Christmas baking {something for everyone}

Yesterday I attempted to do all of my Christmas baking.  This year, I'm not going as crazy as usual, and am making more more simple recipes and candies.  Coming back from Florida, it took me a while to get back into the Christmas spirit, and add in the tragedy last weekend in CT, this Christmas has felt a little different.

There was also an animated Christmas marathon on yesterday, so that hindered my progress a bit.

All in all, after finishing a couple of things this morning, I think I'm ready to put together cookie trays.  

Here's a rundown of this year's cookie tray: holiday pretzel rods, mint chocolate chip cookies, fudge, peppermint pretzel bites, sweet and salty bark, and Italian cookies.

Here are some photos of what I made and links to the recipes [sorry, I left my memory card at work, so big thanks to Photo Grid and my phone for all of these]:

Chocolate pretzel rods: this one is pretty self-explanatory.  The best way I found to dip the pretzels is to put the chocolate in a mug and just dip the pretzel into the rod so you can coat it more evenly.  Also, a shout-out to Angi for letting me in on the secret that white chocolate chips don't melt as well as bars.  Worked great this time, thanks, Angi!

Mint chocolate cookies and fudge [recipe soon, I promise!].

Peppermint pretzels: Thank you to Kristen for this one! Kisses [I used peppermint] on pretzels in a 170 degree oven for 7 minutes and press an MM into it as soon as they come out.  Put in freezer immediately. 

Sweet and Salty Bark is so easy.  Line a 13x9 cookie sheet with tin foil and saltines [do not crush]. Melt 2 sticks of butter and a cup of sugar in the microwave and boil for 1 minute.  Pour it over the top of the saltines.  Put in a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes.  Put 16 oz of chocolate chips on top of the bark and put back in oven for 1 minute.  Spread chips evenly over bark and put in fridge to cool.

Italian cookies:

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 teaspoons baking powder

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 350

- Cream butter and sugar, add eggs then vanilla

- Combine baking powder and flour

- Add two mixtures together

- Form into balls slightly larger than a quarter

- Bake for 10 minutes

- Cool and frost

- Frosting: 1 cup confectionary sugar, 1 tablespoon butter [melted], 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 cup milk, food coloring - combine all and mix!

All ready for cookie trays!