As years pass, the kids get older and my schedule fills and fills until it could burst, it’s no wonder that I rely on shortcuts in the kitchen. All year long I cherish those meals and recipes with only a few ingredients, and love baking when it can be done in no time flat.
This is especially true during the holidays, since added to my schedule is concerts, carolling, shopping, wrapping, entertaining and so much more. Each year I look at my Christmas to-do list, and contemplate crossing off holiday baking due to the {lack of} time. Yet I love the tradition of holiday baking and giving packaged treats as gifts, so instead I opt for just a few extremely easy recipes.
I recently got to participate in a fun outreach with Kraft Canada. Not only was I supplied with some ingredients to prepare a few recipes of my choice from DessertCentre.ca, yet the lovely and talented Red Deer natural lifestyle photographer, Amber Bourret came to over to capture it all.
To make it a fun family event, my Mother in Law {aka baker extraordinaire} came over as well. I thought it was a great excuse to bake with family and have photos of us both, for the kids to cherish one day. I know that years later, they will love seeing their Mom and Grandma bake together in the kitchen. Making Holiday Memories!
I have two recipes to highlight for you, so incredibly simple yet delicious – you’ll fall in love with holiday baking and not just the eating part {and I promise that you’ll have time to make them}.
First is the Salted Chocolate Covered Caramels. Take a peek at the recipe at the link, so easy I don’t even need to reiterate here. Simply dip Kraft Caramels into Bakers Chocolate and sprinkle with just a tiny bit of Sea Salt.
To make it easy, we used our Velata Warmer to melt the chocolate, and the fondue forks to dip the caramels in. You could also microwave the chocolate or melt using a double boiler. Either way, it’s very simple.
My tips would be to tap the fork/toothpick to get off excess chocolate before settling on wax paper to cool. One of the perks to using a melter for the chocolate, is that you can rest multiple caramels on the side and let them drip a bit without holding them. As well, don’t overdo it with the salt, a very very little goes a long way.
Next and I think my favorite recipe of the season {Yes!} is Two-layer Cookie Crunch Fudge. I’d never made fudge before, just assuming it would be very time consuming. Ahem, so wrong. At least with this recipe, I was shocked.
Again, just a few ingredients and little timing actually ‘making’ this dessert. Yet, the taste? Oh wow, I love chocolately goodness that this recipe provides, mainly because I have a massive crush on white chocolate. I will be making this again, and that’ll most likely be before the holiday season is over.
After both recipes were make, an hour later we were packaging it up, ready to send to family, friends and neighbors. If you haven’t before considered gifting baked goods please consider. A nice ribbon, gift box, a heartfelt message attached – it’s a gift that anyone would love to get.
Homemade {I won’t tell it can be this easy}, and faster to put together than tackling the mall. As well, it’s perfect for that hard-to-shop-for person, who doesn’t want mouthwatering baking anytime of the year?
Have a peek at Kraft Canada’s site, DessertCentre.ca and follow #DessertMoments on Twitter to get more inspiration on creating stunning edible gifts for your family and friends this Christmas.
Disclosure: I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own.
.
kelley says
12/21/2012 at 7:06 pmthat looks delishhhh
Jen says
12/21/2012 at 9:08 pmMy what a clean kitchen you have while baking – I am super impressed!
Tammi says
12/21/2012 at 10:03 pmBwwwaaa, you mean I can clean well before anyone arrives?
Well, I do keep very little appliances out in view most of the time, amazing how uncluttered can pass for clean. Well … With more crumbs and fingerprints of course!
🙂
Becky says
12/21/2012 at 9:34 pmI am so buying caramels tomorrow to make those! They look soooo easy!!
Tammi says
12/21/2012 at 10:04 pmOh yes!! Remember the tip on less salt though, really, just a tiny few bits will do!
Caryn S. says
12/21/2012 at 9:35 pmThanks for the recipes and the gift ideas too!
Kristin Wheeler (Mama Luvs Books) says
12/21/2012 at 10:03 pmThose look AMAZING!! And your photographs are wonderful!!
