DIY Holiday Gifts: Goodies

We all have those people on our lists. The people you want to show you care, show you thought of them, but with the lists stretching long and the pocketbook stretching thin, quite frankly, you don't have the funds to spend but so much. Enter holiday baking. Over the past few years, I have found that this is the perfect solution for those people you want to just show some love or even as good add-on gifts for other people. I have two go-to favorites that are not only tasty, but also extremely easy to make.

• First up, Peppermint Bark.


• You need:
• 12 oz. white chocolate chips

24 hard peppermint candies (you know the red and white ones they have in dishes at restaurants)

To make:

1. Crush peppermint candies. I have found the best way to do this is to put them in a Ziploc bag and beat them with a rolling pin. Be sure to put some wax paper under the bag to catch any residue that may break through.


2. Melt the white chocolate chips over medium heat in a double boiler.


3. Hold a strainer over the melted chocolate and pour the crushed candies in. The strainer should catch the bigger peppermint pieces.


4. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Pour the chocolate onto the baking sheet and smooth out to thin layer.


5. Top with bigger peppermint pieces. Leave out for an hour.


6. Break into pieces and store in airtight container.

Yummy, huh? This next one is actually a little better (at least in my humble opinion).

Tiger Butter

You need:

• 1 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter
• 16 oz. white chocolate
• 16 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 tbsp. shortening

To make:

1. Line 9 x13 baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Melt white chocolate chips in double boiler over medium heat. Once melted, stir in peanut butter. Pour into baking dish.
3. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and shortening in microwave. Pour over peanut butter layer.
4. Twist knife through mixture to give it that swirl effect.

Double yum, right? So, what about you guys? Have any good holiday baking recipes to share? Please do:)