Santas Hat Recipe 415

Steps:

• For the red velvet crust: Adjust the oven racks to the middle and bottom of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place a double layer of parchment into the pan so that it overhangs the long sides; spray the parchment with cooking spray.
• Add half of the cookies to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the cookies resemble crumbs. Drizzle in half of the butter and half of the red dye, pulsing until it's all incorporated. Remove the first batch to a large bowl and repeat the with the remaining cookies, butter and dye. Combine both batches, then pour the cookie mixture into the prepared baking pan, using your hands to press the crust down to make one even layer. Bake for 10 minutes.
• For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar and vanilla together in a stand mixer using a paddle attachment. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the sour cream and mix again. Pour the filling over the crust and smooth the top.
• Put a large roasting pan with water on the bottom rack of the oven and put the pan with the cheesecake on the top rack. Bake until the cheesecake is set and no longer jiggly, about 45 minutes.
• Turn off the oven, open the oven door and allow the pan to sit in the open oven for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool for at least 2 hours. Once cooled at room temperature, refrigerate to chill for another 2 hours.
• To assemble: Remove the cheesecake from the baking pan. Using a 2-inch round pastry cutter, carefully punch out 15 cheesecake circles. Remove them to a serving platter. Refrigerate while you make the mascarpone cream.
• For the whipped mascarpone cream: Add the cream to the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whip to stiff peaks. Add the mascarpone and confectioners' sugar and mix until well combined and smooth. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a number 12 pastry tip.
• For the Santa hats: Pipe a rim of the mascarpone cream around the top of each cheesecake circle. Put an inverted strawberry into the center of each and top with a tiny blob of the mascarpone cream. Chill to set.
• To assemble the snow scene: Arrange the Santa hats on a cake stand, place the miniature Christmas trees, reindeer and sleigh and cowboy Christmas figurines around and dust with confectioners' sugar snow.

Steps:

• Mix together powdered sugar and water until smooth. Fold a paper towel into a 4-inch square and lay it on a saucer. Spread the powdered sugar mixture on top of the towel on the saucer. Spread coconut in a shallow layer on another saucer. Dip the rim of a Martini glass in the sugar mixture on the towel until the rim is coated. Then, dip the sugared rim into the coconut. Use a spoon to pack the coconut on to the sugar coating so it stays on the rim. Add the cranberry juice, Malibu rum and grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a prepared Martini glass and serve. Garnish with a candy cane. Break off the top hook of the candy cane if desired. Your guests will love your Christmas cocktails selection! Makes 1

Steps:

• Cut the hulled-side strawberries so they can stand up on a plate. Slice the tip off each strawberry to make the 'hat'; set aside.
• Beat cream and confectioners' sugar in a glass or metal bowl until soft peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the whipped cream will form soft mounds.
• Spoon a large dollop of whipped cream on top of strawberry base for the 'face' and 'beard'. Set the 'hat' atop the 'face'. Add a dot of whipped cream, using a toothpick, on top of the 'hat' for the 'pom-pom' and 2 dots on the strawberry base for 'buttons'. Place 2 sprinkles on the 'face' for 'eyes'.

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 250°. Add cream of tartar and vanilla to egg whites; beat on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form., Cut a small hole in the tip of a pastry bag or in a corner of a food-safe plastic bag; insert a #8 round tip. Fill bag with one-fourth of the meringue; set aside. Prepare a second piping bag, using a #12 round tip; fill with remaining meringue., Using bag with the #12 tip, pipe 36 Santa hat triangles (2 in. tall) onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle with red sugar. Use first bag to pipe white trim and pompoms on hats., Bake 40-45 minutes or until firm to the touch. Turn off oven (do not open oven door); leave meringues in oven 1 hour., Remove hats from paper. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Steps:

• Mix together powdered sugar and water until smooth.
• Fold a paper towel into a 4-inch square and lay it on a saucer.
• Spread the powdered sugar mixture on top of the towel on the saucer.
• Spread coconut in a shallow layer on another saucer.
• Dip the rim of a Martini glass in the sugar mixture on the towel until the rim is coated.
• Then, dip the sugared rim into the coconut. Use a spoon to pack the coconut on to the sugar coating so it stays on the rim.
• Add the cranberry juice, Malibu rum and grenadine into a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Shake and strain into a prepared Martini glass and serve.
• Garnish with a candy cane. Break off the top hook of the candy cane if desired.

Steps:

• Melt the almond bark in the microwave, small amounts at a time.
• Using a butter knife or teaspoon, fill the wide opening of the snack with almond bark.
• Stick an M&M into the almond bark while it is still soft.
• Place on waxed paper to cool, store in an airtight container.
• I like to use the multi colored candies as it adds a bit more color to a cookie tray rather than just red and green.
• I have done them at other holidays using the seasonal colored candies.