‘Tis the season to string up the best lights, buy the coziest socks, and build the friendliest snowman. Well, perhaps not a snowman in Los Angeles. Thankfully, there exists a holiday tradition that we can all partake in: the baking of our favorite holiday recipes. Arguably, one of the best parts of the holiday season is the food. Whether we enjoy peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies, or candy canes, who doesn’t love to spend their Christmas baking with loved ones? However, why not make them with a little twist this year?

Chocolate Bark With Pop Rocks

To satisfy those who love chocolate bark, let’s add some pop rocks to this classic and simple recipe!

Ingredients

• Semisweet chocolate bars
• Pretzels
• Pop rocks

Steps

1. First, break up 10 ounces of semisweet chocolate bars into pieces and put them in a glass bowl.
2. Place the glass bowl over a saucepan filled with simmering water.
3. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
4. Spread the chocolate over parchment paper in a rectangle shape.
5. Immediately sprinkle crushed pretzels and pop rocks evenly.
6. Set aside for two hours.
7. Crack into pieces and enjoy!

Gingerbread Waffles

This holiday recipe will certainly make breakfast a little more festive.

Ingredients

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Salt
• Eggs
• Brown sugar
• Pumpkin puree
• Milk
• Molasses
• Unsalted butter

Steps

1. In a large bowl, mix 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 4 teaspoons of baking powder, 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of ground ginger, 1/2 a teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg, and 1/2 a teaspoon of salt.
2. In a smaller bowl, beat 4 large eggs and 2/3 cup of packed, dark brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in 1 cup of canned pumpkin puree, 1 1/4 cups of milk, 1/2 cup of molasses, and 1 stick of melted butter.
3. Mix the contents of each bowl together in one bowl until moist. Make sure not to overstir!
4. Cook the mixture in a waffle iron for about 10 minutes.
5. After letting it cool down, add some toppings and you’re good to go.

Candy Cane Cheesecake Bars

This final recipe is one of my personal favorites because it contains the best ingredients!

Ingredients

• Oreos
• Unsalted butter
• Cream cheese
• Sugar
• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract
• Peppermint extract
• Salt
• Eggs
• Red or pink food coloring
• Candy canes

Steps

1. Crush up 23 oreos in a food processor until they are fine crumbs.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of unsalted, melted butter into the mix.
3. Pour this mixture into an 8×8 aluminum baking pan and bake at 325℉ for 10 minutes.
4. Set it aside and let it cool fully.
5. Use an electric mixer to beat 340 grams of room temperature cream cheese until smooth.
6. Beat in 6 tablespoons of sugar until fully absorbed in the mixture.
7. Thoroughly mix in 6 tablespoons of sour cream, 1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 a teaspoon of peppermint extract, a pinch of salt, 1 egg, and 1 egg yolk.
8. Divide the mixture into two bowls and use food coloring to dye one bowl red.
9. Pour the bowl with the white mixture into the 8×8 aluminum baking pan followed by the colored mixture.
10. Carefully swirl the colors together and bake at 325℉ for 40 minutes.
11. After you take out the cheesecake, sprinkle 9 crushed candy canes while it is still warm.
12. Cool the cheesecake at room temperature for 1 hour and then chill in the fridge overnight.

Using these recipes will surely add a little spice (or should I say sugar) to these traditional holiday treats!