milk makes

it merrier

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Make the season bright
with these holiday recipes and fun activities.

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milk makes

it merrier

Make the season bright with these holiday recipes and fun activities.

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savory eats

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Garlic parmesan pull-apart rolls

COURTESY OF: @CharmerKitchen

PREP TIME: 45 min  COOK TIME: 15-20 min  SERVES: 21

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (around 110°F or 43°C)
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg

 

Filling & Topping Ingredients:
6 sticks String Cheese cut into 4 pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
Extra grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for topping

How To

In a small bowl, combine the warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, or until it becomes foamy. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the warm milk, softened butter, and egg until well blended.

Add the yeast mixture and the milk mixture to the flour. Mix until a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. Once the dough has risen, punch it down to release any air bubbles.

Transfer the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 21 equal pieces. Take each piece of dough and roll it into a ball. Flatten each dough ball slightly and place a small chunk of cheese in the center of each ball. Pinch the dough around the cheese to seal it completely, ensuring no cheese is exposed.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cheese-filled dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree, starting with 6 dough balls on the bottom row, then 5 dough balls on the next row, and continue this pattern as you go up until the tree shape is formed. This will create the outline of your Christmas tree.

Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley to create the topping. Use a pastry brush or a spoon to generously coat each roll with the garlic-Parmesan mixture, getting it into the crevices between the slices. If you have extra mixture, drizzle it over the tops of the rolls.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Once out of the oven, immediately sprinkle the remaining grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley over the top. Serve the Garlic Parmesan Pull Apart Bread Rolls warm. They can be pulled apart easily by your guests.

Green Bean Casserole

COURTESY OF: @VeggiesAndChocolate

PREP TIME: 10 min  COOK TIME: 30 min  SERVES: 3-4

Ingredients

2 large shallots
3 tablespoons + 2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound green beans, ends trimmed
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream

How To

Preheat the oven to 375º F.  Thinly slice the shallots and separate the rings with your hands. Toss in 3 tablespoons of flour so that they’re lightly coated.

Add olive oil to a large pan over medium high heat. Add the shallots and fry, stirring frequently, until the shallots are golden brown and crispy (if your pan isn’t big enough, pour the oil and fry the shallots in batches). Place them on a paper towel to remove excess oil and set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the trimmed green beans and blanch for a few minutes. Transfer the green beans to an ice bath and set aside.

In a large pan over medium heat, add the butter and additional 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir frequently to create a roux.

Slowly add in the milk, stirring frequently. Add in the heavy cream and let cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until thick. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Roughly chop the green beans into 1-inch pieces. Pour them into a greased casserole dish. Pour the milk mixture over the green beans and mix to combine.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Before serving, add the fried shallots on top.

Mexican Street Corn Bake

PREP TIME: 20 min  COOK TIME: 40 min  SERVES: 10

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
6 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen (not thawed)
1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup Oakhurst® Dairy Whole Milk
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
5 ounces queso fresco, crumbled
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, for serving
1 lime, cut into 10 wedges, for serving

How To

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish and set aside. In a large skillet, melt butter. Add corn. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and slightly charred, about 8–10 minutes. Corn will begin to make a popping sound. Add garlic and continue cooking 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in mayonnaise, milk, jalapeño pepper, chili powder and cayenne pepper. Stir in approximately half the queso fresco. Bake 30–35 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling around edges. Sprinkle with remaining queso fresco and cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges to squeeze juice over corn.

milkmakesitmerrier-mexican-street-corn-bake

Caramelized Onion and
Herb Mashed Potatoes

PREP TIME: 45 min  COOK TIME: 30 min  SERVES: 6

Ingredients

¼ cup butter
1½ cups sweet onions, coarsely chopped
3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into large chunks
Water
3 teaspoons salt, divided
1¼ cups Oakhurst® Dairy Whole Milk, warmed
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped

How To

In a medium-sized skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 15–20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, place potatoes in a 5-quart saucepan, cover with water and add 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook potatoes 20 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain well.

