Frosting Friday

Happy Christmas Eve!

Here are a few Christmas themed goodies to enjoy!  The first treat was one I saw several weeks ago and knew I definitely needed to try it.  To make these colorful cupcakes all you need is a white cake mix and a jar of white icing.  Follow the directions on the box and divide the prepared cake mix into two equal parts, dye one set red and the other green.  Then bake in a cupcake tin, cool, cut in half, and layer with white icing.

As I'm sure many of you have seen on numerous baking blogs, a new fun creation is "cupcake in a jar."  Well I've been wanting to try this and thought these red and green cupcakes would be perfect to layer!  So here's my attempt at "cupcake in a jar."  

A view from the top...

Just layer the cupcake slices with icing in a mason jar, too cute!  I made treat baskets and added these, they made the baskets so colorful and festive!

I saw this recipe on the Tasty Kitchen blog on the Pioneer Woman website.  I make a similar version every year with saltine crackers but this recipe used graham crackers.  I think the graham crackers worked much better.  

Graham Cracker Cookie Bars

(I always called them toffee bars)

I topped my bars three different ways.  I topped a third of the bars with chopped heath bars....

Another portion with slivered almonds, and the last part with white chocolate chips.  I like the chopped heath bar the best!  These are a yummy toffee flavored treat.  Perfect for candy gifts.

And the famous Christmas treat (well, at least in my family) the HAYSTACK.  Every year my family is expecting their haystacks, its the most simple recipe and I know everyone has it perfected.  But I couldn't do a Christmas candy post and leave them out!

By the small chance that you don't know this recipe I'll include it...

Haystacks

1 small can cocktail peanuts

1 small can chow mien noodles

1 large package butterscotch morsels

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Melt butterscotch and oil in a microwave safe bowl on medium power in one minute intervals until completely melted, stirring between each interval.  Once melted, mix in noodles and peanuts, coating evenly.  Drop teaspoon size spoonfuls of the mixture onto wax paper.  Let cool and harden completely.  Store in an air tight container.

A cute way to package these is to use the can from the chow mien noodles.  Cover the can with scrapbook paper and stack it full of haystacks.  Tie a ribbon around the top and it makes a cute Christmas gift!

While I was baking and getting ready for Christmas I was able to finish my wrapping!  Love seeing all my gift giving in one spot, I can't wait to deliver all these presents.