Holiday Recipe Guide: 3 Treats for the Season

This post is sponsored by Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.

We are all home for the holidays, so let’s get our recipe on! Like most families this year, mine is staying put and having a paired down party season. That means it is just me, my husband, and our kindergartner celebrating at home. So, to make it feel special, I am breaking into the recipe vaults. I am talking pies, cookies, roasted hams, and goodies galore for my little family. Today, I decided to tackle 3 delightful treats from the Holiday Recipe Guide at Walmart. Splenda Peppermint Marshmallows and two different Welch’s concoctions – Sugar Plum Holiday Punch and Sparkling Holiday Punch. Who’s ready to deck the halls?!

If you are a food-nerd like me, then you know that almost every brand has a whole recipe section on their website. Seriously! All kinds of scrumptious recipes that incorporate your favorite foodie product. For example, today’s featured delights all come from recipes straight from the Holiday Recipe Guide with Walmart. Best of all, they utilize two of my favorite brands, Welch’s and Splenda. There’s other recipes included in the Holiday Recipe Guide, so make sure to check it out here!

Sparkling Holiday Punch

There is nothing more festive than a holiday punch. And let me tell you that flavors and cheer abound in this delicious recipe from Welch’s. It also happens to be a fabulous recipe to let the little ones tackle on their own.

Sparkling Holiday Punch

Prep Time: 20 min.; Serves: 30

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups of cold water
• ¾ cups sugar
• 5 cinnamon sticks
• 1 bottle Welch’s Sparkling Red or Sparkling White Grape Juice Cocktail, chilled
• 1 cup orange juice
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 3 bottles (16 oz. each) lemon-lime soda, chilled
• Ice cubes made with Welch’s Sparkling Red or Sparkling White Grape Juice Cocktail

DIRECTIONS:

1. In medium saucepan, combine water, sugar and cinnamon sticks to make cinnamon syrup. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks, cover and refrigerate two hours.
3. In a large punch bowl, combine cinnamon syrup, Sparkling Red or Sparkling White Grape Juice Cocktail, orange juice, lemon juice and soda. Add ice cubes. If desired, garnish punch with additional cinnamon sticks or float fruit-filled ice cubes, orange, lemon or lime slices.

Splenda Peppermint Marshmallows

Peppermint, marshmallows, and cheer?! Oh my! Whether you’re looking to gift something homemade to loved ones or spoil your family with a fluffy treat at home, this is the recipe for you. Plus, the marshmallows are much simpler to make than they appear, so it will seem like you had magical helper elves in the kitchen!

Splenda Peppermint Marshmallows

Prep Time: 30 min.; Yields: 40 marshmallows

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 ¼ cups Splenda Granulated Sweetener
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup water, divided
• 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
• 8-10 drops red food coloring (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a food processor, combine ¼ cup Splenda Sweetener with cornstarch and process until sweetener is powder-like in texture. Coat inside of a 9×13” glass baking dish with half of the sweetener-cornstarch mixture and set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup water, set aside.
3. In a saucepan set over medium heat combine remaining Splenda Sweetener and water. Stir gently to moisten all of the sweetener and cook until sweetener has dissolved and mixture barely begins to bubble, about 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Begin whisking gelatin mixture on low speed. Slowly add syrup in a steady stream in between the side of the bowl and the whisk attachment, being careful to avoid the whisk itself. Once all the syrup has been incorporated, increase speed to high and continue whisking until mixture doubles in volume, about 12 to 14 minutes.
5. Pour mixture into prepared pan, tilting pan to ensure mixture is evenly distributed. Drop food coloring randomly over surface and use a dinner knife to create a swirl effect. Let stand uncovered at least 8 hours, or overnight.
6. Dust top of marshmallows with remaining sweetener-cornstarch mixture and turn marshmallow slab out onto a cutting board. Use a sharp, greased knife to cut into individual squares. Store in an airtight container.

Sparkling Sugar Plum Holiday Punch

What’s better than one fabulous punch recipe? Two fabulous punch recipes! If you’re looking for something a bit more fancy than the Sparkling Holiday Punch above, then this is one you need to bookmark. Fancy sugared fruits, a lovely concoction of juices, and the lovely bubbles of Welch’s Sparkling White Grape Juice to top it all off. Perfection!

Sparkling Sugar Plum Holiday Punch

Prep Time: 15 min.; Serves: 12

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 cup red grapes
• 2 plums, sliced
• 2 bottles Welch’s Sparkling White Grape Juice, chilled
• 4 cups cranberry juice
• ⅓ cup lime juice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place the sugar in a shallow dish. Beat the egg whites until frothy. Dip the cranberries and grapes in the egg whites and shake off the excess; roll in the sugar. Arrange coated fruit on a wire rack to dry for at least 1 hour. Skewer cranberries, grapes and sliced plums on decorative cocktail picks.
2. Stir the Sparkling white grape juice with the cranberry juice and lime juice in a pitcher or punch bowl. Serve over ice and garnish with cocktail picks.

There you have it my festive friends! Three lovely recipes to help make the season bright. So, whether you are looking for a culinary adventure or need some inspiration, make sure to check out The Holiday Recipe Guide at Walmart. Happy holidays!