Place hot potatoes in a large bowl. Mash with a potato masher or beat with a hand mixer, slowly adding warmed milk, until well-blended and smooth. Stir in onions, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper and thyme.

Serve immediately or place in a slow cooker on warm for up to 4 hours. Stir in additional warmed milk as needed to keep potatoes creamy.

Milk Makes It Merrier - Caramelized Onion and Herb Mashed Potatoes
Milk Makes It Merrier - Festive Decoration Left

sweet treats

Milk Makes It Merrier - Festive Decoration Right

chocolate peppermint brownie trifle

COURTESY OF: @SweetGirlTreatsMN

PREP TIME: 30 min  COOK TIME: 30 min  SERVES: 40

Ingredients

For the chocolate peppermint cream layers
3 cups milk
2 packs instant chocolate pudding (3.4 ounces each)
8 ounces heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

 

For the brownie layers
2-18 ounce boxes brownie mix, prepared per package instructions

For the candy cane layers
24 candy canes (crushed), about 1-1 ½ cups

How To

How to make the chocolate cream layer
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 3 cups of milk (any fat level) and 2 packages of instant chocolate pudding. Set the bowl in the fridge to set.

In a separate bowl, using a hand or a stand mixer, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar and peppermint extract together until stiff peaks form. Reserve about 1 cup of whipped cream mixture for topping the trifle.

Add the whipped cream mixture to the chocolate pudding mixture and fold it together using a rubber spatula until well combined. Place the mixture in the fridge until you are ready to assemble the trifle.

How to make the brownie layer
Prepare 2 boxes of brownies per package instructions.

How to assemble the trifle
Allow the brownies to cool to room temperature, then remove them from the pan and cut them into 1-inch cubes.

Fill the bottom of a trifle bowl with brownie pieces, then a layer of chocolate cream, then a layer of crushed candy canes. Repeat these steps until you have used all of the ingredients, finishing with chocolate cream. Reserve a small amount of crushed candy cones for topping the trifle.

Top the trifle with the reserved whipped cream mixture, then sprinkle with a final layer of crushed candy canes.

Cupcake Christmas Tree

PREP TIME: 1 hr 30 min  COOK TIME: 20 min  SERVES: 24

Ingredients

1 (15.25-ounce) boxed chocolate cake mix (substitute Oakhurst® Dairy Whole Milk for water)
¾ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
3–4 cups prepared vanilla buttercream frosting
½ cup prepared chocolate buttercream frosting
Gold decorating sugar
Green food coloring
Holiday decorating sprinkles

How To

To make cupcakes, heat oven to 350 F. Line 24 muffin pan cups with paper baking cups. Set aside. Prepare cake mix according to package directions except substitute milk for water and stir mini chocolate chips into cupcake batter. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin pan cups, filling each almost full. Bake according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to rack. Cool completely.

To make star tree topper, frost one cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkle with gold decorating sugar. Set aside.

Add green food coloring to remaining vanilla buttercream frosting.

On a large tray or cutting board, place cupcakes to form a tree starting with the star tree topper cupcake. Follow with a row each of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 cupcakes. Use a pastry bag and various decorator tips to frost cupcakes. (Or, use a spatula or table knife to create swirls.) Decorate with various holiday decorating sprinkles.

Place 2 cupcakes to form trunk of tree and frost with chocolate buttercream.

Notes: Recipe makes 24 cupcakes, but 23 cupcakes are needed to form the tree. Frost and decorate one remaining cupcake and enjoy!

