Holiday

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

Saint Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake is a delicious treat perfect for any green celebration. A fun shamrock sprinkle mix decorates the chocolate-coated glass. Sprinkle some extra on top of the freshly whipped cream for a milkshake fit for a leprechaun!

This recipe was created for and sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers. All opinions are my own.

Green mint chocolate chip milkshake with chocolate coated sprinkle rim and whipped cream

Milkshakes are one of my favorite frozen treats, and these Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes get an extra dose of holiday cheer with a festive sprinkle mix. Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes are the an easy treat to make for Saint Patrick’s Day. They are family-friendly, because green beer and Irish Cream Liqueur are definitely not for the kiddos. Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes will make them feel like they are part of the celebration too.

I used dark chocolate coating wafers for dipping the glasses. They are in the baking section of local craft stores. Some bulk food stores carry them as well. Feel free to use milk chocolate or white chocolate, but I personally think the dark chocolate makes the sprinkles stand out more.

Green mint chocolate chip milkshake with chocolate coated sprinkle rim and whipped cream

Speaking of sprinkles, I love fun sprinkle mixes and they totally make the dessert. I love the different shades of greens, touches of white, and colored pearl sprinkles in this one that Sweets & Treats gave me. Sprinkles definitely take this milkshake over the top.

What you need for Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes:

  • mason jars
  • dark chocolate coating wafers
  • shamrock sprinkle mix
  • green and gold paper straws
  • Wilton 1M piping tip and piping bag

Green mint chocolate chip milkshake with chocolate coated sprinkle rim and whipped cream

Mason jars are in most grocery stores, Target and online. Dark chocolate coating wafers and the Wilton 1M piping tip and piping bags can be found in craft stores. I received my sprinkle mix from Sweets & Treats online store, as well as some green straws. Paper straws are common in most craft stores, although a better selection is usually available online.

I found those cute little cauldrons in the dollar section of my Target after Halloween. These cauldrons are so cute and great for both Saint Patrick’s Day and Halloween! I filled them with little gold coin sprinkle quins, but they can also be filled with chocolate gold coins for a festive touch.

Green mint chocolate chip milkshake with chocolate coated sprinkle rim and whipped cream

Green mint chocolate chip milkshake with chocolate coated sprinkle rim and whipped cream

St. Patrick’s Day Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshakes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup melted dark chocolate candy melting wafers
  • St. Patrick’s Day shamrock sprinkle mix
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 cups mint chocolate chip ice cream
  • Mint Green gel food color, optional
  • Freshly Whipped Cream

Instructions
 

  • Melt chocolate according to package directions. Dip rims of glasses into chocolate then immediately sprinkle with shamrock sprinkle mix. Refrigerate 5-10 minutes.
  • In high-powered blender, combine milk, ice cream and a few drops of mint green food color. Blend until combined. Pour into glasses, top with freshly whipped cream and more sprinkles.

I am honored to work with Florida Dairy Farmers. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Love and Confections possible. 

 

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Cream Chocolate Cupcakes

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Cream Chocolate Cupcakes are decadent chocolate cupcakes infused with Irish Cream Liqueur, then decorated with a trendy buttercream piping technique in various shades of white and green. Top with a fun sprinkle mix that will shamrock your St.Patrick’s Day.

This recipe was created for and sponsored by Dixie Crystals. All opinions are my own.

Irish Cream chocolate cupcakes topped with white and green buttercream piping and shamrock sprinkle mix

 

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Sweetheart Strawberry Milkshake

Grab a couple straws and sip a pretty, pink strawberry milkshake with your sweetheart. Homemade strawberry ice cream and fresh strawberries, along with a dark chocolate drip covered in sprinkles is sure to be Cupid’s favorite this Valentine’s Day.
This post is sponsored by Dixie Crystals. All opinions are my own.

