It would be the most wonderful time of the year…unless you forgot to move the elf! Quick! Grab a few pieces of chocolate and a mug for some Elf on the Shelf Hot Chocolate.

Have you heard of Hot Chocolate Bombs? Our children can’t get enough of making them at home and enjoying watching them burst open.

Mini Elf on the Shelf Hot Chocolate Bombs

While we didn’t have the time and patience to make a tiny chocolate shell filled with marshmallows, we got the same effect with these Lindt Lindor milk chocolate truffles.

Pair up a truffle with a mini mug and a pile of dehydrated mini marshmallows for this fun elf surprise.

Hot Chocolate Bombs and Truffles

Our Elf on the Shelf Hot Chocolate Bomb was made with a chocolate truffle. We made our standard-sized hot chocolate into a Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate Bomb with a dark chocolate bottom and a white chocolate peppermint top.

We filled the inside with hot cocoa powder, crushed peppermint candies, and lots of marshmallows.

This silicone orb mold turned out to be our favorite after testing a few different kinds.

Our elf gets into all kinds of trouble, but we think this Elf on the Shelf Hot Chocolate Bomb will keep him busy all day until we forget to move him tomorrow morning.

What are Hot Chocolate Bombs?

Place the hot chocolate bomb into a mug, then pour hot milk over it. As the milk melts the chocolate orb, it will pop open to reveal the cocoa powder, marshmallows, and other goodies.

Stir it all up to enjoy your hot chocolate!

Print our full, detailed Hot Chocolate Bomb instructions here.

We explain 2 methods of making HCB:

1. Spoon and Spread

2. Fill and Spill

If you do not have supplies to make Hot Chocolate Bombs, you can make our Hot Chocolate Sticks.

Coffee lovers might want to try our Peppermint Mocha Sticks.

Finally, if you don’t have a silicone orb mold check out these instructions from Living Locurto on How to Make a Hot Chocolate Bomb with No Silicone Mold.

Tag us on Instagram!

Did you make your elf his or her very own Elf on the Shelf Hot Chocolate bomb? Tag @katrinaskitchen on Instagram!

More holiday fun food with kids:

Try these quick and easy Christmas ideas today.

Our Reindeer Pretzels are so adorable that we make them every year.

These Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies are fun to make before you go to bed. You get to wake up to delicious Christmas tree cookies!

By FAR, this Easy Christmas Candy is the easiest way to get even small children involved in the Christmas kitchen festivities.

The post Elf on the Shelf Hot Chocolate Bombs appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

We’ve made these Reindeer Pretzels for years because they are quick and easy. They make a cute addition to any cookie tray alongside traditional cookies.

They are so easy that kids can be left to the task by themselves. Younger children may just need an adult to melt the chocolate but everything else is pretty straight forward.

There is something about the sweet and salty combination that makes these Reindeer Pretzels delicious as well as fun. Adults and children will love these cuties.

How to Make Reindeer Pretzels

You will need 4 basic ingredients:

• Mini pretzel rods (I use pretzels called dipping sticks.)
• Melted semisweet chocolate
• Candy eyes
• Red candies (such as sixlets, M&Ms, or cinnamon imperials)

Tips For the Easiest Reindeer Pretzels

Gather all of your ingredients and set them out before you begin

Use any kind of candies, chocolate, or pretzel shapes you have on hand.

Pour your melted chocolate into a glass or silicone dipping container rather than a shallow bowl.

You can find mini candy eyes online or at craft stores such as Michael’s or Joanne’s. Seasonally you can even find them at Walmart or Target.

Feeling crafty? You can even make your own candy eyes out of royal icing.

You can use these Reindeer Pretzels as cupcakes toppers, homemade holiday gifts for teachers, or on Christmas cookie trays. They’re so sweet and salty you won’t be able to eat just one!

(more…)

The post Reindeer Pretzels appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

Are you down for sweet and salty desserts? In my 20’s I would have said you were crazy. If I’m having dessert I’m having it sweet with extra sugar on top.

A dash of coffee with my cream and sugar, please.

Corner piece of the birthday cake, please!

