Last minute Holiday snack ideas

Well, not too last minute. I think I'm getting this one out to you just in time actually :-)

Over the summer, my parents threw their annual Summer Party and it was my job to bring brownies. So, I scoured the Internet for some recipes and I came across this amazing brownie recipe from the Domestic Goddess. The second recipe I got from a really great cook book I found at an estate sale. It's an at-home substitute for those candied nuts you get at a baseball game or the fair.

Try both recipes at your next Holiday Party!

Baileys Cheesecake Brownies

Recipe from Domestic Goddess in Training

Picture from Domestic Goddess in Training

Brownie mixture
110 g dark chocolate (min 70% cocoa) - somewhere between 7/8 and 1 cup

110 g butter - a little less than 1 stick
120 g vanilla sugar (or caster sugar) - little more than a 1/2 cup of baker's sugar
60 g plain flour - about 1/2 cup

2 eggs

Glug of Baileys - To taste :-)

Cheesecake mixture
225 g cream cheese - 1 block
40 g caster sugar - between 1/8 & 1/4 cup
1 egg
Generous glug of Baileys

• Preheat the oven to 300F
• Line a 9x8" square cake tin with baking parchment
• Melt the chocolate with the butter in a bain marie (double boiler)
• Remove from the heat
• Add the sugar and stir then leave to cool slightly (if you don't do this you may end up with scrambled egg brownies)
• Beat the eggs one at a time into the brownie mixture, beating until it is glossy.
• Stir in the Baileys until combined
• Gradually fold in the flour then pour into the cake tin
• For the cheesecake mixture beat the cream cheese and sugar together in a separate bowl
• Add the egg then stir in the Baileys until all is well combined
• Top the leveled brownie mixture with the cheesecake mixture and using a knife, gently swirl it into the chocolate mixture
• Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until just set in the middle
• Leave to cool in the tin for 15-20 minutes before cutting into squares and serving

Sweet and Spicy Walnuts

From The Recipe Encyclopedia - the complete illustrated guide to cooking

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cardamon

2 cups walnut halves - I got the ready to eat kind from the baking isle
1/4 cup sugar

• Preheat oven to 400F
• Melt butter in a pan; remove from heat
• Add cinnamon and cardamon - stir until combined
• Add walnuts - stir until coated
• Spread evenly on a baking pan
• Bake for 8 min or until lightly browned
• Meanwhile place sugar in a bowl
• Place hot walnuts in the sugar bowl and coat well
• Serve warm