Treat your sweetheart to a delicious and easy strawberry milkshake with a chocolate sprinkle drip on the glass. Freshly whipped cream is a must for milkshakes. Top it off with more sprinkles and a fun straw, for a festive flair. Strawberry ice cream made with fresh strawberries, plus frozen strawberries, blend to perfection for a creamy and delicious pink treat.
Strawberry milkshakes hold a special place in my heart. As a kid, when we took special trips to the  the local strawberry farm for freshly made, hot cinnamon buns and cold strawberry milkshakes from the freshly picked strawberries at the farm. My dad loved taking me and my sister there. The smell of the cinnamon buns and strawberries was intoxicating. Hopefully I will be able to take my daughter there someday soon.
My love of milkshakes has definitely passed down to my daughter. She loves ice cream and milkshakes, and would have them every day if she could. These were the perfect treat for us to share. She loved the chocolate drip and the fun sprinkle mix. I have quite the collection of straws, and gave her the choice of red, hot pink, or light pink for our milkshakes.

I hope you make your sweetheart something special this Valentine’s Day!

 

Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream #ChristmasSweetsWeek

Skip the coffeehouse and bake some delicious Gingerbread Latte Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream! These delectable cupcakes are topped with a coffee buttercream, adorable specialty sprinkle mix, and mini gingerbread man cut-out cookies!! They are almost too cute to eat!
This post is sponsored in conjunction with ChristmasSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the ChristmasSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

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Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies with Eggnog Glaze #ChristmasCookiesWeek

Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies are a twist on the classic and include our favorite holiday drink. It isn’t Christmas until we have some eggnog!



This post is sponsored in conjunction with Christmas Cookies Week. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the recipes. All opinions are my own.


Christmas cookies are some of my favorite cookies to make. Every year we make our traditional Cut-Out Sugar Cookies, as well as Ginger Crinkles, and Nutmeg Logs. I wanted to add a different cookie to the mix this year, and this twist on the classic snickerdoodle was the perfect choice. Eggnog Snickerdoodles will definitely be added to my Christmas cookie list from now on.

From what I can tell, people either love or hate eggnog. Mr. L&C loves it and can’t wait until December rolls around to start drinking it. To say these cookies were a hit is an understatement. When I opened the container, the nutmeg is prominent, and you can tell just by smell that these cookies are full of eggnog goodness.

I made some with the glaze, but actually prefer it without. The glaze doesn’t set hard, so they don’t stack easily with it. The cookies are good on their own and were gobbled perfectly fine without the glaze, so it’s your choice if you want to add it or not.

This batch went to a Christmas cookie exchange party with friends, and you can definitely tell that those who loved eggnog kept going back for more. Mr. L&C was happy they weren’t all eaten, so we brought the extras home to snack on during the week.

I haven’t tried freezing them, but I think they would do find baked, placed in a airtight container, then plastic wrapped to keep them fresh, if you like baking ahead. Since we make a lot of cookies, I will probably do just that with another batch, so we have them for the Christmas Day.

Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies

adapted from Lovefromtheoven.com

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup eggnog
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon rum extract
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup eggnog

Instructions

  1. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside
  2. In bowl of stand mixer, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down sides of bowl and add eggs, eggnog, vanilla extract and rum extract. Mix on low to combine.
  3. Add in dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Wrap bowl in plastic wrap and chill for 1+ hours
  4. Heat oven to 350F. Prepare cookie sheets with parchment. Combine sugar and nutmeg into small bowl for topping
  5. Using a small cookie scoop, scoop dough into tablespoon size balls. Roll dough balls in sugar-nutmeg mixture then place on cookie sheets.
  6. Bake 8-9 minutes, being careful not to overbake. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheet then move to wire rack to cool completely.
  7. If topping with glaze, whisk together powdered sugar and eggnog. Drizzle over cookies and top with sprinkles if desired.

