Breadcrumb

Staff Assembly Holiday Recipes

DIY Salt Dough

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup salt 
  • 1 cup flour 
  • 1/2 cup water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 200°F. Add all ingredients into the bowl. Use your hands or whisk to mix. Mix until well combined. Flatten the ball of dough into a circle and press your hand into the dough.

Create a small hole at the top of the dough to put string through and hang later. Place mold onto a baking sheet and bake for 2 hours. Let mold cool and paint hand print if desired.

Put string through hole and hang or frame.


Chef Val's Sugar Cookie Recipe

Yield: 36   Prep Time: 10 min   Cook Time: 20 min   Total Time: 30 min

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions 

In a bowl whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Using a hand or electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough.

Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap.

Refrigerate for about one hour or until firm enough to roll.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Remove one half of the chilled dough from the refrigerator and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. (Keep turning the dough as you roll, making sure the dough does not stick to the counter.)

Cut out desired shapes using a lightly floured cookie cutter and transfer cookies to baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to chill the dough which prevents the cookies from spreading and losing their shape while baking.

Bake cookies for about 8-10 minutes. Let cool and then transfer to cooling rack.


Simple Frosting for Beginners

Ingredients

  • American Buttercream Frosting: (can half the recipe for less frosting)
  • 1 lb (450 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 lbs powdered sugar, sifted
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp. clear vanilla (or other extract such as lemon, orange, almond, mint, creme bouquet, coffee, Irish Cream Strawberry, Raspberry)

Directions 
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted sugar and beat on low speed until smooth. Add water or sugar as necessary. Add food coloring, if desired.


Royal Icing Recipe (Advanced)

Ingredients

  • 2 large egg whites
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (adjust amount to desired consistency)
  • 3 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
  • Food coloring

Directions 
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted sugar and beat on low speed until smooth. Add water or sugar as necessary. Add food coloring, if desired.


Holiday Cocktail

Ingredients 

  • Red and Green Mojito
  • Fresh Mint
  • Fresh Raspberries
  • 1 Slice Lime
  • Ice
  • 1.25 oz Rum
  • 4 oz Sprite

Directions

In a low ball glass, add several leaves of fresh mint, 4-5 raspberries, a couple ice cubes and 1/2 ounce of rum.

Muddle gently to mix and smash the mint and raspberries, releasing their flavors into the ice and rum.

Add the slice of lime, then fill the glass with ice.

Add the remaining rum and the sprite, garnish with a few extra mint leaves and raspberries and enjoy!