Cinnamon Ornaments

Okay, these are seriously so easy and extremely fun to make with children.

My 19 month old loved helping me roll out the dough. She pretty much played with it like play dough but she had a great time.

My 4 year old helped me paint them after they were dry. She sat for almost 2 hours and painted with me. She had a great time and the ornaments turned out so cute!

Ingredients:
3 cups applesauce
3 cups cinnamon (Go to Walmart and buy the .50 cents brand. You'll need 4-5 of them.)

Directions:

Combine applesauce and cinnamon in a bowl. Roll out onto a flat surface. Use extra cinnamon on your hands to prevent from sticking. Mine did stick to my hands a little but I just washed them a few times during the process.



Use cookie cutters that are not too detailed otherwise you'll have a hard time getting the dough out. If you want to use these as ornaments make sure to put a hole in the top with a straw before baking. Put the cut outs on a cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees for about 2-2.5 hours until ornaments have dried out.



Once they have cooled you can paint them with acrylic paints and thread with ribbon to hang on wreaths, trees, garland etc. I put newspaper underneath and put some paint on a paper plate since acrylic paint dries quickly and isn't all that washable.



We also put some glitter on a few of the ornaments while the paint was still wet. Let dry before you string with ribbon.



Have fun and enjoy the nice smell!

Peppermint Oreo Cookie Bon Bons

I always make these every year around the holidays. This year I was shopping in Trader Joe's and saw their brand of oreo cookies but they were peppermint. I thought they would make delicious bon bons and I was right! They are pretty good right out of the box too. :)

You can click here for step by step instructions. It's pretty much the same except to use peppermint oreos instead of the regular one's. If you do buy the Trader Joe's brand only use about 3/4 of the package of cream cheese since they have less cookies in the box.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

I love peanut butter balls yet I have never made them. Why, I do not know! I think I always hope someone else will make them so I can eat them. :) I made these for a cookie exchange and can definitely see myself making these every Christmas!

Ingredients:
2 cups powdered sugar
1.5 cups chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup soft butter
2 cups rice crispies
1 bag of Nestle chocolate chip morsels - I used bitter sweet

Directions:

Cream together sugar and peanut butter. Add butter and rice crispies. I used my hands to combine.

Roll into 1/2 inch balls and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Melt chocolate chips in a double broiler or in microwave. Dip peanut butter balls in chocolate with tooth pick or candy dipper. Tap off extra chocolate. Place on wax paper to set. I put a peanut butter chip on top to cover the hole the tooth pick made.

Cool, keep refrigerated and enjoy!

Ice Cream Cake

My mom made this ice cream cake for Saryn when we were in NY. She loved it so I decided to make it for her birthday party in NC. It's so easy and delicious, I promise grown ups and children alike will love it!

Ingredients:

16 ice cream sandwiches
1 jar hot fudge
16 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
Sprinkles of your choice

Directions:

Layer bottom of pan - flat or 9x13 inch - with 8 of the ice cream sandwiches. Unwrapped first of course. Having a little helper with this is nice. Pants are optional. ;)



I ended up making two cakes and one of the cakes I used more than what the recipe called for. So don't go by my pictures for how many sandwiches to use!

Spread half of the jar of fudge on top of the sandwiches.



Then spread half of the cool whip and repeat with your remaining layer of sandwiches.



Spread the rest of the fudge on top of the second layer of sandwiches. Then top with remaining cool whip. Add sprinkles of your choice.



Freeze for at least an hour before serving. I put mine in the freezer uncovered so the cool whip would harden a bit. Then I put foil over it. That way the foil wouldn't rip all that yummy cool whip off!



Yum!