With coronavirus circulating throughout Minnesota and colder weather coming, Minnesotans are spending a lot of time inside. We can all take advantage of this time by making memories with family and friends while making holiday treats! 

One of my family’s favorite holiday treats are peppermint brownies. They’re really easy to make, taste super good and are very festive for the holidays. To make them you will need brownie mix, and peppermint candies. First make the brownies by following the directions on the box. Before putting them in the oven, sprinkle some crushed peppermint in the batter. Then, put the brownies in the oven and once they’re done add more peppermint to the top. The peppermint adds a little bit of crunchiness to the chewy brownies providing a terrific texture.

Next, we’ll make reindeer chow which is a lot like puppy chow but with a holiday twist. To make it you will need 2 cups white chocolate, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 3 cups corn Chex, 1 cup mini marshmallows, 1 cup pretzels, ½ cup craisins, ½ cup peanuts, 1 cup M&Ms and festive sprinkles. First, add the white chocolate with the vegetable oil in a bowl and heat it up until melted. Then use a big bowl to put in all the remaining ingredients together and mix them. Pour out the reindeer chow onto a cookie sheet and smooth it out into a thin layer. Sprinkle holiday themed sprinkles on top and then put the cookie sheet in a refrigerator for at least a half an hour. Finally, take the treats out of the refrigerator and you’ll have sweet and festive reindeer chow!

I hope that after reading about these holiday treats you’ll want to try them for yourself. Baking is always a great way to bring people together and can be very relaxing as well. Hopefully these delicious treats put you in the holiday spirit!