Chocolate candies are always a hit around the holidays. Add some caramel or nuts, and you're on your way to something amazing! There are a few that I can never get enough of: Pecan Turtles, Chocolate Cashew Clusters, and Ritz Thin Mints. Read on to learn more about my 3 Easy Christmas Treats (that contain three ingredients or less).
If you've ever ventured into the world of holiday cookie plates, then you know how much work it can be. Batch after batch of sugary treats lining every counter you have. A hot oven running all day long. And sugar. So. Much. Sugar. Tis the season!
In this post, I'll share 3 easy Christmas treats to help you fill out those holiday cookie platters for your loved ones. You don't have to be a professional baker to whip up something special! So let's get started!
Read on for all the loving details to make these 3 easy Christmas treats.
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Featured Ingredients
Read below about a few of the ingredients used to make these 3 easy Christmas treats.
TIP: Add festive sprinkles as an OPTIONAL ingredient for any of these recipes!
Pecan Turtles
Pretzels - I prefer to use the little grid-shaped pretzels called Butter Snaps by the Snyders brand. They have an extra buttery flavor that complements the treat, and the flat grid is the perfect base to hold the melty chocolate candy.
Rolo - If you are unfamiliar Rolo is the name brand of the candy used to make this treat. It is a small cylinder-shaped chocolate filled with caramel. It's the perfect size for this little pecan turtle!
Pecans - You'll want pecan halves for this recipe.
Chocolate Cashew Clusters
Chocolate - For the best flavor in your treats, it's imperative to use high-quality ingredients since there's very little to mask the flavor. I recommend using good quality chocolate chips instead of a chocolate bark bar. Trust me, the taste makes it worth it!
Also, use the style you like best, whether it's semi-sweet, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate!
Cashews - Again, use what you like best, so if you prefer peanuts or walnuts, go for that! I'd stay away from almonds as they can be a bit hard to bite in a cluster.
Maldon salt - This is the icing on this cake. Like my Salted Caramel Cheesecake Dip, just a pinch of beautiful flake salt takes this treat to the next level!
Ritz Thin Mints
Mint chocolate - You can buy a package of Ande's Creme de Menthe thin mints and unwrap them individually or check the baking aisle for a bag of Ande's baking chips. It may be with seasonal baking items as well.
Ritz crackers - Here's the secret ingredient! However, be sure to get the name brand. The generic versions don't quite stand up to the test.
See recipe card for quantities.
Tools for the job
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sheet pan
- Parchment or a silicone baking mat
- Double boiler or small pot with a fitted bowl
- Mixing bowl (paid link) (paid link)
- Small dining spoon, dinner fork
How to make 3 Easy Christmas Treats
Pecan Turtles
- Preheat your oven to 300°F.
- Unwrap the Rolo candies.
- Place evenly on a lined sheet pan as many pretzels as you'd like to make. Top each pretzel with a Rolo, then top each Rolo with a pecan.
- Carefully set the pan in the oven and warm for 3 minutes.
- When the candy is out of the oven, gently press each pecan down into the chocolate to connect all three pieces.
- Let the pecan turtles cool for 20 minutes.
Chocolate Cashew Clusters
- In a double boiler on the stove, warm the chocolate chips until fully melted, stirring frequently. Add the cashews to the chocolate and stir until they're completely coated.
- Using a small dining spoon, lay little piles of chocolatey cashews out on a piece of parchment, wax paper, or a baking mat and let cool for a few minutes.
- Before the chocolate is completely cooled, sprinkle a pinch of Maldon flake salt on top. (If you do it while the chocolate is still hot, the salt will melt.)
- Let the chocolate cashew clusters cool until solid.
Ritz Thin Mints
- In a double boiler on the stove, warm the Ande's mint chips until fully melted, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.
- Set the bowl alongside a piece of parchment, wax paper, or a baking mat. Drop a cracker into the bowl, then, using a dinner fork, flip it over and remove it from the chocolate.
- Hover over the bowl briefly to let excess chocolate drip off, then set the Ritz thin mint on the parchment.
Hot Tip!
Fancy up your Ritz thin mints by drizzling more chocolate on top using a fork. Wait until the first layer of chocolate has set, then pull out a little more chocolate with the fork and swing it over the top of each treat, waving around to drizzle lines of minty chocolate.
