Candy Cane Cookies and White Hot Chocolate

Welcome to the 4th post in We Grow By Our Dreams' Red and White Week. Today, I bring you two treats and a couple of fun red and white thrifted finds.

Candy Cane Puffs

I adapted the recipe from the Gooseberry Patch cookbook entitled, "Jolly Holidays."  

You will need:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla (and peppermint extract if you have it)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 oz. white chocolate

1/2 cups crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and extract(s.) Mix in flour and salt using low speed. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. 

Shape dough into walnut-size balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool.

Melt white chocolate ; dip cookies into melted chocolate. Roll in crushed candy canes; set on wax or parchment paper to harden.

White Hot Chocolate

This is a great Better Homes and Garden recipe.

You'll need:

3 cups half-and-half

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 stick of cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

optional-whipping cream

Combine 1/4 cup of the half-and-half, white chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium saucepan; whisk over low heat until white chocolate is melted. Remove cinnamon stick.

Add remaining half-and-half. Whisk until heated through. Turn off heat and stir in vanilla and almond extract. Serve warm in mugs and top with whipping cream if desired.

I bought the cute red and white plate and mug at my favorite thrift store-The Assistance League Thrift Store in Huntington Beach. You might actually see me if you go. I volunteer there a couple times a month. All proceeds go to local philanthropic projects.

Thank you for visiting today. You may want to visit my other red and white posts from this week.

Check out the Curtain to Cute Apron Transformation and three candy cane treats using only three ingredients and the Homemade Gift Guide.