Snowman Soup – Easy Warm Vanilla Milk for the Holidays

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a photo of a mug of warm vanilla milk topped with whipped cream at sprinkled with cinnamon

Looking for a quick and easy Christmas neighbor gift? This snowman soup comes together in minutes and is a fun and festive way to spread holiday cheer. Just add hot water to this vanilla milk mix and you have a creamy, comforting warm drink for those cold winter nights!

Plus, check out our step-by-step video tutorial! It’s so easy and only 4 ingredients! Basically just dump everything in a bowl and whisk to combine, then package up the powder mix to share with friends and neighbors with instructions for how to make it. We have included an adorable printable in the recipe card with the instructions!

Now this might be a little grim, but picture jolly ol’ Frosty or Olaf getting too close to the warm fire or accidentally finding themselves in San Diego in the winter and melting into a puddle of sweet and delicious goodness. Snowman soup!

It tastes like the vanilla steamer from Starbucks with a hint of cinnamon and it is a family favorite! It’s a great alternative to hot chocolate or wassail for a warm holiday beverage.

Ingredients for Snowman Soup

You’re just 4 ingredients away, well 5 I guess if you count water, from the most delicious warm holiday beverage! Here is what you will…

  • Powdered Milk: Acts as the creamy base, giving body and richness when mixed with hot water or milk. It replaces fresh milk for shelf-stability and convenience.
  • Instant Vanilla Creamer: Adds extra creaminess and a hint of vanilla flavor, enhancing the sweetness and smooth feel of the drink.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the mix and balances the richness of the milk. It ensures the flavors are cozy and comforting rather than flat or bitter.
  • Cinnamon: Adds warmth and a subtle spice that pairs beautifully with the sweet, creamy vanilla. It gives the mix depth and a little seasonal flair.

A single batch of this recipe makes about 24 servings, so you can scale up or down depending on your needs!

How to Make Snowman Soup

There’s not really much to this recipe which is why it’s such a great neighbor gift for the busy holidays.

  1. Pour all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk until everything is combined.
  2. Divide into smaller jars to give to neighbors or store in an airtight container in a dry place for your family.
  3. Print the cute instructions and attach it to the small jars for the cutest holiday neighbor gifts.

Combine 1/3 of the cinnamon vanilla milk mixture with 1 cup of hot water and stir to combine.

The complete instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Meringue Cookies – Light, Crisp, and Perfect for the Holidays

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a metal serving tray full of small white meringue cookies

This is the classic holiday recipe for meringue cookies! Our little meringues only call for 5 ingredients, and a lot of oven time. Be patient as the piping takes a little bit of practice, but this recipe will walk you through the steps so that you can make your own perfect meringues!

Must Make Holiday Cookies

Ok, this Christmas, well, holiday cookie recipe is one you would have found in my grandma’s kitchen which means it’s a must-make! I love the traditions of holidays and cookies are the perfect place to remember loved ones.

I’ve been busy practicing meringue cookies, dying meringues, and munching on A LOT of meringues so that I can share what I’ve learned with you! Now you can make these addictive cookies without the stress! And since they are only about 20 calories each, munch away!

Important Tip: Making Meringue Cookies

This recipe calls for only 5 ingredients. With so few ingredients, you actually run a higher risk of issues. The key to avoiding those issues is stiff peaks.

While adding the sugar, the foamy egg mixture will start to become thick, glossy, and sticky, that’s exactly what you are looking for! My mom would often stop the mixer, grab the whisk and turn it upside down to inspect. I love that method of checking for stiff peaks!

Ingredients for Meringue Cookie Recipe

  • Egg Whites: The foundation of meringue — when whipped, they trap air, creating the light, airy structure. As they cook, the proteins set and give the cookies their crisp texture.
  • Salt: Sharpens the flavor and helps slightly strengthen the egg white foam during whipping.
  • Cream of Tartar: The acid that stabilizes the egg whites which allows them to hold more air without collapsing, and helps prevent overbeating.
  • Clear Vanilla: Adds flavor without discoloring the pure white meringue. Regular vanilla extract can give the meringue a beige tint.
  • Sugar: Sweetens and dissolves into the egg whites to create a glossy, stable foam that bakes into a crisp shell outside with melt-in-your-mouth marshmallow on the inside.

