Reindeer Chow

I think nearly every mom in the world will agree that having a baby, whether it’s your first or your fifth, makes life kind of topsy turvy for a while. (It’s not just me, right??). Having a new little guy join the family this year has been amazing…. and also exhausting!

So I’ve been working really hard to keep things as low stress as possible, so that I can re-adjust to baby life again and actually enjoy this special time with my family. I chronically over-commit myself, so this year I’ve been making a concerted effort just to sit back, pinch my lips together, pass the clipboard along to the next person, and not say “YES!” to everyone and every opportunity that comes my way.

But now that the holidays are upon us, I can feel the crazy in me fighting its way back to the surface… buying cookie tins to fill for friends, stockpiling ribbon and gift bags, planning Christmas parties, and thinking of all the glorious opportunities to spend every last penny in my pocket. Sound familiar?

Here’s a wacky idea: let’s just NOT. Let’s step back, take a breather, and look for the easy route this year.

What if we didn’t bake 8 million cookies for the bake sales and the church potlucks and the cookie exchange holiday parties? What if we didn’t custom create and stuff individual stockings for all of the neighbors? What if we didn’t string yards and yards of popcorn and cranberry garlands and make gingerbread cut outs from scratch?

I can tell you what would happen if we didn’t do all of that stuff: we’d actually ENJOY the month of December. And we’d probably smile a lot more, and hug our little munchkins a lot more, and maybe even curl up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate and a Christmas movie like we always say we’re going to do.

But what about the bake sales and church potlucks and cookie exchange parties?? Well, I’m glad you asked!

I’ve partnered up with California Almonds to make your holiday season a little less stressful. We have three SUPER SIMPLE, quick and easy, cute and festive holiday dessert recipes that you should most definitely keep in your back pocket this season! Perfect for last minute gift giving, holiday entertaining, and even those church potlucks– these recipes can be whipped up with a handful of ingredients you probably already have on hand and can be ready in less than 60 minutes if needed.

This Reindeer Chow is a personal favorite of mine. Do you remember this Bunny Chow from Easter? I discovered the delicious genius of coating store-bought kettle corn in white chocolate with that recipe, and this is a milk chocolate version with a Christmas twist! See the Rudolph nose M&Ms? Too cute.

For this easy recipe, you’ll need a bag of store-bought kettle corn, melting chocolate like Ghirardelli’s or Wilton’s (if you don’t already keep this on hand, it’s a great item to stockpile for desserts in a pinch), whole roasted almonds, and M&Ms. The sprinkles are optional… but why would you ever opt for no sprinkles? ????

Basically, you’re just melting the chocolate and mixing everything together. Easy, right? Spread it all out to let the chocolate harden (which only takes about 10 minutes), and voila! Done. Bag it up with a cute ribbon for gifts or pile it all in a cute bowl for a party. Or eat it all on the couch in front of a movie.

I won’t judge.

Also ridic easy? This TWO INGREDIENT Almond Butter Fudge (yes, it’s really possible). If you put it in the refrigerator to speed set, it can be ready to cut and serve in less than an hour. Grab the recipe right here. Creamy, dreamy, and perfect for Christmas cookie plates.

And if you really want to look fancy without breaking a sweat, give these Almond Butter Buckeyes a try. These confections have a surprise crunch in each bite, which makes the texture nerd in me swoon.

I hope you’ve found a little holiday inspiration here. And most of all– I hope these recipes help get you out of the kitchen a little quicker so you can relax and enjoy the holidays with your loved ones this year!!

I created these recipes exclusively for California Almonds.