Peppermint Cereal Squares

3 Tbsp Butter or Margarine
10 ounces marshmallows (5 ½ -6 cups mini marshmallows, or 40 large marshmallows)
6 cups crispy rice cereal
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Peppermint Extract

1/2 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

3 coarsely chopped candy canes

Grease 9x13 inch baking dish with butter.  Also, butter all sides of a rubber scraper. Set in baking dish and set aside.

Melt butter in large, nonstick pan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until almost completely melted. Remove from heat, add peppermint extract, and continue stirring until completely melted. Add cereal immediately, mix well, then quickly stir in the Andes baking chips (they will begin to melt.) Press into pan using the prepared rubber spatula.  Sprinkle with candy cane pieces to taste.  Let cool and cut into squares.

Royal Icing

Royal Icing

4 Tablespoons Meringue Powder

4 cups (about 1 pound) powdered sugar

6 Tablespoons warm water

Beat all ingredients until stiff peaks form. 

(Make sure all bowls and utensils are clean- grease will mess with the consistency of your icing.)

Divide into individual bowls to add colors.  

Holiday Snickerdoodles

4 1/2 cups four 
1 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp. baking powder 
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg 
2 tsp. cinnamon 
1 cup shortening 
4 Tbsp. soft butter 
2 cups sugar 
2 eggs 
2/3 C sour cream 
2 tsp. vanilla
Colored sugar
Mix butter and shortening. Add sugar until blended. Add eggs, vanilla, and sour cream. Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to the rest of the dough. Cover and refrigerate 30-60 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 and make dough into 1 ½ inch balls. Roll in colored sugar and cook about 15 minutes on a lightly greased pan. Cool 2 minutes on pan and move to rack to finish cooling.