WalMart has challenged me to stretch my budget this holiday season and give more to others by baking personalized gifts for friends and family. WalMart provides all baking “must haves” for less! I have created 4 different holiday treats for my neighbors, friends and family that cost $20 total (so $5 per gift). I would love to tell them about you as well as hear what kinds of goodies you are going to make this season.
Oatmeal Cookies
These were made for my parents. They are the type of people that have everything you can imagine and are very hard to buy for. My dad is a cookie fiend, so these were right up his alley.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shortening
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup milk
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
- In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice and cloves; stir into the sugar mixture until well blended. Mix in the rolled oats alternately with the milk. Finally, stir in the raisins. Drop by heaping spoonfuls 3 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 11 minutes, or until edges are golden and tops are dry. Cool on cookie sheets for 1 minute before removing to cool on wire racks.
Fudge
This was sent over to my husband and his co-workers in Afghanistan. It is a little touch of home while enjoying the holidays a little.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions:
- Place chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter or margarine in large microwaveable bowl. Zap in microwave on medium until chips are melted, about 3-5 minute, stirring once or twice during cooking. Stir in nuts, if desired.
- Pour into well-greased 8×8-inch glass baking dish. Refrigerate until set.
Peppermint Whoopie Pies
I made these for our neighbors. I felt the kids would like the peppermint while getting the chocolate. I also thought it’d be great for their parents to tell them about whoopie pies and how far back they go. It’s a great way to bring the old and new together.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup baking cocoa
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- FILLING:
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Dash salt
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup candy cane
Directions:
- In a small bowl, combine cocoa and water; mix well. Cool for 5 minutes. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add cocoa mixture, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine dry ingredients. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk; mix well.
- Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a spoon. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until firm to the touch. Remove to wire racks to cool.
- In a saucepan, combine flour and salt. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth; cook and stir over medium-high heat until thick, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and refrigerate until completely cool.
- In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar and vanilla. Add chilled milk mixture; beat for 7 minutes or until fluffy. Spread filling on half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Store in the refrigerator.
Banana Bread
This is a classic that I love to do for family. It is easy to bundle up nicely. They are able to keep it and freeze it so they are some yummy goodness after the holidays.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
A complimentary product/service was provided for this review, however, all opinions expressed are our own. We were not compensated in any other way. See Mommies With Cents disclosure policy for more details.