As the holiday season rolls in, so does the craving for those traditional sweets that are closely associated with them. These three holiday treats are fairly easy to make and delicious to eat. These nostalgic recipes are sure to bring in the holiday spirit.

Peppermint Bark

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Peppermint bark

You can’t taste peppermint bark without immediately thinking of Christmas. With only three ingredients needed, this delicious treat is extremely simple and easy to make. The thin layers of dark and white chocolate with crisp peppermints sprinkled over the top make a great treat for the season. 

Ingredients:

• Two 6 oz bag of dark chocolate chips
• Two 6 oz bags of white chocolate chips
• A hand full of peppermints

1. To start, you will need a double boiler. If you don’t have one you can put a heat proof bowl over a boiling pot of water. 
2. Next, pour the first bag of white chocolate chips into the bowl or double boiler. Stir until the chips are fully melted. 
3. Pour the melted white chocolate into a 12×7 non stick pan. Spread a smooth, even layer. Wait 15-25 minutes for the layer to cool. 
4. For the next layer, melt down the dark chocolate. Pour this layer over the first layer of white chocolate and again, spread the chocolate until there is an even layer. This layer may take a little longer to cool. Let this layer sit for 30-40 minutes.
5. While the dark chocolate layer cools, unwrap and place peppermints into a ziploc bag. Then use a rolling pin to crush peppermints into small pieces and set them aside for later.
6.  For the final layer, melt the last bag of white chocolate chips and pour on top of the dark chocolate layer. 
7. Before this layer cools, take the crushed peppermint and sprinkle evenly over the chocolate. Tap the tray on the counter a few times to make sure they stick.
8. Let the chocolate cool for 15-25 minutes.
9. Finally, pop the chocolate out of the tray and break it up it to pieces.

Apple Pie

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Apple pie

Apple pie is a treat that many people eat year round, but the holidays are as good of an excuse as any to make it. This is a very common desert and from the flaky crust to the sweet filling it’s easy to see why this pie is a classic.

Crust:

• 1 ¼ cups of flour
• ¼ Teaspoon of salt
• ⅓ cup of shortening
• 4-5 tablespoons of water

1. To make the bottom crust: first combine flour and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Next, add shortening using a fork or cutter until the mixture is crumbled.
3. Add water one teaspoon at a time until dough is a play-doh like consistency.
4. Sprinkle flour on your surface, rolling pin and hands.
5. Roll dough out until it is about 12 inches long in diameter.
6. To make putting the crust in the pan easier, wrap the dough around the rolling pin then unroll over the tin.
7. Repeat for top crust.

Filling:

• 4-5 cups apples
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of flour
• Two teaspoons of cinnamon
• Tablespoon of lemon juice

1. To make the filling, first peel and slice the apples.
2. Next: combine apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon and lemon juice.
3. Pour the filling in the pie crust.
4. Place the top crust over the filling.
5. Trim the side of the crust to make it more even.
6. Pinch the edge of the bottom and top crust together using your finger or a fork.
7. Cut four one inch slits in the top of the pie.

Toffee

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Toffee before it is cooled.

Toffee is a common holiday treat that many people eat but not many know how to make. This sweet is probably the most difficult to make on this list, but the end result is well worth it.

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks of real butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• ¼ cup of water
• ½ cup of chopped almonds
• 6 oz. bag of chocolate chips

1. Combine sugar, butter and water in a small saucepan on medium low heat.
2. Stir until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.
3. Bring to a boil.
4. If a candy thermometer is available let mixture come to 300 degrees fahrenheit.
5. Cook until mixture is dark brown or begins to smoke.
6. Turn off heat and add almonds to the mixture.
7. Pour into a non stick pan or line pan with parchment paper and spread evenly.
8. Before the mixture cools, sprinkle the desired amount of chocolate chips on top.
9. When the chips melt use a spatula to spread an even layer.
10. Allow mixture to harden and cool.
11. Once cool, pop the toffee out of the tray and break into pieces.