Easy Christmas Italian Sponge Cake

If you're looking for a delicious, yet light, dessert, you might include Italian Sponge Cake in your Christmas menu. By using our recipe you will be able to make this simple and easy cake in no time. It's light and easy, perfect for after those heavy holiday meals.

Ingredients:

• 5 eggs, separated
  
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
  
• 1 1/2 cups of cake flour
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
  

Cooking Instructions:

1. Beat eggs yolks and sugar in mixing bowl until lemon covered.
   
2. Slowly add sifted flour, blending in well.
   
3. Add vanilla and lemon rind.
   
4. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry, and fold into batter.
   
5. Pour batter into greased and floured 18" square pan.
   
6. Bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes.
   
7. Turn over on cake rack and cool.
   

Easy Christmas Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Christmas is the perfect time for making and giving all kinds of desserts and treat. Chocolate covered pretzels are loved by children and adults because of the salty and sweet combination. They are easy and cheap to make too.

Ingredients:

• Medium-size pretzels
• 1 package of mill chocolate morsels (11-1/2 ounces)
• 3-inch square of paraffin wax
• unsalted peanuts, finely chopped
• Colored Sprinkled
• Tongs
  

Directions for Making Chocolate Covered Pretzels:

1. Line a backing sheet with aluminum foil or wax paper.

2. Melt the chocolate morsels and wax slowly together over hot water. You could also melt them in the microwave on a medium setting, stirring every minute.

3. Once melted, stir the chocolate and wax together until it is smooth.

4. Dip pretzels into the chocolate/wax mixture using tongs.

5. Place on cookie sheet.

6. Let the chocolate cool slightly and then sprinkle the chocolate covered pretzels with fine crushed peanuts or colored sprinkles to give them added texture and fun appeal.

This recipe makes 3-1/2 to 4 dozen chocolate covered pretzels.

Easy Christmas Shortbread

Shortbread is named because of its crumbly texture (from an old meaning of the word short). The cause of this texture is its high fat content, provided by the butter.

Shortbread is traditionally formed into one of three shapes: one large circle, which is divided into segments as soon as it is taken out of the oven; individual round biscuits; or a thick oblong slab cut into "fingers."

Using a decorative shortbread pan produces shortbread that is delicious, flaky, delicate, and sophisticated. The ceramic shortbread pan makes heart-shaped pieces of shortbread, each featuring a flower or small berry.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1 stick butter
• 3/4 cup sugar

Cooking Instructions:

1. Let butter soften to room temperature.
2. Cut butter pieces into the flour with a fork in a large bowl. The result should be like fine breadcrumbs.
3. Mix in the sugar.
4. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8x8-inch round or square baking pan (or decorative shortbread pan) with butter and sprinkle with flour.
5. Press the mixture compactly into the bottom of the baking pan.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
7. Cut with a sharp knife into desired shapes while it is still warm and sprinkle the top with additional sugar.
8. Let it cool in the pan so it will not fall apart.

Easy Christmas Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 prepared pie shell
• 16 ounces canned pumpkin
• 1 cup sugar
• 5-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/3 cups milk
• 4 large eggs

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Combine pumpkin, cane sugar, spices and salt in a mixer bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Transfer to medium saucepan and simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.
4. Whisk in the milk and return briefly to simmer.
5. In separate small bowl, whisk the eggs together.
6. Return pumpkin mixture to mixer bowl and, with the mixer running on medium speed, add the eggs slowly.
7. Transfer mixture to pre-baked pie shell and bake on center rack for 25 minutes, or until the edges of the custard have cracked slightly and the center is set.

Tip: Cover edges of crust with strips of aluminum foil to prevent them from browning too much.

Cool pie on rack 1 hour before serving.

Easy Christmas Chocolate Turtles

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup evaporated canned milk
• 1-14 oz. package of caramels
• 2-1/2 cups pecan halves
• 1-12 oz. package milk chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup paraffin

Cooking Instructions:

1. Melt caramels and evaporated milk in a double boiler over low heat, stirring until creamy.
2. Stir in the pecan halves.
3. Spoon the caramel mixture onto a buttered or wax paper covered cookie sheet, making small piles.
4. Cool in the refrigerator.
5. Melt paraffin and milk chocolate chips in a double boiler until smooth.
6. Using tongs dip the caramel pecan pieces into the chocolate mixture one at a time.
7. Drop chocolate covered pieces onto wax paper.
8. Store turtles in a plastic container at room temperature.

These make a great holiday gift!

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What is paraffin wax and why is it in my chocolate candy recipe? Is it edible?

Answer: Paraffin wax, classified as a chemical preservative, is widely used on fruits, vegetables, and candy to make them shiny and pretty as well as to retard moisture loss and spoilage. Waxes are made from vegetable oils, palm oil derivatives, and synthetic resins, as well as other materials. Some people, notably those who are allergic to aspirin, may be sensitive to many waxes, depending on their ingredients.

Yes, it is edible. Paraffin wax is often added to chocolates. The addition of paraffin to the chocolate candy gives it a nice, glossy finish and helps it remain solid at room temperature. Be aware that paraffin is flammable when overheated, so warm it gently in a double-boiler or microwave only to the point where it is melted.

Where can I find it?

You can find paraffin wax, also sometimes called baker's wax or canning wax, in your grocery store where canning jars and supplies are sold. Paraffin is still commonly used (although not recommended) to seal home-canned jellies and jams. However, some paraffin is not intended to be ingested, such as that sold for candlemaking, so check the label.

Gulf Wax Paraseal Canning Wax, Household Paraffin Wax is a popular brand of paraffin used for canning and chocolate-making.

From: homecooking.about.com/od/cookingfaqs/f/faqparaffin.htm

Easy Christmas Whiskey Cake

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups seedless raisins
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons whiskey
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs, separated
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
• 1 cup nuts, chopped

Prep Instructions:

1. Combine raisins and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Cool and add whiskey.
3. Let stand overnight.

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cream butter with sugar, beating until fluffy.
2. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Drain liquid from raisins into a 1-cup measure. If there is not enough liquid to make a cup fill the rest with more whiskey.
5. To creamed mixture blend in dry ingredients and liquid, alternately, a third of each at a time blending well after each addition.
6. Stir in nuts, vanilla and raisins.
7. Beat egg whites until stiff.
8. Fold into batter.
9. Pour into two 9-inch cake pans.
10. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.
11. Cool and frost (optional)

Butter Cream Frosting for Whiskey Cake

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup soft butter or margarine
• 1 box powdered sugar
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 to 5 tablespoons whiskey

Instructions:

1. Cream butter with powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until spreading consistency.

Frosts two 9-inch layer cakes.

Easy Christmas Coconut Pie

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 1-1/2 cups coconut
• 9-inch unbaked pie shell
  

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Pour into the unbaked pie shell.
3. Bake in a 350° oven for 45 minutes or until set.
   

Easy Christmas Graham Cracker Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 cups graham crackers crumbs
  
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
  
• A pinch of cinnamon

Cooking Instructions:

1. Combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar in large bowl.
2. Stir in melted butter.
3. Pack mixture firmly into a 9-inch pie pan.
4. Chill for 1 hour.
5. Before filling bake in a 350° over for 5 minutes.

Cool, chill and fill.

Easy Christmas Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 slices bread, buttered and quartered

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla with a large spoon in a medium-size bowl until well blended.
2. Put mixture in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. Spread slices of buttered bread on top.
4. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and firm.

For a thicker pudding, add more bread. For more of a custard use less bread. Raisins may be added if desired.