Low cost, yummy Christmas Treat?

Question

My married daughter and I have to make up homemade Christmas treats to gift to about 50 people. Any ideas on something inexpensive and not too much work? i.e. plates of cookies would be considered too much work.

Answer 1

I have a recipe very similar to mountain girls only we add miniature marshmallows and it really stretches the batch. and cheap too.

Answer 2

How about colored popcorn balls? In red or green food
coloring, and corn syrup? Years and years ago, people made them for the kids along with cookies or Christmas tarts.
Chocolate covered cherries are good. But maybe too expensive to make. How about some ribbon candy or taffy after pulling it yourself and breaking it into pieces when it's laid out to harden? There are Rice Krispie Treats, made
with the cereal and marshmellows, and there's always fudge
you make in a sheet cake pan. And gingerbread squares too.
A combination of any of these I'm sure would be very well
accepted. Just stack them in some colored cellophane and
tie with some ribbon. You can use a small paper plate to
stack them on. Use toothpicks to stick them all together
so that none fall over if you find that easier. Hope this gives
you a few ideas.

Answer 3

ALMOND BARK - PEPPERMINT CANDY

2 lbs. white almond bark
1 1/2 c. crushed peppermint candy

Melt white almond bark on top of double boiler (never add water as it curdles the white almond bark). It takes about 10 minutes to melt thoroughly and will be very thick. Crush either peppermint candy canes or peppermint hard candy in blender until it is powder. Meanwhile, line a cookie sheet with tin foil. Mix hard crushed candy with melted white almond bark. Spread on lined cookie sheet. Let it dry and chop into pieces.

Or:
ALMOND BARK CANDY

1 lb. pkg. almond bark
1/2 c. finely rolled walnuts
3 tbsp. peanut butter
6-8 c. Rice Krispies
Waxed paper

Melt almond bark in microwave, stir and add peanut butter, then walnuts. Fold in well. Add Rice Krispies. Put 2 long strips of wax paper over table. Fill a soup spoon. Press on side of bowl. Push off onto wax paper. Sets up fast. Will last indefinitely when stored in cans.

Answer 4

This recipe is called White Trash because , large volumes can be mixed up in a trash bag. You can vary the recipe any way you want using different cereals ,pretzels, nuts, dried fruits etc. The one I had, had icing sugar on it and it is really good. If you google White Trash, there are different versions but I prefer the non cook one. Enjoy but be careful, everybody will want more. Maybe you could give the recipe for it with the treat.

Answer 5

Bar cookies or brownies. You could use stencils to decorate them with confectioners and colored sugar. Blonde Brownies are one of my favorites:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Blonde-Brownies-III/Detail.aspx

Or maybe one of these recipes, they are fun to do:

Cookie Cups:
Roll of sugar cookie dough (like the Pillsbury dough in the grocery store, refrigerated section)
mini muffin pan
Hershey's chocolate kisses, Mini Reese's Peanut butter cups

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Slice dough into about 1/2 inch rounds. Cut rounds into quarters. Place quarter pieces of dough into muffin slots. Bake at 350 F for about 8 to 12 minutes, until tops lightly brown. Unwrap candies while cookie dough is baking. When pan comes out of oven, place it on a trivet, and then push candy into the center of each cookie while the dough is still hot. The candies will melt slightly into the cookies. Use a small spatula to pop the cookies out of the muffin tin onto paper towels or wax paper to finish cooling.

Cornflake-Marshmallow Christmas Wreaths
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Christmas-Wreaths/Detail.aspx

Answer 6

How about handing out recipes they can make themselves. It will get a good laugh and they will leave early. Can't be all bad, right? And no dishes to clean or anything to pick up other than the pieces of paper from those who decided they don't want to go through the trouble of making sweets themselves.

Answer 7

These are incredibly easy and very tasty! Just melt butterscotch or chocolate chips (or a combination of both) and stir in chow mein noodles. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or a butter dish and let cool. You can add peanuts and/or raisins, if you wish.

Answer 8

Microwave fudge is very easy and it's fast. You can email me if you need a recipes.
Dump cake is another one that is fast and easy. Everything is put into a 9 x 13 pan and baked. You could cut it into smaller portions for gift giving.
These are the fastest, easiest, and most delicious I can think of.

Answer 9

Fantasy Fudge is fairly simple and the recipe is on the marshmallow cream jar. Peanut butter and Choc are great with this recipe. I know you want more than fudge but I cant think of more at the moment.

Answer 10

great fudge 1 can condensed milk {not evaporated} 1 pkg 12 oz semi sweet, butterscotch, milk choc etc chips..heat together in microwave until choc is melted..stir well add mini marshmallows and/or nuts..makes about 2 pounds..Pour into well buttered pan or pans..cool and cut into squares..My neighbors request this every Christmas..