My grandmother taught me how to cook and bake from an early age. Last week as we stood around her kitchen island watching my daughter and niece bake sugar cookies I realized she was actually raising her third generation of cooks. I still recall happy memories of spending weekends with grandma baking goodies around the holidays. It makes me smile that my daughter will have those same memories of her.

One of her easiest (and kid friendly) holiday recipes were delicious chocolate covered pretzels. She rolls in them in all manner of goodies from caramel to coconut. This year I tried my own hand at making the easy treats with a fun new twist, I rolled them in crushed M&M’S® White Chocolate Peppermint. I love the combination of minty, sweet and salty all at once.

White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

Ingredients

1 (16oz) Package of White Chocolate Chips
1 (12oz) Bag of Pretzel Sticks
1 (9.9oz) Bag of M&Ms White Chocolate Peppermint Candies

Directions

1. Melt chocolate according to package directions, I prefer the microwave method.
2. While the chocolate is melting, crush the White Chocolate Peppermint M&M’s with a rolling pin or cooking mallet.
3. Dip the pretzel sticks in the melted White Chocolate and then roll them in the M&Ms White Chocolate Peppermint Candies
4. Allow the chocolate to dry and then place in a storage container.

This second recipe, I can’t take any credit for. I found it on the back of my GLAD Holiday Storage container and it’s delicious!

M&Ms Chocolate Espresso Peppermint Bites

Ingredients

1 package chocolate cake mix
1 (9.9oz) Bag of M&Ms White Chocolate Peppermint Candies
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup glitter sprinkles
2 tsp espresso powder
1 can prepared frosting (vanilla or peppermint)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, mix cake mix, eggs and oil.
3. For each cookie, roll 1/2 tablespoon of dough into a ball and place onto a cookie sheet (no need to grease).
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes
5. Cool on baking sheet 1-2 minutes.
6. Frosh each cook, decorate with M&Ms and glitter sprinkles
7. Store in GLAD containers and share with friends!

Because we always make far more than we could ever possibly eat, we love to package up our goodies and gift them to friends and family. In years past we have always used the plastic goodies bags you can find this time of year but they weren’t particularly protective of our more delicate baked goods.

Looking for more holiday recipes?

• DIY Winter Wonderland Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows
• White Chocolate Pretzels and M&Ms Chocolate Espresso Peppermint Bites
• Quick and Easy to Make Reindeer Treat Recipe
• Cutest Holiday Breakfast Idea Ever! Bite Size Santa Pancakes
• Make Your Own Christmas Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Easy Christmas Ornament Cupcake Recipe