5 easy holiday treats from the Clarksville Now news team

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – With only a little time left until Christmas, you may need some quick and easy holiday treats to surprise family and friends.

The Clarksville Now news team is used to doing things in a hurry, so we’re sharing some of our favorite recipes for holiday treats!

Angela Peterson’s Chocolate Fudge

“I always asked my aunt to fix fudge during the holidays, and even when I didn’t overtly ask, she would always deliver. I honestly looked forward to it as much as I did the presents.”

Ingredients

• 3 cups chocolate chips of choice
• 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

(makes about 60 squares of fudge)

Instructions

1. In a double broiler, combine your chocolate and butter over low-medium until fully combined. Do not allow the chocolate to come to a simmer.
2. Once the butter is fully incorporated into the chocolate, fold in the condensed milk until smooth.
3. Pour the warm fudge into an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper, garnish with a little sea salt and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
4. Once the fudge is completely cooled, cut it into squares, and enjoy!

Chris Smith’s Date Nut Bars

“My mom makes these for me every year. When I got her recipe and tried to make them myself, I discovered there were no actual instructions for baking, so I had to call and ask her to give an estimate. Trust your instincts!”

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup walnut pieces
• 1 cup dates (chopped)
• confectioner’s sugar

Instructions

1. Combine all your ingredients in a large mixing bowl and press into a well-greased, 8-inch baking dish.
2. Bake at 350°f for about 20 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.
3. While still warm, cut into bars and shake in a bag with confectioner’s sugar.

Casey Williams’ Oreo Truffles

“My wife and I make these simple Christmas candies for friends and family every year. They are simple to make, and kids love them.”

Ingredients

• 36 oreos (about 1 pack)
• 1 8-oz. package of cream cheese (softened)
• 1 package of chocolate candy coating

(makes 35-40 truffles)

Instructions

1. In 2 batches, pulse Oreos to a fine powder, almost the consistency of wet sand)
2. Fold in the cream cheese until a ball forms.
3. Divide the mixture, and roll it into bite sized spheres. place in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight.
4. Using a double broiler, melt chocolate over low-medium heat.
5. Remove your truffles from the fridge and dip them one at a time into the chocolate. Once they are fully coated, place them on a try lined with wax paper, and return them to the fridge to fully cool.
6. At this point, you can decorate your truffles with sprinkles, crumbled Oreo or another color of chocolate.

Lee Erwin’s Award-Winning Chocolate Chip Cookies

“Everybody loves chocolate chip cookies. I guess these cookies are so popular because I do them from scratch. I get inundated with requests for them around the holidays from friends and family.”

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 12-oz. package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate morsels (should be kept cold)
• 1 cup chopped nuts

(Makes about 5 dozen cookies)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a larger bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until creamy.
4. Add eggs and water to the sugar mixture and beat until smooth.
5. Gradually add flour mixture, stirring constantly.
6. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts until fully incorporated.
7. Drop dough in 1 Tbsp. increments onto a well-greased baking sheet. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until golden brown.

Keely Quinlan’s Oatmeal Drop Cookies

“These no-bake cookies have been my favorite holiday treat since I can remember. It doesn’t feel like Christmas until a batch of these are made in our house. Plus, they’re really easy to modify for allergies or dietary restrictions.”