Yield: 4-5 dozen

#ChristmasCookiesWeek Friday Recipes

Disclaimer: Thank you #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsors: Adams Extract, Sprinkle Pop, YumGoggle and Silpat for providing the prizes free of charge. The #ChristmasCookiesWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Four (4) winners will be selected at random from entries received. The prize packages will be fulfilled by and sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. #ChristmasCookiesWeek bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household are not eligible to enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookiesWeek posts or entry.

Christmas Rosette Sugar Cookies #ChristmasCookiesWeek

Soft and buttery sugar cookies receive a classy twist with buttercream frosting rosettes and a fun Christmas sprinkle mix for the holiday season!

This post is sponsored in conjunction with Christmas Cookies Week. I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the recipes. All opinions are my own.


Sugar cookies are a holiday tradition in my family, and I have been making sugar cookies since I needed a step-stool to reach the counter. This year, instead of our family’s favorite frosting or royal icing, I wanted to create beautiful and easy buttercream frosting rosettes topped with a festive sprinkle mix.

This dough is very easy to work with and one of my favorite cookies to make. I usually make them for every holiday, and enjoy them most at Christmas. My mom, sister and I decorate cookies together – and eat quite a few along the way. Last year, I think we made a total of 17 dozen different cookies, and this sugar cookie recipe was probably 4-5 dozen of them.

Buttercream rosettes are really beautiful on every baked good, from cookies to cupcakes to layer cakes, it all looks amazing. I chose both pink and red for a fun color combination and they match the Christmas sprinkle mix perfectly.

I tinted the entire batch pink, used half, then tinted the rest red. It’s easier if you start with pink so you don’t have to use as much red food coloring. Also, red darkens a lot as it dries, so don’t go overboard on the color.

The sprinkles used in today’s recipe are from Sprinkle Pop. They have a lot of fun and festive sprinkle mixes and these matched perfectly with my buttercream. I love the bright color combination and it is the perfect twist on traditional Christmas colors.

Christmas Rosette Sugar Cookies

By Love and Confections

Cookie Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Place flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Whisk together briefly. Cut in butter using a pastry blender.
  2. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk egg, heavy cream and vanilla together. Pour egg mixture into the flour/butter mixture and combine with a spoon, or by hand, until it forms a cohesive ball of dough.
  3. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours. If not using the same day, the dough can stay in the refrigerator overnight, or you can securely wrap it, place in a ziploc bag and store in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Thaw overnight in refrigerator or a few hours on the counter.
  4. When ready to make cookies, heat oven to 400F, roll out to 3/8 inch thick. Using a 2.25 inch round cookie cutter, cut out and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 5-8 minutes (or 9-11 minutes on an Airbake cookie sheet) or until just golden brown around the edges. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooking rack and cool completely before icing.

Buttercream Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
  • pinch salt
  • 1 pound confectioners’ powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Adam’s Clear Vanilla Extract
  • 2-4 teaspoons milk
  • Deep Pink and Super Red gel food color
  • Sprinkle Pop Fahoo Fores sprinkle mix

Instructions

  1. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter, shortening and salt on medium until combined.
  2. Add in half of the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while on low. Scrape down the bowl as necessary. Add in remaining powdered sugar, extract and 2 teaspoons milk. Mix on low to combine then whip on medium until light and fluffy. Add additional milk if frosting is too thick to pipe. Scrape down the bowl.
  3. Use 1-2 drops pink gel food coloring and mix until combined. Place half in piping bag fitted with 1M piping tip.
  4. Use 2-3 drops red gel food coloring on remaining icing and mix until combined. Place remaining buttercream into piping bag fitted with 1M piping tip.
  5. Pipe rosettes onto cookies and top with sprinkles.

Yield: 24 cookies

#ChristmasCookiesWeek Monday Recipes

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: Thank you #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsors: Adams Extract, Sprinkle Pop, YumGoggle and Silpat for providing the prizes free of charge. The #ChristmasCookiesWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Four (4) winners will be selected at random from entries received. The prize packages will be fulfilled by and sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. #ChristmasCookiesWeek bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household are not eligible to enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookiesWeek posts or entry.