How to Make Meringue Cookies

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 225℉ and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Beat: Using the whisk attachment on a stand mixer (you can also use a mixing bowl and electric hand mixer), beat the egg whites. When they start to get foamy, add the salt, cream of tartar and vanilla. Continue beating until soft peaks form.
  3. Whip: Slowly add the sugar one small spoonful at a time continuing to w

Easy Cream Cheese Mints (Old-Fashioned Party Mints Recipe)

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a small bowl full of red, white and green cream cheese mints

There are a few recipes that instantly take me back to childhood, and these easy cream cheese mints are one of them. They’re sweet, creamy, and just a little minty—the kind of treat that melts in your mouth and feels so nostalgic.

The best part? You only need five ingredients and a few minutes to make them!

I remember my grandma making these (we called them “party mints” back then) and man, I loved when the ladies at church brought them to potlucks!! They are perfect for weddings, baby showers, and Christmas, and I can still remember sneaking one (or five!) off the tray when grandma wasn’t looking.

I tried making old fashioned cream cheese mints on my own for the first time in college and then totally forgot about them. They need to be posted here! They are the perfect holiday treat! The best no bake mint candy recipe!

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Cream Cheese: The base of the recipe. It provides creaminess, a slight tang, and moisture to bind the powdered sugar into a smooth dough. It also keeps the mints tender instead of dry or crumbly.
  • Butter: Adds richness and a silky texture, helping the mints melt in your mouth. It also balances the tang of the cream cheese and makes the mixture easier to work with.
  • Peppermint Extract: Gives the mints their classic cool, refreshing flavor. Just a little goes a long way in creating that signature taste.
  • Vanilla Extract: Softens and rounds out the peppermint flavor so it isn’t too sharp, adding warmth and depth to the overall sweetness.
  • Powdered Sugar: The bulk of the recipe. It sweetens the mints, thickens the mixture into a pliable dough, and creates that melt-in-your-mouth texture because of its fine consistency.
  • Gel Food Coloring: Optional, but perfect for making pastel or seasonal shades. Gel is preferred over liquid so the color is vibrant without thinning the dough.

How to Make Cream Cheese Mints

  1. Beat: Add the cream cheese and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until creamy with the paddle attachment.
  2. Combine: Add the peppermint and vanilla extracts to the cream cheese mixture and mix until combined and then lower the speed of the mixer and gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until combined.
  3. Add Coloring: If you want to add multiple colors to the mints, separate the dough into different bowls and add gel coloring for your desired colors. Mix thoroughly until the gel coloring is fully incorporated.
  4. Form: Use a small scoop, scoop the dough into small balls and roll between your palms. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Dip a fork into powdered sugar and gently press down on each mint.
  5. Dry: Let the mints dry at room temperature for several hours. Once they are completely dry, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to serve.

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The Easiest Red Velvet Poke Cake Recipe

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a piece of moist red velvet cake topped with white cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips

This is the most deliciously moist Red Velvet Poke Cake recipe! The sweetened condensed milk gets poured all over and the fluffy cream cheese frosting makes it a truly decadent dessert everyone can’t stop eating!

This easy red velvet poke cake is perfect for holidays like Valentine’s Day or Christmas, but it’s just as good for birthdays or “just because” baking days. It’s simple to make, stunning to serve, and always gets rave reviews!

I see red velvet poke cakes everywhere, but they all have a thick pudding on top, and I gotta be honest, that’s not my thing. So, I went back to the basics and started with a simple sweetened condensed milk topping and guess what? I’ll never make it another way! It’s so good!!!

What is a Poke Cake?

