DANIELLE AT HOME

Danielle

Peppermint Bark

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Today marks one week until Christmas….. let that sink in a moment.

Ok how are we all doing? Stressed, excited, organized, overwhelmed? Personally I’m feeling pretty good. I think I have things pretty under control. Since we travel at Christmas I’ve always had to be organized well in advance. And I think this year will be the smoothest… knock on wood. 

Today I am sharing a recipe I have made since I was a kid. I would make this with my mom and brother every Christmas as a kid and it’s still one of my favourites today. Peppermint Bark is seriously simple to make and so delicious. It looks great on a cookie tray, and it’s also a great hostess gift.

It’s so easy you can even make it in the microwave. Don’t we all need easy at the holidays? So give it a try and let me know what you think.

Peppermint Bark

Yields: 1 sheet pan

Ingredients:

  • 16 ounces White Chocolate
  • 8 ounces Milk or Dark Chocolate
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Coconut Oil, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
  • 5 Candy Canes, crushed

Directions:

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a microwave safe bowl melt 6 ounces of the milk chocolate in 30 second intervals (1-2 mins), string in between. Stir in remaining chocolate and 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil. Spread the chocolate thinly on the prepared baking sheet. Allow to set in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

Repeat the same melting process with 12 ounces of the white chocolate. Stir remaining chocolate, remaining coconut oil and peppermint extract into the chocolate. Pour chocolate over the set milk chocolate and spread out to cover. Sprinkle crushed candy canes all over the white chocolate. Return bark to the fridge to set for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Once set break bark into sizes of your choosing. Store in an air tight container in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also store in your freezer for a few months.

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Sugar Cookie Snowflakes

Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

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Week three in my Christmas cookie series has arrived! If you missed the last two weeks find those posts here, and here.

This weeks cookie is so so delicious. These cookies are so delicious and rich, there are the perfect chocolate cookie for your Christmas spread. I actually have to make a few more batches of these since we can’t stop eating them!

I love the combination of a chewy brownie like double chocolate cookie, cooling peppermint and rich white chocolate. It truly is perfection. These are also great warmed up and eaten with a fork like a warm brownie. YUM!

Now when it comes to decorating these cookies with white chocolate the world is your oyster. Light drizzle, heavy drizzle. Half dunk, full dunk. Go ahead and do whatever you love. Just remember to work fast so your crushed candy canes will stick! Also did you know you can buy crushed candy canes? I found that out shortly after making this recipe and am so annoyed I wasn’t informed earlier. Crushing candy canes is such a pain. Oh well I guess I can buy pre crushed for next year!

Make sure to come back next week for the final Christmas cookie in this series…. I can’t believe we’re already there!

Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

Yields: 24 cookies 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 1/2 Cup White Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract 
  • 1 Teaspoon Peppermint Extract
  • 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Cup + 2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda 
  • 1/8 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
  • 8 Ounces White Chocolate
  • 3 Candy Canes, crushed

Directions:

Using your stand mixer beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the sugars and beat on medium high speed until fluffy and combined. Mix in the egg, vanilla and peppermint on high speed. 

In a medium bowl whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt together until combined. On low speed add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined. Beat in the chocolate chips. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight. 

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop out dough and roll into balls. Place on the cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet. Then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, string in 30 second intervals. Drizzle or dip each cooled cookie in the white chocolate. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Repeat for all the cookies. Place in the refrigerator to set completely.

Adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction.

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Gift Guide: Cookbooks

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only share products that I love! Thank you for your support.

Ok guys this is my very last gift guide before Christmas! I’m a little sad since I’ve enjoyed making these for you. I hope your Christmas shopping is going well and you’re not too stressed! If you need more gift ideas and missed the other two gift guides check them out here, and here. Now let’s get into it!

one / two / three / four / five / six

Just like the last gift guide everything on this list is either something I own and love or something on my own wish list!