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake #EasterSweetsWeek

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting is a sweet and not-too-tart treat that is perfect for Spring and Summer.

I received product and/or samples from the #EasterSweetsWeek sponsors to use in recipes. All opinions are my own.

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake from LoveandConfections.com


Welcome to this year’s #EasterSweetWeek event hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife. We’re so glad that you’ve joined us for this week long event of Springtime and Easter dessert recipes! We’re sharing tons of treats this week plus a few fantastic giveaways! You’re going to love what we have in store for you.

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake from LoveandConfections.com

Lemon is definitely one of my go-to Springtime flavors. I love citrus and growing up in Florida, citrus is abundant. My family and I go to the citrus groves during season and pick oranges, tangerines, grapefruit and lemons. I love everything from meyer lemons to key limes, and everything in between.

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake from LoveandConfections.com

While I love baking from scratch the most, sometimes I do the semi-homemade route and start with a box mix. When I am planning a big party or holiday event, this is a time-saver, especially when I am in charge of more than one course or dish. I am definitely glad I chose this Easy Lemon Bundt Cake for our Easter celebration. It is sweet and moist, and I love the tart lemon flavor.

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake from LoveandConfections.com

This year we have are 28 fantastic bloggers participating in this year’s Easter dessert event! Throughout the week we’ll be share tons of great Springtime and Easter themed dessert recipes with you. With over 75 sweet dessert recipes being shared this week we just know that you’re going to want to save some of these recipes to make again and again! We even hope that some of these recipes end up in your Easter recipe keepsake collection! Plus, don’t forget that we have 5 (five) great giveaways for you this week thanks to our amazing sponsors! Scroll down to take a look!

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake from LoveandConfections.com

Easy Lemon Pudding Bundt Cake

By Love and Confections

Cake Ingredients:

  • 15.25 ounce Lemon Supreme cake mix, dry mix only
  • 3.4 ounce instant lemon pudding, dry mix only
  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon zest

Frosting:

  • 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Yellow sprinkles, optional

Instructions:

  1. Heat oven to 350F. Prepare bundt pan with baking spray or grease and flour. Set aside
  2. In stand mixer or mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pudding, eggs, Greek yogurt, oil, butter, water, extract and first measure of lemon zest. Mix to combine.
  3. Pour into bundt pan and bake 50-60 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely
  4. Prepare Frosting. With hand mixer or stand mixer combine cream cheese, 3 cups powdered sugar, zest and 1-2 tablespoons juice. Add more powdered sugar or juice as needed. Either spread onto cake or place into piping bag and pipe on top of bundt cake. Add sprinkles. Chill until serving.

Yield: 12+ servings

 

Check out the amazing #EasterSweetsWeek recipes from our bloggers today!

#EasterSweetsWeek Logo

PRIZE #1

Prize #1 — Dixie Crystals is giving away one (1) Instant Pot (8 Qt) to one lucky winner!

PRIZE #2

  
Prize #2 — Adam’s Extract is giving one (1) winner 5 different extracts including a bottle of Pure vanilla and a color pack.

PRIZE #3

Prize #3 — Rainier Fruit is giving one (1) winner a box of Apples and some wonderful Apple themed goodies from Sur La Table

PRIZE #4

Prize #4 — Anolon is giving one (1) winner a Anolon® Vesta™ 9-Inch Square Baker in Cobalt Blue

PRIZE #5

Prize #5 — Microplane is giving one (1) winner a Twist & Zest, grip & strip and a classic zester/grater

Giveaway open to US Residents 18 years or older.. All entries will be verified. No PO Boxes Please. Prizes will be sent directly from sponsors to winners, bloggers are not responsible for prizes. This giveaway runs from March 26th – April 1st at 12AMEST. Winners will be selected soon afterwards and contacted by e-mail. Winners will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. There are a total of 5 (five) prizes and therefore we will have a total of 5 (five) winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Disclaimer: These posts and recipes are part of the week long event, #EasterSweetsWeek but all opinions are 100% mine! We would like Thank our amazing sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Adam’s Extract, Rainier Fruit, Anolon and Microplane! These wonderful sponsors provided the prize packs for our giveaways and also sent samples and products to the #EasterSweetsWeek bloggers to use in their recipes.

Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes

Add some spice to your Valentine’s Day celebration with Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes. These fun and festive chocolate cupcakes have a sweet heat frosting from cinnamon candies, colorful confetti sprinkles and heart cupcake topper.

This sponsored post is written on behalf of Dixie Crystals. All opinions are my own.
Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes from LoveandConfections.com 

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love celebrating holidays and baking special treats for my loved ones. These Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes are sure to be a spicy and sweet surprise that will make everyone’s day brighter. 
Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes from LoveandConfections.com

You can’t have Valentine’s Day without some sort of chocolate. I chose a chocolate cupcake base to compliment my frosting. Cinnamon extract, which is optional, perfectly pairs with the moist, chocolate cupcake. If you’re not a fan of cinnamon, you can add extra vanilla or even almond extract.
Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes from LoveandConfections.com

The perfectly pink frosting gets its color from cinnamon candies. I warmed some milk and let the candies sit in the milk before straining and adding it to the buttercream. I have seen some people try and pulverize these candies in the food processor, but they are pretty tough. Soaking in milk really brings out the cinnamon flavor and you don’t have to worry about grainy candy bits ruining the frosting. I added 1 small drop of gel food coloring just to brighten up the pink.

Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes from LoveandConfections.com

Decorations on cupcakes are a must! You should see my ever-growing sprinkle collection. Red, white and pink confetti hearts top the cupcakes and add some whimsy. Cupcake toppers are always adorable. Local party stores always have cute options, or a DIY cupcake topper is great in a pinch.

Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes from LoveandConfections.com

I hope you have a delicious, sweet and spicy Valentine’s Day! Here are some tools you may need to make these cupcakes:

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Red Hot Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes from LoveandConfections.com

I have an ongoing relationship with Dixie Crystals as a recipe developer and brand ambassador. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Love and Confections possible. This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links – if you make a purchase after clicking the link, the price will not be higher, but a portion of the sale will go towards the sustainability of this website. As always, all opinions are my own.

New Year’s Eve Bites and Delights – Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms, Puff Pastry Cheese Straws and Nutella Cheesecake Cookie Shooters

New Year’s Eve is all about finger food and I made ricotta stuffed mushrooms, puff pastry cheese straws and Nutella cheesecake cookie shooters for the occasion!
This sponsored post is written on behalf of Florida Dairy Farmers. All opinions are my own.
New Year's Eve Bites and Delights - Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms, Puff Pastry Cheese Straws and Nutella Cheesecake Cookie Shooters from LoveandConfections.com


We always have a New Year’s Eve party, and more often than not it’s all about the finger food and small bites. I love creating a special menu for our party, and I definitely need to plan, especially after our NYE a few years ago. We did a potluck and ended up with ALL THE CHEESE. There were two cheese trays, macaroni and cheese bites, cheese spread, and one person brought chicken fingers. There is nothing wrong with it, but I love a variety, and that’s why I created this menu.

New Year's Eve Bites and Delights - Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms, Puff Pastry Cheese Straws and Nutella Cheesecake Cookie Shooters from LoveandConfections.com

Mushrooms are a family favorite, whether stuffed as an appetizer, in a sauce, or any variation in between. Stuffed mushrooms are a simple and easy appetizer, with little prep and ingredients needed. You can customize them for any flavor profile, add almost any protein, and just have fun when making them. I always make extra, because they usually go really fast at parties. You can serve it as-is or with a marinara sauce.

