Peppermint Ice Cream & Chocolate Dipped Crushed Candy Cane Cones

What do you do with all those left over candy canes now that Christmas is over? Make Peppermint Ice Cream and Chocolate Dipped Crushed Candy Cane Ice Cream Cones!

This recipe is truly the easiest no fuss ice cream recipe I have ever come across and you don't even need an ice cream maker! Why is it so simple? It only involves 2 Ingredients! I know it sounds crazy, but it is absolutely true and perfectly delicious! I have seen "2 Ingredient Ice Cream" on several blogs before and it's been on my "to try" list for some time now. Well with an abundance of candy canes left over from Christmas I thought peppermint ice cream would be the perfect cool treat since I've done my fair share of eating cookies and cakes these last few days! And since you can't have ice cream without a cone, well of course a chocolate dipped cone with crushed candy canes is a necessity!

So grab some chocolate and melt it in a bowl. Dip the top of each cone in the melted chocolate.

Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top of each chocolate dipped cone.

Simple. Festive. Delicious.

I'm thinking white chocolate dipped cones would also be equally amazing!

Now that the cones are made, let's focus on the ice cream. All you need is 2 ingredients: heavy cream + sweetened condensed milk. Beat the heavy cream until stiff and then fold in the condensed milk. Stir in your favorite toppings - crushed candy canes & peppermint extract is what I used. Freeze for 6 hours. It really can't get any easier than this and honestly still tastes rich and creamy like any ice cream you would find at the store or from your favorite ice cream shop!

 

Scoop ice cream into a bowl and sprinkle with more crushed candy canes!

 

Or serve with a chocolate dipped cone!

2 Ingredient Peppermint Ice Cream
(inspired by Eagle Brand)

2 cups heavy cream
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
20 crushed mini candy canes
1/2 tsp peppermint extract

1. Place heavy cream in bowl of stand mixer. Using whisk attachment beat on high for about 1-2 minutes until stiff.
2. Fold in sweetened condensed milk.
3. Add in crushed candy canes and peppermint extract. (Or any other mix-ins you prefer)
4. Place ice cream in a plastic container with a lid and freeze for 6 hours.

Chocolate Dipped Crushed Candy Cane Ice Cream Cones

1 box sugar cones
8 oz chocolate candy bark
10 crushed mini candy canes

1. Place chocolate candy bark in microwave safe bowl and microwave for 90 seconds and stir. Continue microwaving at 15 second intervals stirring after each until chocolate is melted and smooth.
2. Dip top of sugar cone in chocolate.
3. Sprinkled crushed candy canes on top.
4. Place dipped cone on a piece of wax paper to harden.
5. Serve with Peppermint Ice Cream.

Hope you all enjoy this recipe! This is definitely one that I will be keeping on hand to try with different mix-ins! What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

There's still time to squeeze in one more Christmas treat and these are so super cute and easy and something your kids will get a kick out of! These may look like your normal gingerbread men cookies...

but with the addition of a few candies...eyeballs, mini M&M's and candy canes...

and turning them upside down...Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer comes to life! I first saw the idea for these "upside down" gingerbread reindeer cookies when a friend posted a picture on her Facebook page. The picture she posted had the reindeer antlers and face created using all piped royal icing. Instead of recreating the same look from the picture I saw I thought it would be a lot easier to just use some simple candies, one of which I'm sure you all have on hand this time of the year, mini candy canes. You will need a little bit of royal icing to attach all the candy to the cookies.

Here's step-by-step photos to bring Rudolph to life.

Aren't these the cutest Reindeer you have ever seen!

I used Bridget of Bake @ 350 Gingerbread Cookie recipe out of her new book Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday. This recipe is delicious, and produces a thick and chewy cookie! I'm a long time follower of Bridget's blog and was so excited to get my hands on her new cookie book! Her cookie recipes are delicious and her decorating skills are beautiful. Her book is packed full of some amazing and unique cookie decorating ideas. One of the best parts is that her book shows step-by-step photos for decorating all her cookies. She really helps guide you through the decorating process from start to finish so you can create some beautiful cookies.

I packaged up these cookies and passed them out to all the kids at a local preschool I was volunteering at for their holiday party! If you are still looking for the perfect last minute treat to make with your kids this Christmas, these Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies are perfect!

 

Wishing you and your family a Wonderful Christmas!

Peppermint & White Chocolate Cupcakes

With Christmas just over a week away, have you thought about what sweets you are going to leave for Santa this year? There's certainly nothing wrong with the standard cookies and milk and of course some carrots for his reindeer. But this year, why not switch things up a bit and leave Santa some fabulous Peppermint Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting! He will have fresh breath for sure as he delivers presents to all the good little boys and girls!

If you love peppermint as much as I do then you must give this recipe a try. It's a simple white cake baked with peppermint chips and frosted with white chocolate icing and candy canes sprinkled on top.

Head over to Half Baked for the recipe. Happy Holiday Baking!

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream

It's the most wonderful time of the year! This is my absolute favorite month to bake! Cookies, candies, pies and cakes are all on my baking to do list this holiday season! To start things off I've creates a new recipe for Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream! This quite possibly is one of my all time favorite cupcakes!

Chocolate and Peppermint are an amazing flavor combination. Topped off with some homemade peppermint bark, these cupcakes are sure to be one festive treat at your holiday party this year! I will certainly be making them again to share with family and friends in the coming weeks.

Head on over to Half Baked for the cupcake and peppermint bark recipes! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday filled will all sorts of yummy sweets!

Chocolate & Peppermint Candy Cane Cake Balls

I still can't get enough of chocolate and peppermint this year! You may remember my Chocolate & Peppermint Whoopie Pies. I thought those were melt in your mouth delicious, but I think these Chocolate & Peppermint Candy Cane Cake Balls just one-upped them. I have been popping these into my mouth one after another, I'm addicted.

If you are looking for the perfect dessert for your Christmas party, this is absolutely the one you must make! I have taken these to two parties this past week and this is the one dessert that gets completely devoured in no time!

So here's what you need:

1. Chocolate Cake Recipe: I used Maratha Stewart's One Bowl Chocolate, a box mix would work just as well

2.Peppermint Buttercream: recipe from my Chocolate & Peppermint Whoopie Pies

3.White Chocolate Candy Melts: 2 bags, you can buy them at your local craft store

4.Candy Canes: 6-8 crushed for garnish

• Bake cake per desired recipe in a 9x13 pan. Once cake cools cut into large chunks and grind up in food processor to fine crumbs. Pour cake crumbs into large bowl.
• Add about 1 - 1 1/2 cups peppermint buttercream to cake crumbs and mix with spatula until cake will form into a ball. Roll cake balls and place onto wax paper lined cookie sheet.
• Melt 2 bags of candy melts in microwave per package directions.
• Using a spoon gently place cake ball into melted chocolate and roll around to cover completely. Remove cake ball with spoon, lightly tapping off excess chocolate back into the bowl and placing ball on cookie sheet. Garnish with crushed candy cane.
  
• This will make about 50 cake balls.

These are so good and I want to share them with my family, but since I promised my husband I wouldn't do any baking while we are in KY I might have to convince my sister to make these for me. Emily if you are reading this, will you please please please make these cake balls for Christmas Eve! Pretty please with Candy Canes on top?