  1. This book teaches you a super scientific method of cooking, and although I believe it having fun and not stressing and throwing out the rulebook in the kitchen. I think a book like this will help anyone tighten up their skills take a typical home cook to the next level. Also the friend chicken sandwich in this book is heaven, it worth it for the sandwich. The Food Lab.
  2. I love Joanna Gaines, her style, her personality and her family. And I love that she is a home cook sharing her favourite recipes. I think it’s really fun to see a home cook come out with a book like this.  Magnolia Table.
  3. No cookbook gift guide is complete without including Chrissy Teigan’s second book. Not only is she a girl after my own heart with her love of cheese. But it’s the perfect book for pop culture lovers. Even someone who doesn’t cook would enjoy this book.  Cravings Hungry for More.
  4. This is a super fun cocktail book. All the drinks have fun literary based names! Plus who doesn’t want to try a new cocktail. This is a perfect hostess gift too! Tequila Mockingbird.
  5. I got this book at my bridal shower along with my cast iron pan, and thank goodness! I was terrified to start using the pan until I read this book and understood how to treat my new baby. And on top of all the cast iron care tips I love the recipes. It really expands your mind as to what you can do with cast iron. Cook In Cast Iron.
  6. No list is complete with out the queen Ina! She is impeccable in every way. I watched her cook like a pro series and loved that she shows you how to use your skills as a home cook to wow guests. It helps you thin outside the box when entertaining. And I just love Ina, Jeffery and her roast Chicken! Cook Like a Pro.

Ok that’s it! My last gift guide for 2018! Now go finish your shopping!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only share products that I love. Thank you for your support!

Eggnog French Toast Casserole

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I have never made Christmas breakfast, but I have hosted a few pre Christmas brunches for friends and you will always fine some form of a french toast casserole on my brunch table. It’s sweet, delicious and always the first thing to go!

Today I am sharing a recipe for Eggnog French Toast Casserole. Now this recipe is based of a bread pudding and doesn’t have a crumble topping like many french toast casseroles do. I just don’t think it needs it. It is sweet and delicious enough sans topping. See I’m trying to save you a few calories for later in the day…. I’m always looking out for you!

What makes this recipe perfect for Christmas morning is that you can prep in all a day ahead and store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Then when everyone wakes up you can pop it in the oven and leave it to bake while everyone opens their gifts.

For this recipe I used french bread, but Challah would also be great. I know it can be difficult to find in a regular grocery store, so if you’re trying to make as few trips to the store this Christmas then stick with the french bread. For the best texture when you get home from the store cube your bread and leave it on the counter covered with a kitchen towel. You can leave it there for a few hours or a few days either way it will dry out a bit and soak the custard up much better.

I like to dust mine with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and then top each serving with a healthy dose of maple syrup!

Eggnog French Toast Casserole

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

  • 1 Loaf of Bread, french or challah
  • 6 Eggs
  • 3 Cups Eggnog
  • 1/2 Cup White Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Bourbon (can substitute for Vanilla Extract, 2 teaspoons)
  • 1/8 Teaspoon Salt
  • Optional: powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, and maple syrup for topping

Directions:

Cut bread into 1 inch cubes. Place in 9×13 baking pan, cover with a dish towel. Set aside to stale for a minimum of 2 hours or up to 48 hours.

In a large bowl whisk together eggs, eggnog, sugar, bourbon and salt. Pour mixture evenly over cubed bread. Cover and place in the fridge for at least one hour or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the casserole uncovered for 45 minutes to an hour. The top should be golden brown and a cake tester should come out clean. Dust the casserole with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Serve with pure maple syrup.

Recipe adapted from The Kitchn.

Sugar Cookie Snowflakes

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It’s week two in my Christmas Cookie series, to see last weeks click here.

Sugar cookies like shortbread are a controversial cookie. People either love them or hate them. Personally I’ve always been a fan. But I know a lot of people only like them for the icing. This recipe for sugar cookies is perfect. What makes them so good is that they are thick and soft. These cookies also have white chocolate icing. Personally I don’t enjoy royal icing and buying meringue powder annoys me. I hate having to go to specialty stores for ingredients. And buying something that will go bad before I need to use it again.