New Year's Eve Bites and Delights - Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms, Puff Pastry Cheese Straws and Nutella Cheesecake Cookie Shooters from LoveandConfections.com

Puff pastry cheese straws are about the easiest appetizer and so delicious! These straws are light and airy, crispy and the perfect amount of cheddar cheese and spices. Like the mushrooms, these can be totally customized. I love using cheddar cheese, but mozzarella with marinara, or swiss cheese would be great too. Depending on the cheese, you could also have a dip. I opted for a ranch in case anyone wants it, but they are perfect on their own. You could make a variety of cheese straws and dips and have a whole party tray of just that.

New Year's Eve Bites and Delights - Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms, Puff Pastry Cheese Straws and Nutella Cheesecake Cookie Shooters from LoveandConfections.com

Dessert is a must at my parties and I usually have a variety. This year I decided that Nutella would be the star of the show. I love chocolate and hazelnut together in any form. Cheesecake is always a crowd-pleaser, but I didn’t want to be in the kitchen cooking a cheesecake. No-bake cheesecakes are a favorite for parties because of how easy they come together. Anything that makes my menu easier definitely helps me out.

New Year's Eve Bites and Delights - Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms, Puff Pastry Cheese Straws and Nutella Cheesecake Cookie Shooters from LoveandConfections.com

Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds whole white mushrooms
  • 3/4 cup ricotta
  • 1/3 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
  • 1-2 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • olive oil
  • Shredded Pecorino Romano cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease or spray a 9×13 baking dish and set aside.
  2. Clean mushrooms and remove the stem. Place mushroom caps into baking dish and set aside. Finely chop mushroom stems.
  3. In a medium bowl, place mushroom stems, ricotta, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley 1 egg and pepper. Mix to combine. If mixture is too dry, add second egg. Place into pastry bag or zip top bag and pipe into mushroom caps.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes until mushrooms are cooked and top is slightly brown and puffed. Serve warm with marinara sauce.

Puff Pastry Cheese Straws

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets store-bought puff pastry
  • 6 ounces Cabot Sharp Cheddar Cheese, finely shredded
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 egg + 2 teaspoons water

Instructions

  1. Thaw puff pastry according to package directions. Heat oven to 400F. Prepare cookie sheets with parchment paper
  2. Dust counter lightly with flour. Roll puff pastry with rolling pin to 1/8 inch thickness. Sprinkle pastry with 1/3 of shredded cheese, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon paprika. Fold in half and roll again to 1/8 inch thickness.
  3. Using a sharp knife, cut into 1/2 inch strips, twist, then place on cookie sheet 1/2 to 1 inch apart. Place cookie sheets in refrigerator minimum 15 minutes. Repeat with second sheet of puff pastry.
  4. Whisk egg and water together. Using a pastry brush, apply the egg wash then sprinkle remaining cheese on straws. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Serve warm

Nutella Cheesecake Cookie Shooters

Ingredients

  • chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
  • 1/2 cup Nutella
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, soft
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar, divided
  • toasted hazelnuts, garnish
  • raspberries, garnish
  • chocolate wafer cookies, garnish
  • gold sprinkles, garnish

Instructions

  1. Crush chocolate wafer cookies to make crumbs. Place 1-2 tablespoons in the bottom of each dessert shot glass.
  2. In a medium bowl, beat Nutella, cream cheese and all but 3 tablespoons of the powdered sugar.
  3. In separate bowl, whisk heavy whipping cream and 3 tablespoons powdered sugar until stiff. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
  4. Place cheesecake mix into piping bag and pipe into dessert glasses. Garnish with chocolate wafer cookie, rasperries, toasted hazelnuts and gold sprinkles.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

I have an ongoing relationship with Florida Dairy Farmers as a recipe developer. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Love and Confections possible. This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links – if you make a purchase after clicking the link, the price will not be higher, but a portion of the sale will go towards the sustainability of this website. As always, all opinions are my own.