Recipes: Cranberry Bars and Egg Nog

After popular demand, I am going to share with you our homemade egg nog recipe. Also, if you need something to take to a holiday party this weekend, make these cranberry bars. I found the recipe online last year and everyone I've made them for has loved them too! 

Cranberry Bars

Go here for the original recipe. I always make a bunch of changes to recipes though because that's how I roll, so here is how I make these (for example, I don't do "garnish"): 

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 C sugar
1 C flour
1/3 C melted butter/margarine
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg 
1/3 C white chocolate chips
1.25 C fresh cranberries
++++++++++++++++++
Half a block cream cheese
2 tsp softened butter
approx. 1.5-2 cups (more or less depending on desired consistency) powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Beat eggs well, then add in sugar and stir well. Add the flour, melted butter, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg, stir, then add the cranberries and chocolate chips. Spread into a greased, 8x8 baking pan and bake for about 30 minutes (the original recipe said use ginger but I don't like that, and it also said to bake for longer, but when I do that mine burn and stick to the pan, no bueno). Just keep checking to make sure they don't burn, but also make sure they are done by sticking a fork in it and seeing if it's clean when you take it out. 

Don't accidentally move the fork while you're checking to see if it's done or you'll end up with a crater in the middle like me

When it's cooled down, mix together all the rest of the ingredients (cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla) and spread it on top of the bars. The original recipe calls for only 1.5 C of powdered sugar, but just use whatever amount gives you the consistency you want. 

Cut into bars immediately and store in an airtight container. Or, eat them all. Enjoy!

Yea I'm not the best bar cutter but these were getting stuck to the pan because Pam sucks.. I prefer the Crisco spray!

Egg Nog Recipe

Ingredients:

6 eggs separated
1/2 C sugar
2 C heavy whipping cream
1 C milk
1/2 C bourbon
1/2 C brandy
1/2 C light rum
1 tsp vanilla
Nutmeg

Directions:

Beat egg yolks with sugar until thick, then slowly add the cream, milk, alcohol, and vanilla. Chill. Whip egg yolks until soft peaks form then add to the mixture. Chill and let sit for several hours (we actually refrigerate it for several days before we drink it because then the alcohol taste isn't so strong and it just generally tastes better). Serve with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.

*We always double this recipe; the picture below is how much it made when doubled (it's a big container). Also, this year we actually cut back a little on the alcohol, so feel free to do that if you don't want it as strong (because it definitely is strong). 

Enjoy!!