Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, never-ending family get-togethers…and what do you get at a get-together? Food! While older family members usually handle this, along with every other portion of the holiday festivities, this year try taking a little weight off their shoulders! Continue reading for some fun and easy recipes suitable for multiple holiday occasions.

Honey Cookies: These sweet cookies can be shaped to fit your seasonal traditions!  (revised recipe from bettycrocker.com)

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 2  3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Almond Glaze:

• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoons of almond extract
• 2 – 3 tablespoons water

 Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. In a large bowl, mix 1/3 cup powdered sugar, butter, honey, egg and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.
2. On a lightly floured, cloth-covered surface, roll your dough until 1/8 inch thick. Cut the desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place each cookie about 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.
3. Bake 7 – 8 minutes or until light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to a cooling rack or just a smooth surface. Cool completely for about 15 minutes.
4. For the almond glaze, in medium bowl, mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and 2 tablespoons water. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until spreadable.
5. Spread almond glaze over cookies and enjoy! (Optional: Decorate with frosting.)

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Banana Bites: This dessert is a nutty, sweet and fruity explosion all in your mouth. 

 Ingredients:

• Bananas
• Melted chocolate, brand/type of your choice
• Peanut butter
• Toothpicks

 Directions:

1. Cut each banana into 4-8 even pieces.
2. Lay the banana pieces on a plate.
3. Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each banana piece.
4. Stick the toothpicks through the bananas.
5. Dip the peanut butter bananas in chocolate.
6. Chill the banana bites in the fridge for about 1 hour.
7. Remove from fridge and enjoy!

Flan: A sweet, moist treat that will make anyone’s mouth water!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 4 large whole eggs, plus 3 large egg yolks
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Pam baking spray

Caramel:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Prepare your oven: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Place a small bowl of cold water and a pastry brush near the stovetop, and prepare an ice-water bath. Place eight 4-ounce ramekins in a large roasting pan. Bring a large kettle or pot of water to a boil.
2. Make caramel: Stir sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Do not stir again. Cook, washing down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming; do so for about 8 minutes until caramel is amber, and swirl pan to color evenly. Remove from heat, and immerse the bottom of the pan in ice-water bath for 3 seconds to stop cooking. Dry the bottom of pan. Working quickly, pour about 1 tablespoon caramel into each nook and cranny, swirling each to coat the bottom of the pan evenly.
3. Make custard: In a small saucepan, heat milk with half the sugar (1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) over medium heat just until mixture starts to steam and bubble around the edges, 5 to 6 minutes (do not let boil).
4. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, yolks, remaining sugar and salt.
5. Temper the eggs: Add ladle of hot milk mixture to the egg mixture and whisk to combine. (This is called tempering, and it prevents the eggs from curdling.) Add two more ladles of milk mixture, one at a time, whisking to combine after each addition. Gradually whisk in remaining milk mixture until smooth.
6. Strain: Strain through a fine sieve into a large liquid measuring cup or a bowl (to remove any cooked bits of egg). Stir in your vanilla.
7. Bake: Divide custard evenly among the sides of the pan. Place your pan in the oven. Add enough boiling water to pan to come halfway up the sides. Bake until custards are just set (they should tremble slightly in center when shaken), 35 to 42 minutes.
8. Chill and serve: Remove your pan from the oven. Use tongs or oven mitts to carefully remove your pan from hot-water bath and place on a wire rack or refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then, chill your desert for at least 8 hours (or up to 3 days). To unmold, run a sharp knife around inside of your pan, and place a rimmed serving plate upside down over top of each. Flip the pan onto a plate and then serve your dish.
9. Enjoy!

These recipes will hopefully save you at your next holiday party. Good luck, and happy holidays!