Winter Wonderland Castle Recipes

WINTER WONDERLAND CASTLE

Steps:

• Make corner posts of castle by securing 4 pretzel rods with twist tie or rubber band at the middle. Make sure that one end of group of pretzel rods is even so they stand upright easily. Repeat 3 times to make 4 corner posts; set aside.
• Place 6 squares of candy coating in 4-cup microwavable measuring cup. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave 1 to 2 minutes longer, stirring well every 30 seconds, until smooth. Candy coating will be used to attach pieces of castle. Add squares coating as needed, and microwave 10 to 15 seconds at a time, stirring until smooth.
• Dip 2 inches of bottoms (level end) of 1 corner post of pretzels into coating. Place upright on waxed paper, letting coating pool slightly to form a base. Let stand about 30 minutes or until coating is completely set. Repeat with remaining corner posts.
• Meanwhile, spread melted coating over ice-cream cones. Roll 4 cones in red sugar for castle towers; roll remaining cones in candy decorations for trees. Place upright on waxed paper. Let stand about 20 minutes or until coating is completely set.
• Cover foamcore board with aluminum foil. Dip tops of each corner post into coating; top with red cones. Let stand about 30 minutes or until coating is completely set; remove twist ties or rubber band from pretzels.
• Attach 1 graham cracker square between each set of corner posts, using coating, to form square castle. Attach half of a graham cracker square above 3 of the whole cracker squares, leaving 1/2 inch space between crackers. Attach gumdrops along top of cracker halves, using coating. Attach licorice along sides of corner posts.
• Attach 1 graham cracker square at right angle to cracker square at fourth side, using coating, to form drawbridge. Cut strip from fruit roll; attach to drawbridge for walkway. Attach candy canes for braces for drawbridge. Attach ring-shaped candies at top of each cone tower; attach candy cane to ring-shaped candy at each tower. Cut pennant-style flags from fruit roll, about 2x1/2 inch; attach to candy canes. Spread melted coating randomly over foil surrounding castle. Sprinkle with large and miniature marshmallows to create snow. Sprinkle sugar crystals around castle to create moat. Arrange green tree cones to create winter scene. Create a sign for the castle with 6x1-inch strip of fruit roll; add letters to sign with decorating icing.

WINTER WONDERLAND GINGERBREAD COTTAGE

Steps:

• To make dough: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking soda and spices; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Chill for 1 hour., Trace patterns onto waxed paper; cut out. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, roll out dough to a 1/4-in. thickness. With a sharp knife, cut out chimney pieces, house front and back. On house front, completely cut out door and window; reserve door piece. After baking, trim 1/4 in. from bottom of door piece. , Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until set. Immediately place patterns on cutouts and cut around edges to trim excess. Cool on pans for 2 minutes before carefully removing to wire racks to cool completely., Cut out 2 house sides, about 5-7/16x5-6/16-in. high. Reroll scraps; cut out 2 roof pieces, about 7-7/16x7-13/16-in. high. Bake and cool as directed., To make icing: In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and meringue powder. Add warm water; beat on low speed for 1 minute. Beat on high for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Tint 1 cup green; cover and set aside. Leave remaining icing white. , To decorate house pieces: Place front of house front-side down on a waxed paper-lined work surface. For front window panes, cut skewer into one 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 in. piece and one 2-3/4 in. piece. With icing, attach skewers; let dry completely. , Place house sides and back on a waxed paper-lined work surface. Place house front with front side up. Using #14 pastry tip, pipe shell border around edges of house pieces. Add shell border on front of house and around door opening. With tip #4; pipe snowflakes and dots on front of house. Pipe side windows and front window panes over skewers., For front shutters, cut two 2-1/2-in. pieces of licorice; attach. Cut four pieces of licorice for side shutters; attach and let dry., Thin 1/4 cup icing with water and tint red; spread over door. Let dry completely. With white icing, pipe around door; add a window if desired and let dry. With tip #352 and reserved green icing, pipe green boughs above windows and door; add red nonpareils. Set aside remaining green icing for trees. , To assemble house: Pipe icing along edges of house sides. Position at right angles to front of house. Press into place; prop with small cans. Pipe icing along inside edges for added stability. Repeat with back; let dry., To assemble chimney: Pipe icing along 1 side of front chimney piece and 1 adjoining side chimney piece. Position at right angles to each other and place on waxed paper; pipe icing along inside edge for added stability. Hold in place until secure. Repeat with remaining side and back pieces. Let dry completely. Spread icing over chimney; add M&M's., To assemble roof: Pipe white icing along top edges of house walls. Position 1 roof piece; prop with cans. Repeat. Let dry completely. Frost roof pieces; attach chimney and Crispix shingles. Using tip #4, pipe snow on roof and around chimney opening. With a paintbrush, lightly brush Crispix with water; sprinkle with edible glitter. , To decorate: Using tip #20, pipe a rope border along edge of roof; attach light bulb sprinkles. Pipe rope borders where the roof meets the house and where walls join at each corner., For finishing touches: In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine marshmallows and butter; heat until melted. Add crisp rice cereal. Form into tree shapes. With tip #352, pipe reserved green icing on trees. Sprinkle with edible glitter; decorate with light-bulb sprinkles and confectioners' sugar if desired., For bench, cut licorice into five 2-1/2-in. pieces. Cut curved ends from 5 candy canes, forming C-shaped pieces; set aside 3 curved pieces for fence and 1 straight piece for sled. With icing, attach one C-shaped piece to bottom of 1 whole candy cane (crook facing right), forming 1 side of bench frame. Repeat; let dry. Attach licorice pieces to bench frame pieces; prop and let dry. Add icing rivets., For sled, position reserved straight piece between 2 whole candy canes to form a sled; attach with icing. Attach Fruit by the Foot; let dry. , For path, draw path pattern of your choice on waxed paper. Coat with icing; attach Chiclets and let dry., On a large covered board or tray, place the house and path. Add granulated sugar snow drifts; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Arrange the trees, bench, sled and Minty Snowmen around house. Insert reserved candy cane pieces into sugar for fence.

WINTER WONDERLAND CEREAL TREATS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cinnamon and marshmallows; stir until blended and marshmallows are melted. Remove from the heat. Stir in cereal until coated. Use mixture to shape trees or snowmen. , For trees, press mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan; cool completely. Cut into triangles. , For snowmen, cool cereal mixture slightly; shape into different-sized balls using buttered hands. Stack balls to make snowmen. , To decorate, attach pretzels, candies and/or Fruit Roll-Ups with frosting. Arrange cereal treats on a platter; surround with coconut. Serve the same day for best texture.