One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is baking and creating all sorts of tasty treats to share with my friends and family. My mom and I used to spend several days making truffles, cookies and other candies of all varieties, but that’s gotten more difficult in the last couple years since I’ve been away at grad school and my job.

But that doesn’t stop me! I bake more during the holiday season than I do the rest of the year. There’s just something fun, special and magical about creating holiday treats that isn’t there the rest of the year. I often share how much my family loves sausage balls, but this time I’m sharing two different recipes that I’ve never shared before.

Here are the recipes for two of my favorite holiday treats!

Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. peanut butter, smooth or crunchy (I prefer smooth)
• 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs (might take a little more than this to make the right consistency for rolling)
• 1 stick of butter, melted
• 1 cup Splenda (or your preferred sweetener)
• 1-2 bags Chocolate candy melts, or semi-sweet chocolate chips and paraffin wax (candy melts work so much better)

To make:

• Mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sweetener and peanut butter together until it forms a sticky dough.
• Chill in the refrigerator for up to an hour if needed.
• Roll the dough into 1-inch balls.
• Melt the chocolate, either in the microwave or on the stove. Be careful not to cook it.
• Dip the balls into the chocolate. Roll them around to make sure it’s entirely covered.
• Set on a baking sheet lined with wax/parchment paper. Let them set until they’re hardened.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Holiday Orange Coffee “Cream”

Okay, so it’s not a baked product, but it’s still delicious. This is a perfect treat to have at a holiday party or Christmas Eve gathering. My parents had a very similar drink at a restaurant on a trip once, and they loved it so much that we figured out how to recreate it!

It’s super easy to make, and you can make as much as you need.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Irish cream liqueur (like Bailey’s)
• 1 part orange liqueur (like Grand Marnier if you’re fancy, triple sec if you’re on a budget)
• 1 part coffee liqueur (like Kahlua)
• 1 part hazelnut or almond liqueur (like Amaretto)

You can vary the ratios depending on your tastes. I tend to go heavier on the Bailey’s and Kahlua.

To make:

• Mix all ingredients together. Add desired amount to a cup of coffee, or enjoy it straight. Keep in refrigerator.

See? Easy. Set this out (next to the peanut butter balls) at your holiday party and see how much is left at the end. Hint, there will be none left.

Check out what I made last holiday season! Maybe you’ll get some ideas for your next holiday party!

What’s your favorite thing to bake or create during the holidays? Do you do the baking or just eat the treats?