How to make a double boiler
Why use a double boiler? Melting chocolate can be a finicky process. You don't want the chocolate sitting directly on the heat because it can seize up. (This is when it goes from melted glossy to thick and dry-looking.) You also don't want moisture dripping into the chocolate, as it can also seize up. The best way to combat these two things is by making (or buying) a double boiler. (paid links)
- 2-piece double boiler - This product is an all-in-one design that sets it apart from add-on styles like the one below. The design ensures a snug fit that creates a barrier against water leaking or splashing into the chocolate. As a result, the chocolate stays protected from moisture and maintains its quality for longer periods.
- Add-on double boiler - This is a single piece you add to a pot you already own. It usually will have a pour spout on both sides and hooks to help steady it in whatever pot you use.
- A bowl and a pot - You can create a double boiler with items you already have in your kitchen! For best results, use a metal bowl that sits slightly above the pot rather than snugly in the pot, which makes it hard to remove the bowl once it's hot. (see below)
How to use a double boiler
- To use the double boiler, set the pot on the stove. Add 1-2 inches of water into the pot and place the bowl on top. Fill it with chocolate and turn the heat on to medium-low. when you start to see pieces melting, start stirring.
- Listen for the water and turn it down if it starts to bubble or steam too vigorously.
- If you're working with it for a while, make sure the water in the pot doesn't dry up.
- Have a towel handy to set the bowl on to catch water drips as you use the chocolate.
- If the chocolate starts to firm up, put it back on the warm pot and stir until it's melted again. You may not need to turn the stove back on for this.
Storing the Christmas treats
All of these treats can be stored in a zip top bag or sealed container on the counter for up to a week.
If you have melted chocolate left over in the double boiler, pour it onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread it out evenly. Allow the chocolate to cool and harden completely. Once it has firmed up, break it into smaller pieces and place them in a sealed container in your cupboard. When you want to use the chocolate again, just remelt the pieces in the double boiler as you did before.
FAQ
To melt the chocolates in the microwave, add the measured amount into a glass bowl or measuring pitcher. Heat the chips in 30-second intervals, stirring after each time, until the chocolate has fully melted.
You can use any kind of "chip" you can find for this treat, including white chocolate chips or even butterscotch chips. You can also change out the nuts used, for example, switching to peanuts or macadamia nuts.
If you can't find the bags of chopped Ande's mints, you can use the regular candies or a bag of milk chocolate chips and a few drops of peppermint oil. If you need to use peppermint extract, then add a bit of cooking oil so the chocolate doesn't seize up.
Related
Looking for other holiday recipes? Try these:
Print
3 Easy Christmas Treats
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 100 pieces
Description
3 Easy Christmas Treats are yummy little chocolate bites, simple to make, and ready to help you fill out a cookie platter right along with your classic favorites!
Ingredients
Pecan Turtles
- 16 oz bag of mini pretzels or pretzel Snaps by Snyder (you'll use 50 pretzels)
- 10 oz bag of Rolo chocolate caramel candy
- 50 pecan halves, about 4 ounces
Chocolate Cashew Clusters
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup whole cashews or cashew pieces
- Maldon flake salt
Ritz Thin Mints
- 40 Ritz crackers
- 1 (10 ounce) bag of Ande's Creme de Menthe baking chips
Instructions
Rolo Pecan Turtles
- Preheat your oven to 300°F and unwrap the Rolo candies.
- On a lined sheet pan, evenly place as many pretzels as you'd like to make. Top each pretzel with a Rolo, then top each Rolo with a pecan.
- Carefully set the pan in the oven and warm for 3 minutes.
- When the candy is out of the oven, gently press each pecan down into the chocolate to connect all three pieces. Let cool for 30 minutes to solidify.
Chocolate Cashew Clusters
- In a double boiler on the stove, warm the chocolate chips until fully melted, stirring frequently.
- Add the cashews to the chocolate and stir until they're completely coated.
- Using a small dining spoon, lay little piles of chocolatey cashews out on a piece of parchment, wax paper, or a baking mat and let cool for a few minutes, then sprinkle a pinch of Maldon flake salt on top.
- Let the chocolate cashews cool until solid.
Ritz Thin Mints
- In a double boiler on the stove, warm the Ande's mint chips until fully melted, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.
- Set the bowl alongside a piece of parchment, wax paper, or a baking mat.
- Drop a cracker into the bowl, then using a dinner fork, flip it over and remove it from the chocolate. Hover over the bowl for a second to let excess chocolate drip off, then set the chocolatey cracker on the parchment. Let the chocolate crackers cool until solid.
- Repeat the process until all the crackers have been coated.
Notes
These three recipes make approximately 100 pieces, give or take.
Nutritional information includes all ingredients listed, so each candy may vary.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: dessert
- Method: Stove-top
- Cuisine: American
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