by Zyania Garcia Hernández

As the weather is getting cooler, so are the snacks. Try recreating these cozy foods, perfect for the season!

Snow Buddies

Ingredients:

• Bananas

• Raspberries

• Chocolate chips

• Cheez-it pieces

Directions:

Slice a banana and use 3 pieces from it. Shape them into snowmen by placing them on a flat surface then place chocolate chips on top of the slices to form eyes and buttons. With the corner of the cheez-its, form it to look like the carrot of the snowman. And there you are, snow buddies!

Reindeer Brownies

Ingredients for brownies:

• ½ cup Unsalted butter

• ¼ cup Cocoa powder

• 1 cup Granulated sugar

• ⅓ cup Flour

• ¼ tsp Salt

• ¼ tsp Baking powder

• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

• 2 Eggs

Directions:

Melt the butter and add in the sugar in a big bowl. While mixing, add the eggs and the vanilla. Combine the other ingredients in a separate bowl and add to the butter mixture when both are stirred well. Pour into a greased baking pan then place it and heat the oven at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes. (Depending if you like them fudgy or firm) 

OPTIONAL ~ Cut the brownies into triangle shapes when cooled. This will be the head of the reindeer.

Ingredients for decorating

• Pretzel Crips

• Red M&Ms

• Candy eyes

Directions:

For the antlers, place 2 pretzels on the top part of the brownie. One red M&M should be placed at the bottom for the nose. Finally, a pair of candy eyes is placed in the middle to bring the reindeer to life.

Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

Ingredients for the cupcakes:

• 1 Egg

• ⅓ cup Cocoa powder

• 1 ½ cup Cake flour

• ½ cup Granulated sugar

• ½ cup Vegetable oil

• ½ cup Whole milk

• ½ cup Hot water

• 1 ½ tsp Vanilla extract

• 1 tsp Baking soda

• ¼ Baking powder

• ¼ tsp Salt

Directions:

Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder then set aside.  In a separate bowl, combine the egg, milk, sugar, oil and vanilla extract thoroughly. Add in the flour mixture to that bowl and hot water. Continue to mix until the batter turns thin. Use a cupcake tin with liners, filling each liner about ¾ths of the way. Place the cupcakes in the oven for 20-23 minutes at 350°F.

Ingredients for Marshmallow Filling:

• 1 Hot Cocoa mix packet

• ¾ cup Marshmallow fluff

• 1 tbsp Milk

Directions:

Using a stand mixer, add the hot cocoa mix, marshmallow fluff and milk until combined.

Ingredients for Marshmallow Frosting:

• 2 cups Powdered sugar

• ¾ cups Marshmallow fluff

• ½ cup Unsalted butter Room Temperature

• 1 tbsp Heavy whipping cream

• 1 Hot Cocoa mix packet

Directions:

Using a hand or stand mixer, cream the butter for 2-3 minutes adding the powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy whipping cream mixing for an additional 3 minutes. Slowly pour in the marshmallow fluff and hot cocoa mix and continue mixing the batter until light.

After the cupcakes have cooled, use a piping tip to take out the center and fill in halfway with the marshmallow filling. Pipe frosting into the rest of the center and around the top of the cupcakes. 

OPTIONAL ~ Top the cupcakes with marshmallows and dust with cocoa powder. 

Cozy Snack Mix

Ingredients:

• 12 cups of Popcorn

• 3 cups of small pretzels

• 10 oz M&Ms

• ½ cup of sprinkles

Directions:

With a large bowl, pour all the ingredients and combine them thoroughly.

Santa Strawberries

Ingredients:

• Strawberries

• Chocolate chips

• Bananas

• Whipped cream

• Red small chocolate candies (Similar to M&Ms)

Directions:

Cut the top of the strawberries horizontally and save them for later. With the bottom part of the strawberry, add a sliced banana over it. Spread whipped cream around the slice and stick 2 chocolate chips for the eyes. Place the banana and the strawberry hat over the top strawberry piece and add a red chocolate candy for the nose. Once formed, spray on a little bit whipped cream on the pointed bottom of the strawberry for the cotton. 

⭒✧⭒

If you are looking for a fall snack, these ideas are a great place to start!