Candy Cane Joe-Joe Ice Cream Cake

If you're looking for creative Christmas dessert recipes or just want to get in the winter spirit, try this recipe for Candy Cane Joe-Joe Ice Cream Cake. No bake dessert recipes don't get much easier than this one, and it's both attractive and tasty. With ice cream, cookies, hot fudge, whipped topping and more, this dessert casserole is like the ultimate winter ice cream sundae in disguise. 1 package Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Joe-Joes or Candy Cane Oreos 1 jar of Hot Fudge About 1.5 quarts Vanilla Ice Cream 1 container Cool Whip Drizzle of Chocolate Syrup A few small candy canes, crushed Place Joe-Joes (or Oreos) in a ziploc bag and beat with a rolling pin or mallet until crushed. Dump them in a 13x9x2 inch pan and press down. Warm up a jar of hot fudge (you can do low cal or reduced fat) as per jar instructions and spread over Oreos. Then, spoon soft ice cream, your flavor of choice, until you reach your desired thickness. (I put about 1 inch) This works best with soft ice cream. Don’t be afraid to press it down with your hands. Spread a container of Cool Whip on for the next layer. Add a drizzle of chocolate syrup and a few crushed candy canes. Freeze overnight. Enjoy!

Crispy Mint Thins (Ritz Crackers)

The following recipes are the most simplest recipes, yet one of them is another version of a famous cookies that we all love; Girl Scout Thin Mints. This will be a popular recipe at Christmas time with the colored candies crushed on top. What's so hard to put chocolate on top of Ritz crackers and then crushed colorful peppermint candies on top..?? I will say...nothing. You will appreciate that crispy chocolate treat later. Ingredients 1 pkg (8 squares) baker's semi-sweet chocolate, melted, slightly cooled 1/4 tsp peppermint extract 1 sleeve ritz crackers (36 crackers) 1 candy cane (6 inch), crushed Directions 1 MIX chocolate and extract. 2 DIP crackers in chocolate mixture, turning to completely coat each cracker. Carefully scrape off excess chocolate. Place crackers in single layer on waxed paper-covered baking sheets; sprinkle with crushed candy. 3 REFRIGERATE 30 min. or until chocolate is firm.

Peppermint Bark Crispy Cookies

I have to admit that in all purposes these are not really in a legal sense "cookies" but it sounded better than crackers. I also will note that once you make them you will swear that you are eating a delicate crispy cookie covered with peppermint bark. Whenever I shop there's one item that I have to buy because they are so versatile and that is Town House Crackers (thanks Keebler). Whatever mood I am in at the time, all I need to buy extra ingredients and I can have ready-made snacks anytime. I did my all true and tried method again. I dont particularly to buy a whole bag of white chocolate chips. Instead, one of my favorite chocolate is Lindt and they have single bars which I purchased, white and dark chocolate. I bought the white chocolate. Town House crackers (1 sleeve) 1 large bar of Lindt white chocolate Peppermint candy (crushed) Waxed paper lined pan or sheet 1. Line a pan with waxed paper or parchment and line your crackers down in rows. 2. In a microwave safe bowl, break up the Lindt bar and check it after 30 secs. Stir to see if it is melted. If not, continue for another 20-30 secs. Check until the chocolate is melted. 3. With two spoons, over the bowl.....take a cracker at a time put it on a spoon and with the other spoon, spoon the chocolate over it, and let the extra chocolate drip down in the bowl. Smooth the chocolate over the top of cracker and lay it down on the pan. Continue to the next one. 4. Be sure the tops have ample chocolate on them since the bottom is the cracker part. 5. Sprinkle the peppermint candy all over the crackers so they are covered with the candy. Tap the pan so the candy are dispersed evenly. 6. Put in the refrigerator till the chocolate sets. You will have a sweet, crispy, melt-­in-your-mouth chocolately sensation waiting for you later.

PEPPERMINT BARK

This is another version of bark for those like the peppermint taste and it's fairly simple and less time consuming.  This has to be in the top ten of candies that people make for Christmas.  It's foolproof, it has 3 ingredients how hard could it be.  It looks pretty on a Christmas centerpiece.

1 lb. dark chocolate (I used 1/2 semisweet and 1/2 bittersweet)
1 lb. white chocolate
6 oz. (1 regular package) candy canes, crushed

1. Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler until smooth. Spread (with an offset spatula) in an even layer on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Place in freezer to harden, approximately 30 minutes.

2. Melt the white chocolate over a double boiler until smooth. Spread (with an offset spatula) on top of the dark chocolate layer. Working quickly before the white chocolate sets, sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top and gently press into the chocolate. Refrigerate until complete hard and set, at least 2 hours.

3. Break into pieces and enjoy!