But now that I’ve reached the ripe old age of 30ish going on 40ish my tastes have changed and I find myself gravitating toward sweet snacks with a salty twist. I know this is an age thing because my husband and I were able to eat this whole pan of Potato Chip Peppermint Bark without our little guys snatching it out of our hands.

We’re also giving it as school teacher and staff holiday gifts this year as well! Last year we gave Sugar Cookie Dough Cups. I love giving and receiving handmade gifts!

I know you’re going to love this sweet and salty Potato Chip Peppermint Bark! Check out the quick video below to see how quickly this comes together. Merry Christmas if I don’t get to talk to you before the holidays!

xoxo- Katrina

Print

Potato Chip Peppermint Bark

Potato Chip Peppermint Bark -crunchy potato chips and candy cane pieces nestled between creamy layers of dark and white chocolate.

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb 16 oz dark or milk chocolate
• 1 lb 16 oz white chocolate
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract divided
• 3-5 candy canes crushed
• 2 Cups potato chips crushed

Instructions

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Melt the dark chocolate according to package directions until smooth. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract.
• Pour chocolate over lined baking sheet and smooth out to desired thickness.
• Immediately crush 1 cup of potato chips over the dark chocolate. Set to chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Melt the white chocolate according to package directions until smooth. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract.
• Pour white chocolate over the dark chocolate and potato chip layer. Smooth out to desired thickness.
• Immediately crush 1 cup of potato chips and candy canes over the white chocolate layer. Set to chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Break into pieces by hand. May carefully use a knife or metal spatula if desired.

Video

Items used in this post:

In Katrina’s Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

The post Potato Chip Peppermint Bark appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

It’s that time of year again! There’s a chill in the air. Crowds of people are gathering. Families are divided. You know what I’m talking about… COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

Spending more of my life here in Ohio we root for the Buckeyes of course! And there is no shortage of creative buckeye recipes out there. While I like a classic buckeye ball candy I certainly don’t mind taking a shortcut and making this Buckeye Bark. Perfect flavor in half the time! And this is perfect for the holidays, as I’m sure most all Ohio families enjoy buckeyes at Christmastime.

(more…)

The post Buckeye Bark appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

I never really cared for Halloween. If I’m being honest, I couldn’t even watch Jurassic Park without getting scared. Halloween stores give me the heebee jeebees.

Then I had 2 boys. This is my life now.

Creepy Halloween Dessert Table Ideas

• Tabletop Skeleton
• Blood Bags (for drinks)
• Plastic Beakers
• Animal Skeletons
• Spiderweb Table Runner

To make this Halloween Dessert Table Skeleton, you could really go to Target or your local grocery store and find everything you need.

Customize it to include the candies your family loves. I made mine with sweets that are okay for my little guy’s peanut allergy (always check labels and/or with your doctor).

Of course add homemade treats like these Butterscotch Leaf Piles Haystack Cookies, or this Monster Mash Candy Bark.

Candy Used:

• rice crispy treats
• chocolate dipped cookies
• gummy worms
• Bubble Tape gum
• Dots gummy candies
• Tootsie Roll logs
• Craisins

Switch to Savory Snacks

Switch things up and make this with celery sticks and carrot sticks, cucumber discs, and cauliflower heads.

Place a jar of roasted red pepper hummus inside the skeleton for dipping.

Try popcorn, pretzel sticks, and deviled eggs sprinkled with smoky red paprika.

Add salami slices and pepperoni chunks with mozzarella balls.

Do you like creepy desserts? Check out some of my other spooky Halloween treats.

I have a whole SPOOKY SWEETS Pinterest Board with some of my favorite Halloween festive ideas.

For adults you can serve up Blackberry Apple Spooky Sangria or leave out the alcohol and make a kid-friendly version. The apple spirals make it creepy and fun!

The post Halloween Dessert Table Skeleton appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

Reader request! After posting my simple Lego Cake I had promised to walk you through how to make the  Marshmallow Lego Pops. Honestly, it’s not much more difficult than dipping a marshmallow in chocolate, but I’ve come to realize that after making these for a few years I have a few tips and tricks to share with you.