Milk Makes It Merrier - Cupcake Christmas Tree

Candy Cane Ganache Pie

PREP TIME: 3 hrs 30 min  COOK TIME: 10 min  SERVES: 8

Ingredients

2½ cups Oakhurst® Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream, divided
4 ounces high-quality semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 (6-ounce) prepared chocolate cookie pie crust
1 cup powdered sugar
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
½ cup candy canes, crushed
Chocolate-flavored syrup, for serving
Candy canes, crushed, for serving

How To

To make ganache, in 1-quart saucepan, heat ½ cup heavy whipping cream over medium heat until bubbles start to form around the edge. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate until completely melted. Poor evenly over bottom of prepared pie crust. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or until set.

To make candy cane layer, in a large mixing bowl, beat 2 cups heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside. In a small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, cream cheese and peppermint extract. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth and creamy. Gently stir into whipped cream until thoroughly combined. Stir in crushed candy canes. Spread over ganache. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Just before serving, garnish with drizzle of chocolate syrup and crushed candy canes.

Milk Makes It Merrier Candy Cane Ganache Pie

Holiday Deep Dark Chocolate Tart
With Pomegranate And Pistachio

PREP TIME: 45 min  COOK TIME: 30 min  SERVES: 8

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons Dutch process cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup Oakhurst® Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur or rum, optional
½ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cup toasted pistachios, chopped
Sparkling decorating sugar, to taste

How To

Heat oven to 350 F. To make crust, mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir melted butter and vanilla extract into dry ingredients until fully moistened. Evenly press dough into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch removable bottom tart pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until the crust looks dry. Cool.

To make ganache filling, place chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat cream in a small saucepan, bringing it just to a boil over medium heat. Pour over chocolate; let sit for 1 minute. Stir with a spatula until chocolate is melted and very smooth. Stir in the liqueur, if using. Pour ganache into the cooled tart shell, spreading the mixture evenly with an offset spatula or back of a spoon. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

Before serving, mix pomegranate seeds, pistachios and a generous sprinkling of sugar. Spoon onto the tart or individual slices.

Milk Makes It Merrier Holiday Deep Dark Chocolate Tart With Pomegranate And Pistachio
Milk Makes It Merrier - Festive Decoration Left

bright brunch bites

Milk Makes It Merrier - Festive Decoration Right

eggnog french toast cinnamon roll bake

COURTESY OF: @LifeAndSprinkles

PREP TIME: 20 min  COOK TIME: 25 min  SERVES: 16

Ingredients

1/4 cup melted butter + 2 tbsp for icing
2 cans of cinnamon rolls
6 eggs
1/2 cup egg nog + 4 tbsp for the icing
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
4 tsp vanilla, divided
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup maple syrup
2 cups powdered sugar

How To

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Pour butter into a 9 x 13 baking pan. Open the cans of cinnamon rolls and cut them each into 8 pieces.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add in the 1/2 cup eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 2 tsp vanilla and mix until completely combined. Pour over the cinnamon rolls. Add the chopped pecans and maple syrup. 

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10-15 minutes. 

Meanwhile, combine the 2 tbsp melted butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, and 4 tbsp eggnog in a bowl. Mix until smooth. Pour over the warm French toast bake. 

gingerbread overnight oats

COURTESY OF: @HelloSpoonful

PREP TIME: 10 min  COOK TIME: 3+ hr  SERVES: 2

Ingredients

1 Cup Oats
2/3 Cup milk
1/2 Cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Ginger
1/8 Teaspoon Nutmeg
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
1 Teaspoon Molasses

How To

Add all of your ingredients in an airtight container and combine. Place in your fridge for 3 hours or overnight. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

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festive drinks

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Candy Cane Fudge Milkshake

PREP TIME: 20 min  COOK TIME: 0 min  SERVES: 2

Ingredients

1 cup Oakhurst® Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
½ cup hot fudge topping, warmed
6 scoops (3 cups packed) candy cane ice cream, slightly softened
½ cup Oakhurst® Dairy Whole Milk
2 candy canes, for serving
4 fudge-covered crème wafer cookies, for serving

How To

To make whipped cream, in a large mixing bowl, beat heavy whipping cream at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Add sugar and peppermint extract. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

Using a spoon, carefully drizzle warmed hot fudge topping along inside sides of two clear glass milkshake glasses, reserving enough hot fudge topping to drizzle over whipped cream. Set aside.

