Deserts

Homemade Marshmallow Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.

With a sieve, generously dust an 8 by 12-inch nonmetal baking dish with confectioners' sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top, and dust with more confectioners' sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out.

Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. Dust them with more confectioners' sugar.
From: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-marshmallows-recipe/index.html

Classic Cocoa

Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup powdered milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions:

1. Layer sugar, cocoa powder, powdered milk, salt, chocolate chips, and marshmallows.

2. On the back of the tag, write: "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in airtight container."

This mix will fill a 1-quart jar (12 servings)

From: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-cocoa-10000001011198/

Peppermint Stick Cocoa

Ingredients:
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar

Click to see savings

1/2 teaspoon salt

Click to see savings

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

Directions:

1. Layer powdered milk, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, chocolate chips, and peppermint candy.

Note:

This mix will fill a 1-quart jar (12 servings), but if your containers are different sizes, just keep the ratio of ingredients constant. On the back of the tag, write: "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in airtight container."
From: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/peppermint-stick-cocoa-10000001011199/

Toffee Blondies

For the jar:

1 cup brown sugar1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup Heath Chips
1 quart size mason jar

To make the Toffee Blondies:

the contents of the jar
1/4 cup melted butter
2 lightly beaten eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Layer the brown sugar, chocolate chips, flour, baking powder, salt, Heath chips, and pecans. I used a 1/4 cup measure to get the contents in jar. Try to level out the ingredients a little better than I did. You want it to look pretty. It is a gift after all.
To make the Toffee Blondies, melt some butter in a bowl. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla.
Pour in the contents of the jar. Even that looks pretty doesn’t it?
Mix it all up.
Pour the batter in an 8x8x2 pan coated with cooking spray. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the blondies are set and start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool in the pan and cut into 16 bars.
OMG. Those look pretty delicious.
This is what I used to package the jars. I printed the recipe cards out on white card stock and cut them out using my paper cuter. I tied the card to the jar with bakery wine. That. was. it. Two minutes tops.
Seriously cute huh?

From: http://bakedbree.com/toffee-blondies-week-4-of-12-weeks-of-cookies





Cowgirl Cookies

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Stir all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Add

1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. You may even need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.

Then roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. I got about 26-28 cookies out of these.

Here’s how they came out.

Pretty and tasty. But I still want to try the other mixes later, and if one tastes better I’ll make sure and update the recipe. Besides, I want to know how long these will last in jars. Any ideas?

Want to make some cute cookie mix gifts, too? Here’s how.

Start with a 1 quart smooth Ball jar. I found these at Hobby Lobby craft store.

Layer the ingredients in like this:

First: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Second: oats
Third: m&ms
Fourth: chocolate chips
Fifth: brown sugar
Sixth: white sugar
Seventh: chopped pecans

Pack each level down really tightly. I mean it. Pack it in. Or else it won’t all fit. Also, I added the chopped pecans last, because if the ingredients were too much or not enough, then I could add more or less pecans to adjust. I’d rather sacrifice nuts than chocolate, you know. The ingredients should be flush to the top of the lid when you seal it up.

See. There’s some of the pecans peeking out from under the fabric.

To decorate the top of the jars, get a spool of suede cord and some fabric. I really wanted to find some pink western bandana fabric, but this will do.
Anyway, cut the fabric into 6 inch squares and the suede into 25 inch pieces. Place the fabric on top and tie ribbons around the lid to hold it in place.

For the labels, you’ll need some card stock, a paper punch and double-sided tape.

You can use the pink labels I made if you want. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE.

From:  http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/

Yummy Looking Deserts!