Supplies:

• Marshmallows
• Mini marshmallows
• Food-safe scissors
• Yellow chocolate candy discs
• Shortening or coconut oil (optional, for thinning chocolate)
• Lollipop sticks
• Black food coloring pen (or black royal icing)

As always, melt your chocolate slowly. Add in a teaspoon of shortening or coconut oil at a time to thin the chocolate to a good dipping consistency. You want the chocolate to flow freely from a spoon when you dip it in.

I have scissors that I reserve especially for food. Just be sure to wash anything that touches your food!

Please watch a short video at the bottom of this post showing how I adhere the mini marshmallow to the top with a bit of chocolate. By using the same lollipop stick you will also have a better chance of your stick staying in place when you dip the whole pop. After this step let the chocolate firm up for 10-15 minutes.  (more…)

The post Marshmallow Lego Pops appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

If you are anything like me you are looking for homemade holiday gifts and ideas. They should be Pinterest worthy but

EASY

SIMPLE

QUICK

and not-make-me-want-to-stab-my-eyes-out.

I actually love food crafting but if I’m making a holiday treat that involves putting sprinkles on cookies with tweezers or delicately piping intricate designs on one cookie for more than 20 seconds I’m pretty much going to go insane.

I don’t mean to brag but I think this is pretty much the easiest Christmas treat in all the land. The hardest part is unwrapping the candy. And don’t get me wrong- that can be a deal breaker at times but we should push through.

Three minutes of unwrapping and 2 minutes of dipping.

We can do this.

(more…)

The post Easy Christmas Candy appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

I am the absolute WORST gift giver. I have no strategy. There are no lists. There’s no checking it twice. When I was 16 I gave my boyfriend (whom I had been dating less than 2 weeks) a pair of baby socks. BABY SOCKS. I thought it was hilarious because his feet were so big. He thought I was telling him something different.

Yeah.

He stuck it out through all of my awkward jokes and bad gifts through the years and married me anyway. Twenty years later I make a selection from his Amazon wishlist and call it a day. Except that’s not entirely true; I make him food gifts. I never go wrong there.

Bloom where you are planted, people.

We happen to love/adore/obsess over coffee in our house. Gone are the days of casual entertaining guests in our home and offering an evening cup of coffee. Now I think of it even before I open my eyes. Children are the best thing that has ever happened to the coffee industry.

These Peppermint Mocha Sticks are like an instant upgrade to your morning cup of coffee or your afternoon pick-me-up. Brew a cup of coffee, dunk and stir to release all of those festive flavors. Give the sticks as gifts (they are adorable!) or enjoy a few minutes of quite before the kids step off the bus this afternoon.

And have a freakin’ awesome Christmas.

(more…)

The post Peppermint Mocha Sticks appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

It’s party season and nothing impresses more than homemade candies. The great news is that candies like these Homemade Peppermint Patties are super simple to make.

I am the worst gift-giver in all the land. I have good intentions; I just don’t like spending money. I know! It’s so weird. I am an underspender. What is an underspender? Besides from the obvious implications of the name there are some very annoying consequences of being an underspender.

• Underspenders look for the best price but are them often disappointed in the quality so they end up purchasing the item twice.
• Underspenders see something they like but put off purchasing it until later…often too late.
• Underspenders can even avoid making routine appointments because MONEY.

Okay I’m not a straight up underspender- I’m happy and healthy and I treat myself (and others), but I just didn’t get the shopping gene passed on. Possibly because neither my parents not grandparents were spenders.

But I did get the baking gene; I love being in the kitchen especially this time of year! So even though I might have seen that beautiful thing you wanted and I thought of you, I didn’t buy it. Now it’s the night before the office party and I’m making you candy. So hush. Life could be worse.

These Homemade Peppermint Patties are crazy good- perfectly creamy bursting with just the right amount of peppermint flavor throughout. You’re going to want to put these on your to-do list!

Print

Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe

Use this recipe to make the most delicious Homemade Peppermint Patties all year long- perfect for treats, homemade gifts, and holiday parties!

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 12 candies

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 Cups powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil*
• 1/2 Cup chocolate melted

Instructions

• In the bowl of your mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine all ingredients until smooth. Add up to 1 more Tablespoon of water if needed.
• Turn out dough onto a surface dusted with powdered sugar and roll to approximately 1/4 inch thickness.  If the dough is too sticky knead in some more powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.
• Using a 1 inch circle cutter cut into 12 candies.
• Refrigerate discs for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Melt chocolate according to package directions.Use a small spatula or knife to lift the discs then dip into chocolate. Set on parchment or wax paper. Let cool completely.