A poke cake is a cake that is baked and then poked with holes all over. The holes are then filled with a creamy mixture (like pudding, sweetened condensed milk, caramel, or cream cheese). For this recipe, the red velvet makes it extra festive for Christmas or Valentine’s Day! Red velvet desserts are perfect for the holidays!

What Flavor is Red Velvet Cake?

Red velvet is a perfect blend of both chocolate and vanilla. It has a subtle cocoa flavor and has a lot of red food coloring added to give it the signature red color.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Red Velvet Cake Mix: The base of the cake — gives that signature red velvet flavor, color, and soft texture without extra steps.
  • Instant Red Velvet Pudding: Adds rich flavor and extra moisture, keeping the cake soft and tender after baking.
  • Sour Cream: Brings tanginess and creaminess while making the cake ultra-moist and fluffy.
  • Canola Oil: Adds moisture and tenderness — helps the cake stay soft even after chilling.
  • Eggs: Bind the ingredients and provide structure, helping the cake rise properly.
  • Whole Milk: Adds richness and helps blend everything smoothly for a velvety batter.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Soaks into the holes for that signature creamy sweetness in every bite.

Frosting

  • Cream Cheese: Adds tang and depth to the frosting, keeping it from being overly sweet.
  • Butter: Gives the frosting richness and a silky, spreadable texture.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting for that smooth, fluffy finish.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors with warm, subtle sweetness.
  • Christmas Sprinkles or Mini Chocolate Chips: Add festive color, fun texture, and instant holiday cheer!

How to Make a Red Velvet Poke Cake

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350 ℉ and grease a 9×13″ pan.
  2. Combine

Fudgy Peppermint Brownies with Chocolate Glaze

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Rich chocolate brownie with a gooey center and smooth chocolate frosting. Perfect for dessert lovers and chocolate craving indulgence.

These Peppermint Brownies are rich, fudgy, and layered with a cool burst of mint. The perfect chocolate-mint dessert for holidays or anytime you crave a sweet treat!

Chocolate and peppermint just belong together, don’t they? These Peppermint Brownies are a holiday favorite at our house—thick, fudgy brownies topped with a creamy homemade peppermint layer and finished with the most irresistible chocolate glaze. They’re the treat my kids beg to help with every December, and honestly, I don’t mind one bit because they disappear just as fast as we can make them.

Perfect for parties, cookie plates, or sneaking with a cup of cocoa by the Christmas tree.

Family is Everything

I’ve had some serious reflecting while making these peppermint patties brownies and I hope you’ll indulge me. Cooking and baking has always been a part of my life, but I never really realized it. My family has 5 children, and I fall right in the middle. Because all us kids were all in totally different stages of life my parents made it a big deal that every single night we had dinner together. No matter if we had to eat a little earlier or a little later we made it happen. So many memories made in that kitchen!

My mom’s KitchenAid became a symbol to me of those memories and the love felt around our dinner table. It is where my dad and I made my first batch of oatmeal raisin cookies, where mom taught me to make cookie cake and where I started playing around with recipes. Now that I’m older I’ve learned that when you want to know who you are you look to your family and the answer is provided.

I have my own white KitchenAid now as well as my own children to be in the kitchen with and I’m reminded that I come from a home that was centered on love and I hope to have the same for my children. I pulled it out to make these peppermint brownies and was flooded with all these thoughts and feelings and just needed to share!

These peppermint patty brownies are so crazy easy to make. This is my new go-to recipe for brownies because although Ina’s Outrageous brownies are amazing, these are fast and taste fantastic. They can easily be cut in half too. And the peppermint patty topping is just like the real deal, only it truly is even better. These are so fantastic!

Ingredients for Peppermint Brownies

Brownies

  • Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender texture by trapping moisture.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, chewiness, and a deeper caramel flavor.
  • Canola Oil: Provides fat for richness and keeps the brownies soft and moist.
  • Vanilla Extract:<
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