blend well. Roll out on well-floured surface and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 375 for approx 10 min. or until edges are golden.

Brownies in a Jar

This is a great gift to give to your friends or neighbors. When preparing these "Brownies in a Jar," you may want to decorate the jar first. Then, you simply layer the ingredients carefully in a 1 quart jar. Afterward, you will need to make a note explaining the process for completing the brownies.

Carefully layer the following ingredients in a 1 quart jar, beginning with the sugar and continuing in order listed:

1 2/3 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup chocolate chip

Seal the jar with a lid. Punch a hole through your copy of the baking directions and attach them to the jar with ribbon or yarn. You can copy the instructions below or click here to bring up a "gift tag" with the instructions included.

Baking directions:

Empty jar ingredients into a large bowl. Melt 3/4 cup butter or margarine. Add melted margarine, 2 eggs, and 2 tsp. vanilla to brownie mix. Beat with mixer or stir well. (If batter is too thick, add 1-2 Tbsp. water.) Spread batter into 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted near edge comes out clean.

Pumpkin Bars

2 c ups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup canned pumpkin
4 eggs
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. ginger

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into greased 11 x 14 inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 350F for 25 to 28 minutes. Cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting (recipe below).

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients and beat well.

Original Chex® Party Mix
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces

Preparation Directions:
1. Heat oven to 250F. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated.
2. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container. Microwave Directions: In large microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

You can find other Chex Mix recipes on the Chex Website.