How do you get into the Christmas spirit? Make Christmas treats to share and eat.

I am coming at you with tons of easy homemade Christmas ideas, you can give as gifts or just enjoy with your family.

Last night I made these Christmas White Chocolate Popcorn Balls with my grandkids as we watched our favorite Christmas movies.

Christmas White Chocolate Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

• 12 cups popped popcorn
• 10 ounces miniature marshmallows
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 4 tablespoons butter
• Olive oil or butter for greasing hands
• Candy cane ( optional )
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  Instructions:

1. Place popped popcorn in a large bowl with room for mixing. Line a large baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.
2. In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add marshmallows and white chocolate chips to the butter. Melt marshmallows and white chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly. When marshmallows and chocolate chips are melted (it’s okay if you have small piece of chocolate that haven’t melted), remove from heat and stir in peppermint extract.
3. Drizzle about 1/3 of the chocolate/marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and work quickly to fold it together with a rubber or silicone spatula. Repeat with the remaining mixture in two batches, again working quickly to combine the chcoolate/marshmallow mixture with the popcorn. Sprinkle some of the crushed peppermint over the popcorn and combine with the popcorn. Repeat with the remaining peppermint until it has been somewhat evenly distributed among the popcorn.
4. Grease hands with a small amount of butter. At this point, the coated popcorn should still be very warm, but cooled enough to be safe to shape into balls. Shape into approximately 3″ popcorn balls. Do not press the popcorn together too firmly, you want to press together just enough so that the popcorn holds its shape.
5. Place popcorn ball on prepared baking sheet. Immediately add your sprinkle and insert a peppermint stick into the center of the popcorn ball, pushing it all the way down until it reaches the opposite end.
   SOURCE: https://homecookingmemories.com/white-chocolate-peppermint-christmas-popcorn-balls-recipe/

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Homemade Hot Chocolate powder
Ingredients:

• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

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For Spicy Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:

• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more if you like it really spicy.

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Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a 16 ounce mason jar, seal, and shake to combine.
3. To prepare hot chocolate: Add two or more tablespoons of hot chocolate mix, based on your preference of richness to 8 ounces of hot milk, with creamy oat milk. Stir until dissolved and serve immediately.

Cheesy Pull Apart Christmas Tree

Ingredients:

1 lb. refrigerated pizza dough

Egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp water)

7 mozzarella sticks

1/4 cup melted butter

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

1 tbsp. Thinly sliced basil

1 tbsp. chopped parsley

1 tbsp. chopped rosemary

Garnish with shaved parmesan cheese, as ribbons

Marinara, warmed (for serving)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut mozzarella sticks into 1” pieces and set aside.
2. On a floured surface, divide pizza dough into two pieces. Stretch and roll each piece of dough into a long rectangle, then cut dough into 2” squares (you’ll need 33 total).
3. Wrap a dough square around each piece of mozzarella, forming a tightly sealed ball. Place balls seam-side down on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree (they should be touching). Brush egg wash on dough balls and bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, whisk together melted butter, Parmesan and herbs. Brush on baked pizza balls. Serve warm with marinara for dipping.

Source of recipe: Pull Apart Christmas Tree

I love this recipe by Giada De Laurentiis. I used arugula instead of basil, marinated mozzarella balls, instead of regular ones, to infuse flavor throughout the recipe. You can also use another pesto, like sundried tomato or sweet pea and mint pesto. Hey, it’s the holidays make it as festive as you like, but no matter what you do this holiday season, always remember to Set the Table with Love.

https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7937239/giada-de-laurentiis-crostini-christmas-tree-recipe/