Christmas Treats!
Who doesn't love Christmas treats? I love to inspire healthy living and live a healthy life but I also enjoy indulging in some treats at times too. I encourage balance. The 80/20 diet. Eat clean 80% of the time and save the 20% for special occasions, parties, holidays and vacations.
My mom and I host a weekly program called, Nite Line (Live with Mary & Toni). We recently shared some yummy treats on our Christmas Ladies Nite Line, A V.I.E.W. - A Vision In Every Woman. Many have asked for the recipes. These tasty treats hold nothing back! So get ready and if you are a clean eater, small bites are probably the best! We wish you a Merry Christmas!
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling.
Ingredients:
For the Whoopie Pies: 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 cup canola or vegetable oil 3 cups chilled pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin) 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Maple-Cream Cheese Filling: 3 cups powdered sugar 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 4 ounces (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature 3 tablespoons maple syrup
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, the dark brown sugar, and the oil together. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine thoroughly. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until completely combined.
5. Use a small cookie scoop or a large spoon to drop a rounded, heaping tablespoon of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, making sure that the cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cookie comes out clean. The cookies should be firm when touched. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack.
7. To make the filling, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth with no visible lumps, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, then add the maple syrup and vanilla and beat until smooth.
8. To assemble the whoopie pies: Turn half of the cooled cookies upside down. Pipe or spoon the filling (about a tablespoon) onto that half. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling. Press down slightly so that the filling spread to the edges of the cookie. Repeat until all the cookies are used. Put the whoopie pies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm before serving.
Christmas Peanut Butter Crunch
Ingredients:
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup of Clear Corn Syrup
6 Cups of Corn Flakes
Directions:
Mix the first 3 ingredients on stovetop on low until blended together. Add corn flakes slowly and mix until well coated. Lay on parchment paper to cool. Cut or tear apart and enjoy!
Sloan Date Nut Roll
Dry Ingredients:
1 Box of Graham Cracker Crumbs 13.5 oz.
(Save some of the crumbs for rolling the date nut roll)
8 oz. Dates (sugar coated)
¾ lb. Walnuts
¾ lb Pecans
16 oz. Red Cherries
(Save some of your cherry juice to pour in the mixture if needed)
16 oz. Green Cherries
Mix thoroughly all the above-dry ingredients in a large bowl (make sure you reserve some of your Graham Crackers Crumbs to use for rolling the mixture in.)
Liquid Ingredients:
1 Large pack of marshmallows 10 oz.
1 SMALL can of CAN MILK 5 oz
(You can also add a little sweetened condensed milk if you’d like)
Directions:
Mix liquid ingredients together in a double boiler on the stove or in the microwave until it melts together, stirring several times.
Pour over the dry ingredients as you are slowly stirr it all together.
On wax paper, pour some of your Graham Cracker Crumbs. Then take a portion of the mixture and begin to make an oblong roll. Turn it over several times to soak up the graham cracker crumbs.
Repeat the process until you have made 3 date nut rolls.
Wrap in Wax paper and place in the refrigerator for a few hours. Then cut and enjoy.
Notes: It may help to have an extra box of Graham Cracker Crumbs on hand for rolling. Don’t skimp on the cherries because so much flavor comes from the cherries.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