These cookies are topped with pure tempered white chocolate, sprinkles and a sugar pearl.  And I’ll let you in on a secret I decorated them in about 5 minutes using a Ziploc bag! Yep easy peasy. I don’t even own a pipping bag. I feel like I’ve broke some blogger rule by admitting that but lets get real I’m not a cake decorator so I don’t need one.

Of course today I’m sharing snowflakes with you but you could absolutely use you favourite cookie cutter and make whatever shape you love. You can also follow the same tempering method used for the white chocolate icing with milk or dark chocolate. If you want colour you could dye the white chocolate with gel food colouring (water based will cause you chocolate to separate), or even candy melts if thats your thing. The chocolate world really is your oyster! The chocolate will harden if you allow them an hour or so to set up. I like to make my cookies in advance and pop them in the freezer to store until Christmas. It’s not necessary but it will absolutely make sure that chocolate is super firm.

I really hope you enjoy these cookies, sugar cookies have always been my favourite!

Sugar Cookie Snowflakes

Yields: 18-24 cookies depending on the size of your cookies

Ingredients:

Cookies:

  • 2 1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • 3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 3/4 Cup White Sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Icing:

  • 6 ounces White Bakers Chocolate, chopped
  • Optional: sprinkles, sanding sugar and sugar pearls

In a medium bowl whisk flour, baking powder and salt together. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer cream softened butter until pale and fluffy. Add sugar and beat until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla to the bowl. Beat on high until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients on low speed until just combined.

Divide the dough in half, form dough into two disks Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for at least an hour.

Preheat the oven to 350°F . Line to baking sheets with parchment and set aside.

Roll out you first disk of dough the 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Using a snowflake cookie cutter cut your dough into shapes. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Re roll the remaining dough until it is all used. Repeat with the second disk.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until they are set and the edges are just starting to brown. My oven has hot spots so I rotate my cookies half way through to prevent over browning. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to fully cool.

Melt 4 ounces of chopped chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals. Once completely melted stir in the remaining 2 ounces of chopped chocolate to melt. Pour chocolate into a Ziploc bag. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before snipping on corner of the bag to act as a pipping bag. Decorate your cookies with the pipped white icing in the designs of your choosing. Finish your cookies with sanding sugar and sugar pearls if desired.

Cookies recipes adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction, icing recipe from Danielle at Home.

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Mulled Wine

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Today I have a super quick post today for the perfect warming cocktail. This is the perfect beverage for cold weather. You can serve it at a party, it’s a great post skiing warm up. Or even take it with you on a snowy walk (always remember to be responsible!). I read somewhere that of you want to party like it 1877 make some mulled wine. Clearly someone in North America wrote that since mulled wine is still very popular in parts of Europe. They sell mulled wine at most of the Christmas markets and festivals near me and I love it. It makes things so festive!

This mulled wine has brandy, orange rind, a few fresh cranberries, cloves, cinnamon and star anise. It’s so warming and have so many traditional Christmas flavours. I will be whipping up another batch this weekend to have while we watch Christmas movies and wrap presents.

So since I said I would keep this quick I should probably get into the recipe!

Mulled Wine

Serves: 5-6

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of Red Wine
  • 1/4 cup Brandy
  • 1/4 cup White Sugar
  • 3 Whole Cloves
  • 1 Whole Star Anise
  • 1 Whole Cinnamon Stick
  • Peel of Half an Orange
  • 1/4 cup Cranberries, fresh

In a medium sized pot over medium heat add 1/2 cup of wine and sugar. Cook over medium heat until sugar fully dissolves. Add the remaining wine, brandy, spices, orange peel and cranberries to the pot. Reduce heat to low. Continue to heat the wine for 20 minutes. Garnish with additional spices or orange slices. Serve in mugs, or heat proof glasses

Adapted from The Kitchn

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