Hot Fudge Sauce

One jar of hot fudge sauce.

Oh, so many uses.


1. Heat it up just a bit, and spoon it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream after Christmas dinner because you really haven't had enough to eat yet.

2. Eat it straight from the fridge, straight from the jar, with a spoon. It's the most delightful cross between a warm hot fudge and a rich, dense square of fudge. Repeat regularly, each time you walk into your kitchen, until the jar is empty.

3. Add it to the top of your favorite, already rich dessert that could benefit from just a little bit more chocolate: cupcakes, cookies, pie or cheesecake!

4. Drizzle a little over your pancakes for breakfast. Divine.

5. Stir a little into warmed milk or hot coffee to make a delicious chocolatey drink.

6. Add it into your next batch of brownies after you've poured the batter into the pan, pouring a little in and then swirling it with a knife. Bake as usual.

7. Unroll a croissant, spread a little warmed hot fudge sauce in the middle, and re-seal. Eat, and smile.

8. Spread on the bottom of a graham cracker, top with a toasted marshmallow and enjoy a decadent s'more.

9. Thin it a little with half-and-half, and while still warm, use it as fondu. Dip sweet bread, fruits, marshmallows and nuts in it.

10. Spread a generous amount between two sandwich cookies: delicious homemade chocolate Oreos.

 

I'm sure the list goes on, but I have to stop. I just realized, sadly, that the single jar of hot fudge sauce I made will be nowhere near enough to bring all my hot fudge dreams to life.

It's back into the kitchen for me!

Day Seven: Sugar Cookies

My first memory is making these cookies. Not for Christmas, mind you. I was at my Grandma's house the night my parents were at the hospital welcoming my little brother into the world. We (most likely Grandma) decided that we would make tiny baskets of sugar cookies to bring to my parents and little brother in the hospital the next day.

I can still picture her round wooden table covered in thinly rolled cookie dough, the tiny cookie cutters slicing in and out of the dough, and the little animals that resulted.

We made tiny paper baskets. Again, I'm sure this was mostly Grandma, but 2 1/2 year old me has very vivid memories of being actively involved in the delicate paper folding process.

The next day, we carried the tiny baskets of cookies to my mom and dad. I was so proud of our creations and so happy to welcome my new little brother.

These sugar cookies always remind me of that night. Everyone has a favorite sugar cookie recipe, and this one, straight from my Grandma's table, will always be mine.

Day Six: Betty's Wreath Cookies

There are five unique locations to buy Christmas trees within 2 1/2 blocks of my apartment.

Since I moved to the city, I've only had a Christmas tree once. We bought it from a seller outside the YMCA. It was a small, scraggly tree, both what we could afford and what would fit inside our tiny living room. We brought it home, decorated it with Mardi Gras beads and the few ornaments we could scrounge up.

We loved it, but it was a far cry from the Christmas tree excursions I remember from growing up. We'd get all suited up in our snowsuits, load the whole family (and dog) up in the car, and drive to the Christmas tree farm up the street. We'd pour over hundreds of still living trees, searching for the perfect shape and height for our living room. A bird's nest was a bonus; we knew it would bring us good luck.

Finally, the tree would be spotted, my parents would both agree, and we'd saw it down to bring it home. It  would take a few of us to drag the tree down the road back to the car. We'd get it strapped on and we'd head home for hot chocolate.

My dad was always in charge of the lights, and he'd regret the years when we got the prickly pine tree. Last night he sent me a picture of their tree, lights on.

This recipe is certainly a tribute to Christmas. These wreath cookies, from the kitchen of my Grandma Clements, are a little fussy but certainly worth the trouble. Several may break in the process, but do not fret. They taste just as good.

Day Three: Rich Chocolate Fudge

We have fudge on our table every year at Christmas time, but we've never really had a go-to family recipe for fudge. I imagine there was one at some point, but once I assumed fudge-making responsibilities, I just couldn't find it. So instead, I'd dig through my mom's recipe box every year looking for a fudge recipe that seemed right, or I'd pull out the Betty Crocker cookbook and see what she had to say.

One year I'd use mini-marshmallows, and the next year, I'd switch to sweetened condensed milk. The fudge was always chocolate, but it ended up with different consistencies each year.

I've been in charge of making the fudge for Christmas since I was 11 or 12, and I think I've finally settled on a recipe I'm happy with.

Although this fudge primarily consists of semisweet chocolate, there are a few ounces of bittersweet chocolate mixed in, which gives the fudge a nice depth. Add walnuts or pecans as desired to give it a little crunch. Or top it with crushed candy canes (when you pull it out of the oven so they don't melt!) to give it that extra holiday feel.

Cut it into small pieces. Because you'll want to eat several. And you will eat several, whether they're large or small.

Day Two: Dad's Famous Toffee

Dad's Famous Toffee wasn't made by my dad, but it was made by A dad. My grandpa to be exact. Every year, he'd clear off the kitchen counter and cook tray after tray of toffee. I remember my grandma doing most of the cooking, so it was always a treat to have something grandpa made.

Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma Tobin's was always a highlight of my year. The house would be overflowing with people (my grandparents had seven children!). After a bit, we'd hear sleigh bells and footsteps, and Santa would make his way downstairs with presents for all the kids. When Santa left, we'd break open the Christmas pinata my relatives from Arizona sent, and we'd scramble for the candy inside. We'd sing Christmas carols around the piano.

Dad's famous toffee was always out on the table. Toffee wasn't my go-to dessert as a kid, but I've grown to love it as an adult, particularly this version I've doctored up with a little chocolate.

If you're looking for an easy Christmas gift to share with your friends or co-workers, this toffee will definitely do the trick. And if you're carrying around any extra holiday stress, whacking the bottom of the pan repeatedly will help relieve it.

Day One: Butterscotch Haystacks

I'm starting you out with cookies that couldn't be easier.

Butterscotch Haystacks.

Four ingredients is all you need to create something wonderful. The butterscotch and peanut butter mixture is smooth and creamy, a perfect contrast to the crunchy noodles and peanuts underneath.

If you can find the Chinese noodles, that is. Sometimes called Chow Mein Noodles, they resemble noodles only in shape, not in taste or texture. In Michigan, they were always simple to find, and we'd pick them up at our local grocery store.

Not in Brooklyn. Last year I went in eight different shops searching for the noodles and considered ordering them from Amazon.com until I finally found a grocery store that stocked them. I think the hunting was worth it. These haystacks come together in a matter of minutes and are pretty addictive.

It's Christmas (Cookie) Time

I'm a cheesy person in general. I crack the jokes that make me laugh out loud while others just roll their eyes. So you'll have to forgive me this month, but Christmas just brings the cheesiness out of me. I want to sing and dance and drink hot cocoa with a peppermint stick while looking at pretty Christmas trees.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Trees are popping up in windows all down my block. Christmas party invites are arriving. I'm thinking about what delicious treat I'll make to share with my coworkers this year. 

And I'm thinking about all my favorite Christmas cookie recipes I want to share with you. 

Twelve to be exact. 

Starting December 1st, check back each day for a new Christmas cookie recipe. We'll go through all my favorites below and a few more treats. 

I'm already hungry.