Whip Up Edible Holiday Treats with Ready Mixes

It’s never too early to whip up merry sweet creations as The Maya Kitchen shows how you can dress up cookies in stripes of colors and bake oversized muffins studded with glazed fruits. Swoon over a heavenly combo of choco covered biscuits filled with mint flavored cream cheese. Dip one side in dark choco and the other white for that smashing contrast.

IRISH CREAM GLAZED FRUIT MUFFINS

1 package MAYA Decadence Devil’s Food Cake Mix 550g
2 pieces eggs
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons Irish Cream
2 cups glazed fruits (soaked in 2 tablespoons
Irish Cream)

Pre-heat oven at 375°F or 190°C. Grease and line three 6-holes (3 oz.) muffin pans. In a bowl, slightly beat the eggs then add water, Irish cream and cake mix. Pour 1/2 cup batter mixture onto prepared muffin pans then top with glazed fruits and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Yield: 15 pieces

SPARKLING COOKIES

1 package MAYA Decadence Yellow Cake Mix 520g
2/3 cup MAYA Cornstarch
2 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons water
sugar
food color as desired

Pre-heat oven to 375°F or 190°C. Lightly grease two baking sheets. Cut in butter into the flour-cornstarch mixture then add water gradually until it forms as soft dough. Roll dough to 1-4 – inch thickness and cut out dough using Christmas cookie cutters. Prepare different colored sugar by mixing together sugar and food color of desired tint. Cover completely the top portion of the cookie with colored sugar and arrange cookies 1-inch apart in the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, while still warm poke hole on upper top of cookie using hard straw. Insert ribbon or colored thread and tie a knot to serve as hangers.

CHOCOLATE MINT MUNCHERS

Cookie:
1 package MAYA Decadence Fudge Brownies Mix 500g
1 piece egg
1 tablespoon water
3 tablespoons oil

Chocolate Coating:
2 cups chopped semi-sweet chocolate bar

Mint Fillings:
125 grams cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
2-4 drops green color

Pre-heat the oven to 375°F or 190°C. Slightly grease cookie sheet. Combine egg, water and oil. Add the mix. Form balls of 5 grams dough each and arrange on a prepared cookie sheet 1/2-inch apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prepare chocolate coating. In a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, melt chocolate. Coat each cookie with melted chocolate.

Prepare mint filling: Soften the cream cheese and slowly add the powdered sugar mix until well blended. Add in the vanilla, peppermint extract and drops of green color of your desired tint. Put mint filling between 2 cookies. Do the same with the remaining cookies. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Find more unique recipe ideas and other culinary tips at www.themayakitchen.com.