Recipes — christmas snacks

5 Easy Christmas Snacks That Anyone Can Make 0

When it comes to hosting a Christmas party, nothing can wow your guests more than an elaborate main dish, a sophisticated salad, and a too-good-to-eat side dish. After all, winter is blessed with so many delicious (and disease-preventing) produce that it’s hard to mess up. But, what happens when you're home alone, and you're feeling your tummy rumble? Yup, at that moment, it’s snacks that do the trick.

But, putting on your apron for something that will be devoured in mere seconds just isn't worth it. So, if you're looking for something tasty and festive to tame your hunger this holiday season, these 5 easy Christmas snacks will fill you (and your taste buds) with glee.

1. Chocolate Pretzel Snowman

At just 5 ingredients, this Christmas snack is the easiest way to sneak some cheer into your life without spending hours upon hours in the kitchen. And judging from the way they taste, you may need to whip up a second batch sooner than you thought.

Ingredients:

• One bag of pretzel sticks
• 2 cups white chocolate, melted
• 1 cup dark or milk chocolate, melted
• 3 tbsp orange candy melts, melted
• 1 tsp freeze dried raspberries, crushed into a fine powder

Directions:

1. Dip the pretzels into the white chocolate in batches of 6, leaving the top end uncoated. Set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for about 5 minutes.
2. Once the white chocolate is hardened, dip the top (uncoated) end in the dark chocolate. Dip one extra pretzel stick for each "snowman" to create the hat's brim and set it across the point where the two types of chocolate separate. Freeze for an additional 5 minutes.
3. Then, pipe small triangles onto the sheet to create the "carrot" noses and freeze them as well.
4. Assemble the face by placing the nose in the middle of the white chocolate part and using a toothpick, draw the snowmen's eyes and mouth.
5. Dust the raspberry powder on both sides of the nose to give your snowmen some rosy cheeks.

2. Peppermint Reindeer Bark

Peppermint bark screams Christmas. But, if you don't want to opt for the store bought stuff, this easy recipe tastes just as good as the real deal, and (bonus!) it's healthier since it doesn't contain any preservatives.

Ingredients:

• One bag of milk chocolate chips, melted
• 1 candy cane, crushed
• 14 mini pretzel twists, cut in half
• 14 freeze dried cherries
• 28 candy eyes

Directions:

1. Add the chocolate chips to a heat-proof bowl and place it in the microwave. Melt them in the microwave, stopping every 30 seconds to stir them and prevent the chocolate from burning.
2. Pour the chocolate onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread it from side to side.
3. Place the candy eyes and the cherries ( as a nose) all over the chocolate layer. Then, decorate with the pretzel twists, which serve as antlers.
4. Sprinkle the crushed candy cane on top and freeze until firm for about 2-3 hours. Break up into pieces and enjoy.

3. Holiday Popcorn

Perfect for a night in (or a holiday movie marathon), this easy Christmas snack is a feast for both the eyes and palate. Despite its indulgent looks, the recipe is a tad healthier than most as it calls for freeze dried fruit instead of candy. After all, it wouldn't hurt to give your body a break from all the sugar.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups of unsalted popcorn
• 1 cup white chocolate, melted
• ½ cup mini marshmallows
• ¼ cup freeze dried raspberries
• 1 candy cane, crushed

Directions:

1. Place the popcorn in a bowl and drizzle generously with the white chocolate.
2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and enjoy!

4. Maple Rosemary Roasted Walnuts

Maple and rosemary are two classic holiday flavors, which work wonders on their own. But, put them together along with some nuts, and you have a next-level treat on your hands that'll please even the pickiest of eaters. Plus, since it takes about 20 minutes to prep, this easy Christmas treat can be ready in virtually no time.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups raw walnuts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• ½ tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2/3 tsp dried rosemary
• 2/3 tsp salt
• ¾ cup freeze dried bananas

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350^oF.
2. Add all the ingredients (except for the bananas) to a bowl.
3. Mix well until the walnuts are evenly coated with the maple syrup.
4. Transfer the nuts onto a baking sheet and roast them for about 7-8 minutes.
5. Then, stir them well, and bake them for another 7 minutes until they turn golden brown.
6. Remove them from the oven and let them cool.
7. Stir in the bananas and serve.

5. Marinated Olives & Feta with Crackers

If you are craving something savory, these marinated olives are an absolute must-try. The snack is made with a bunch of healthy ingredients. So, you won't feel guilty if you get an extra scoop. It also takes almost zero time to prep (you just have to wait for the flavors to soak in). Serve with crackers or toasted bread.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cup Kalamata olives
• 1 ¼ cup Pimento-stuffed olives
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 ¼ cup Feta cheese, cut into small cubes
• 1 tbsp freeze dried red bell peppers
• ½ tsp dried rosemary
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground pepper
• ¼ tsp dehydrated tomato powder (optional)
• Crackers, for serving

Directions:

1. (Optional Step) At this point, you have two options: You can either hydrate the bell peppers or use them as-is for an extra crunch. If you decide to hydrate them, though, toss them in a bowl with 2-3 tbsp lukewarm water and let them soak for 15 minutes. Then, remove them from the pot and using your hands, squeeze away any excess liquid.
2. Now, add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix well.
3. Cover with tinfoil and refrigerate the mixture for a couple of hours. Bon Appetit!

Do you have any other easy Christmas snacks that you'd like to share with us? We'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments below!

References:

1. https://hungryhappenings.com/chocolate-pretzel-snowman-craft/
2. https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/peppermint-reindeer-bark-super-easy-recipe.html
3. https://www.twosisterscrafting.com/santa-crunch-popcorn/
4. https://www.theroastedroot.net/maple-rosemary-roasted-nuts/
5. https://www.greensnchocolate.com/citrus-marinated-olives-and-feta/