Video

Items used in this recipe

In Katrina’s Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

The post Homemade Peppermint Patties appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.

This is a compensated post for JET-PUFFED Marshmallows. Recipe developed independently; all opinions expressed are my own.

The best gifts are food gifts. I’ve decided that everyone in my life would benefit from a creamy mug of hot chocolate. And since everyone is different, these Hot Chocolate Sticks are the perfect gift to personalize- just dip and stir!

What to do with Hot Chocolate Sticks

These Hot Chocolate Sticks are great for holiday gift giving- teachers, mail carriers, neighbors, friends, etc.

Kids love making this recipe and they will take pride in giving homemade gifts!

If you aren’t gifting these you can set up a fun hot chocolate bar for a crowd. Make a variety of choices and set them up on a tray next to a crock pot of warm milk. Guests can ladle in a scoop of milk then pick their favorite Hot Chocolate Sticks flavors!

The recipe comes together quickly with little fuss. Dunk in a mug of warm milk and stir until melted. Crushed peppermint is a personal favorite and popular this time of year.

But can we talk about salted caramel?

For gifts I think popping a marshmallow on top is adorable. I used JET-PUFFED Vanilla and Chocolate Swirled Marshmallows.

You may also use a large JET-PUFFED Marshmallow, or for a fun festive look you can use any of the seasonal varieties such as Snowman Mallows, Peppermint Mini Marshmallows, Gingerbread Mallows, or Holiday Mallows.

Or keep it mini with my favorite JET-PUFFED Mallow Bits.

You really can’t go wrong!

How to Make Hot Chocolate Sticks

Melt the chocolate. If children are helping be sure to assist them with this step. Chocolate can burn- even in the microwave.

Assemble the dry ingredients into the bowl of your mixer, then pour the chocolate on top. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Place mixture into a large piping bag. Cut the tip off and squeeze into silicone molds. Alternatively you can use ziptop bags, but I suggest the “Freezer” versions that are thicker.

If you make these in a silicone mini cupcake pan they easily pop right out. You could also use paper muffin liners.

For a smooth top you can put them into a microwave for 20 seconds and tap on the counter top. (Please do not place foil cupcake liners into a microwave!)

Before chilling add whatever toppings you would like.

Print

Hot Chocolate Sticks

Try this easy Hot Chocolate Sticks recipe to make holiday gifts or an easy and delicious hot chocolate bar. Just dunk into warm milk and stir!

Course Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate, drinks, holiday, homemade gifts, hot chocolate, peppermint

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 16 sticks

Calories 40kcal

Ingredients

• 16 oz BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate 4 blocks
• 1 Cup confectioners sugar
• 1/2 Cup cocoa powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup mini marshmallows or JET-PUFFED Mallow Bits

Instructions

• In a microwave safe bowl MELT chocolate according to package directions.
• In the bowl of your mixer fitted with the paddle attachment COMBINE confectioners sugar, cocoa, and salt.
• POUR the melted chocolate on top of the dry ingredients. Mix until incorporated fully.
• PLACE in a piping bag (or plastic zip bag), snip off the tip and pipe into 16 portions. Alternatively use a cookie scoop or small spoon. Mixture will be thick. If you use a silicone baking pan you can microwave it for 10-20 seconds after piping/scooping in the mixture.
• Top with JET-PUFFED Mallow Bits. Press craft stick into the center.
• Let cool 4 hours or overnight.

Notes

Variations:

1. Peppermint- top with crushed candy canes.
2. Salted Caramel- top with caramel and sea salt flakes.
3. Creamy Marshmallow- top with jumbo marshmallow.
4. Confetti cake- top with sprinkles for a winter birthday.

Nutrition

Calories: 40kcal

Connect with JET-PUFFED: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | I’m happy to partner with JET-PUFFED to bring you marshmallow sweet treats all year long. As always, opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that I work with, and for stopping back to let me know how your family loved my recipes as much as our family does!

The post Hot Chocolate Sticks appeared first on In Katrinas Kitchen.