Tammi says
12/22/2012 at 10:20 amThank you Kristin!
🙂
Nancy J Montgomery says
12/21/2012 at 11:13 pmGreat ideas.
Nena Sinclair says
12/22/2012 at 4:06 amYum!! Would you do my Christmas baking for me??? Lol
Tammi says
12/22/2012 at 10:20 amThis kind of easy baking? Sure!!
🙂
jules p says
12/22/2012 at 5:10 amthey look so yummy. and looks like something even I could make!
Grown and Flown says
12/22/2012 at 5:24 amDon’t know when this salted caramel thing started but my kids love them and I had no idea how simple they were—thanks.
Cinny says
12/22/2012 at 6:17 amThose look great!
Diana @ Toronto Teacher Mom says
12/22/2012 at 6:32 amThat two-layer cookie crunch fudge looks yummy! And how nice of grandma to join in. So sweet!
Tammi says
12/22/2012 at 10:21 amIt was a nice afternoon! And I’m craving the fudge… I might have to make more tomorrow!
Marina says
12/22/2012 at 6:41 amOoooh yummy!!!Am sooooo going to try making that fudge!!
Belinda McNabb says
12/22/2012 at 6:48 amThe finished product looks yummy. And like you had lots of fun making them as well. Great pics!
paula schuck says
12/22/2012 at 8:14 amI am so hungry now! Thanks so much for the great recipes. Your Mother in law is the cutest thing in the sweet apron. I need some better aprons apparently. I am going to make both of those recipes if the caramels last that long. So delicious!
Paula
Pam says
12/22/2012 at 2:32 pmCooking with someone else is so much fun. Thanks for sharing an absolutely delicious looking recipe.
brenda says
12/22/2012 at 2:54 pmIt was so much fun; Thx tammi
Tesa @ 2 Wired 2 Tired says
12/22/2012 at 2:56 pmBeautiful photos! I’d love to try this. I had Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Bark recently and it was amazing so I’m sure these would be great too!
Soozle says
12/22/2012 at 6:24 pmAwwww! Awesome photos! The treats look delicious!
Thanks for sharing & Happy holidays to you and yours! ♥
jayme markus says
12/23/2012 at 9:07 amGreat pictures :)!
Judy C says
12/23/2012 at 7:57 pmLooks like you had a good time, definitely going to try doing the caramels
Victoria Ess says
12/24/2012 at 8:48 amOh my gosh, these are great ideas — I wish I had read this post earlier!!
Trish F says
12/24/2012 at 11:30 pmOh chocolate covered caramels look delish. I bet they would be good too with a dusting of ground walnuts or candy canes. Thanks for sharing.
TW says
12/25/2012 at 9:22 amThose salted caramels look delicious!
Eileen says
12/25/2012 at 9:49 pmWhat a cute treat box for gifting sweets. I’d try the fudge but use the peppermint candies instead that is on the bottom of the page from your link. Love this idea!
Olivia L says
12/25/2012 at 11:48 pmWe like to make a big batch of fudge to gift to neighbours and our massage therapist. It’s always a hit!
Christine O'Connor says
12/26/2012 at 6:57 amI did baking as a gift this year. I’m going to make those caramel goodies! Yum
Liza @ Views From the 'Ville says
12/26/2012 at 3:48 pmHow cool! That is seriously a genius recipe. I love salted caramels and am totally making some of these this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
ShadowC says
12/26/2012 at 11:48 pmWhat a great idea. I’m not much of a baker, but I think this is the way to go next year. I hate the stores when they are so busy.
Tara says
12/27/2012 at 11:05 pmI love salt and chocolate together so will definitely be making these since they are so easy. I love the concept of using the Velata warmer so will be trying that.
bianca roman says
12/28/2012 at 4:13 amThose recipes seem so delightful! I will have to bookmark for next year. I don’t have a baking or cooking bone in my body, so I don’t do either really haha. But the ones you tried don’t seem that hard at all!
Cindy P says
01/06/2013 at 9:01 amany holiday baking with family and children is always so much fun,,and yummy