Rock Around The Tree With These Holiday Recipes!

This year just flew by and the holiday season is in full swing! What I love the most about this time of year is getting to spend quality time with family and friends. I also love finding recipes that are quick and easy. From our kitchen to yours, here are two recipes that are full of holiday spirit!

Our first recipe is great for when the family gathers during the holidays. You can surprise them with this delicious cheese ball that is great with Ritz, Triscuit or Wheat Thins Crackers or as a centerpiece to your charcuterie board. If you’re after something sweet, and you love red velvet, you have to try our easy Oreo Cookie brownie version! Using boxed cake mix gives you classic flavor, but we turn it into a thick, chewy brownie.

Tis the season for tasty treats! Try these easy holiday recipes that are sure to be a hit!

Holiday Tree Antipasto Cheese Ball

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened
• 1 pkg. (5.2 oz.) garlic and herb cheese spread
• provolone cheese cubes
• Mini hard salami slices
• Assorted black and green olives
• Yellow and red cherry tomatoes
• Canned pickled sweet piquanté peppers, drained
• fresh rosemary sprigs
• RITZ Crackers
• TRISCUIT Crackers
• WHEAT THINS Original Snacks

Preparation

• Mix cream cheese with the garlic and herb cheese spread until blended.
• Shape into cone shape; stand on serving board or tray.
• Cover with cheese cubes; pepperoni and salami slices; olives and peppers, using toothpicks to attach ingredients to cream cheese tree.
• Insert stem ends of rosemary sprigs into the tree as shown in the photo.
• Serve with the crackers and WHEAT THINS.
• Use a guideline of 2 Tbsp. cheese spread or 1 oz. cheese cubes, 1/2 oz. meat and 1 oz. (or labeled serving size) of crackers per person. Have plenty of RITZ Crackers, TRISCUIT Crackers and WHEAT THINS Snacks available for guests to choose from along with the cheeses, meats and veggies. *Serving size of RITZ Crackers is 1/2 oz.

Tips

• Make Ahead – The cream cheese mixture can be mixed together and shaped into the tree shape ahead of time. Wrap in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for up to 2 days. Remove the shaped tree from the refrigerator, cover with the cheese cubes, meats, olives and peppers as directed, then refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.
• Substitute – Substitute 1/3 less fat cream cheese (Neufchatel) for the cream cheese.

OREO Red Velvet Brownies

Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 1 h 0 min Makes 20 servings

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (2-layer size) red velvet cake mix
• ¾ cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 16 OREO Cookies, coarsely chopped, divided
• 2 Tbsp. ready-to-spread cream cheese frosting

Preparation

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Line a 13×9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray with cooking spray; set aside.
• Empty cake mix into medium bowl. Add oil and eggs; stir just until blended. Stir in half the cookies.
• Spread batter evenly onto the bottom of the prepared pan; top with remaining chopped cookies.
• Bake 12 to 14 min. or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely. Use foil handles to remove brownie from pan.
• Microwave frosting in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 5 sec. or just until softened. (Do not microwave until melted.) Spoon frosting into a resealable plastic bag. Cut a small piece off one bottom corner of the bag; use to drizzle frosting over the brownie. Let stand until firm before cutting brownie into pieces to serve.

Tips

• Make it Special for Holiday Celebrations – After drizzling cooled brownie with the warmed frosting, top with sprinkles in the colors of the holiday at hand, such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or Fourth of July.
• Substitute – Prepare with vanilla or chocolate frosting.

Nutrition Information per Serving: 200 Calories, 11 g Total Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 20 mg Cholesterol, 160 mg Sodium, 23 g Total Carbohydrate, 0 g Dietary Fiber, 12g Total Sugars (Includes 11 g Added Sugars), 2 g Protein, 0 %DV Vitamin D, 0 %DV Calcium, 6 %DV Iron, 0 %DV Potassium, 0 %DV Vitamin A, 0 %DV Vitamin C