To make milkshake, blend candy cane ice cream and milk in blender on medium-high until combined.

Pour into prepared milkshake glasses, top with whipped cream and drizzle with remaining hot fudge topping. Garnish with candy canes and fudge-covered crème wafer cookies.

Milk Makes It Merrier Candy Cane Fudge Milkshake

Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa

PREP TIME: 5 min  COOK TIME: 10 min  SERVES: 2

Ingredients

2 cups Oakhurst® Dairy Whole Milk
½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips (substitute dark chocolate if not available)
2 tablespoons prepared caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Pinch of Maldon® sea salt flakes

How To

Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, slowly stirring as the chocolate melts to prevent scorching. Adjust salted caramel flavor to your preference. Then, use a milk frother to fully blend the hot cocoa. Pour into 2 mugs and top with your favorite hot cocoa pairings.

Recipe and image provided by Half & Half magazine.

Milk Makes It Merrier - Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa

Gingerbread Rum Eggnog

PREP TIME: 15 min  COOK TIME: 0 min  SERVES: 4

Ingredients

1 cup Oakhurst® Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups Oakhurst® Dairy Eggnog
2–4 shots (2–4 ounces) dark or white rum
4 cinnamon sticks
Small gingerbread men or ginger snap cookies

How To

To make whipped cream, in a large mixing bowl, beat heavy whipping cream at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Add sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

To make eggnog, stir together spices in a 4-cup measuring cup. Reserve ½ teaspoon spice mixture. Add eggnog and rum to remaining spice mixture and whisk to fully combine.

Pour into 4 glasses, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with reserved ½ teaspoon spice mixture. Garnish each with 1 cinnamon stick and gingerbread men or ginger snap cookies.

Milk Makes It Merrier - Gingerbread Rum Eggnog
Milk Makes It Merrier - Festive Decoration 2 Left

kids’ activities

Milk Makes It Merrier - Festive Decoration 2 Right

Gingerbread Houses made from
Dairy Cartons

Supplies

Empty dairy cartons (milk, creamer, half and half, whipping cream)
Brown paper
Tape
Scissors
Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
Felt or construction paper (assorted colors)
Pipe cleaners (assorted colors)
Big pom poms (assorted colors)
Small pom poms (assorted colors)
Candy (peppermints)
Bamboo skewer (for smoke plume)

How To

Cover cartons in brown paper, wrapping like a present and securing with tape.

Decorate as desired by gluing on felt and pipe cleaners for windows and doors, small pom poms as holiday lights, candy for trim and white felt for snow on roofs.

To make smoke plume, cut out shape in white felt, and hot glue to bamboo skewer. Cover carton lid in brown paper. Drill hole for bamboo skewer in carton lid. Insert skewer into drilled hole and hot glue to roof.

Milk Makes It Merrier - Kids Activities Gingerbread Houses

Milk Jug Snowmen

Supplies

Empty milk jugs
Felt or construction paper (assorted colors)
Scissors
Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
Pipe cleaners (assorted colors)
Big pom poms (assorted colors)
Twinkle lights

How To

Remove labels from milk jugs using hot, soapy water. If residue remains, cover the area in cooking oil and let sit for 10 minutes. Remove residue with a scrub brush.

Cut out facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) using felt. Add details with pipe cleaners
to carrot nose, if desired. Glue to flat side of jug.

Make earmuffs by gluing big pom pom balls to either end of 3 pipe cleaners twisted
together. Glue to jug. Make scarf by cutting a long, thin length of felt (or glue several strips together). Snip both ends of scarf to create fringe.

Cut slits in back of milk cartons and stuff battery-powered twinkle lights inside.

Milk Makes It Merrier - Kids Activities - Milk Jug Snowmen
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