Being home for the holidays, and sharing happy moments with family and friends is what the holiday season is all about. Tis’ the season to make memories with McCormick®.
This post has been sponsored by McCormick®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When it comes down to embracing the holiday seasons, you can count on my family to share and spread holiday cheer. We love to attend holiday events together and decorate our home. It’s been a tradition for years. Being home for the holidays allows us to view twinkling tree lights from near and far but yet, still join many of the holiday festivities going on in our community.
There is no shortage of holiday cheer during the most magical and busy time of the year. I can instantly count on my children counting down the days until each holiday begins. The excitement builds which puts us all in the holiday spirit. We love it!
Being home for the holidays brings my family together and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. For many years the holiday seasons were spent with my parents or grandparents growing up. I guess you can say, it’s where and when our holiday traditions began. I absolutely loved and cherished every moment of being with my family during the holidays. Even although those childhood memories are in a distance, my family’s traditions still live on and shared within my own family.
During Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Years, one of the things that I do remember and still continue with my family traditions are using McCormick® Herbs & Spices, Extracts, and Gravy & Sauces in my recipes. When I stop and think, McCormick® Herbs & Spices have been used in recipes for generations. My grandmother and mother always had a kitchen cabinet full of McCormick® spices and extracts as do I now too. For over 100 years, McCormick® has been obsessed with flavor, and footies like myself, love creating flavorful experiences that make every meal in every season, better!
Do you know what makes it easier to shop for McCormick® Herbs & Spices and Extracts? Finding all of the McCormick® must-haves that I need at Walmart. I love the fact that I can walk into my Walmart store and find a wide variety of McCormick® Extract, Herbs & Spices, or Gravy products. It truly makes my shopping experience at Walmart so much easier.
With the holiday seasons fast approaching, I’d love to share with you three-holiday recipes that are dear to my heart. During the Thanksgiving holiday, one of my favorite individual desserts that my family cannot pass up is my Pumpkin Tartlets. They’re so scrumptious and ridiculously addictive. They’re made with McCormick’s® ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, pumpkin, refrigerated pie crust, evaporated milk, sugar, eggs and mini marshmallows.
Pumpkin Tartlets
My pumpkin tartlets are a perfect individual size but huge on taste.
Begin with preheating the over to 425°. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the pie crust. I used a 6-in round cutter but if you have a 4-in handy that would work too. Cut out 16 circles and then press circles into small muffin pan. Using cooking spray is also helpful before placing it in the pie circles.
In a large bowl, whisk pumpkin, milk, sugar, eggs, and McCormick® spices together until blended. Scoop pie filling into pie crust cups. Bake for 15 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350° and bake for 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. If desired top the Pumpkin Tartlets with mini marshmallows or leftover pie crust to make leaf designs. Bake for 3 minutes or until the mini-marshmallows are slightly toasted.
McCormick® Ground Cinnamon is certainly my favorite spice to use during the holiday season. It truly becomes a staple to many if not all of my family’s favorite desserts. I always stock up for the holidays while shopping at Walmart.
Pumpkin Tartlets
Ingredients
- 1 refrigerated pie crust sheet
- 1 can of pumpkin (15oz)
- 1 can of evaporated milk (12oz)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 lg eggs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp McCormick® Ground Ginger
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Ground Cloves
- Mini Marshmallows (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°. On a lightly floured surface, unroll pie crust. Using 6 inch round cutter, cut out 16 circles. In a large mixing bowl, whisk pumpkin, milk, sugar, eggs, salt, and spices. Blend and pour into pie crust cups. Bake for 15 minutes.Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick is clean. If desired, top with mini marshmallows and bake for 3 minutes until slightly toasted.
Sadly, we don’t see a white Christmas here in Florida but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a white Christmas cake? A girl can dream, right? For the last 8 years, I’ve made a special dessert during the Christmas holiday season and my white Christmas cake is by far my family’s favorite. This 3-layer spiced gingerbread cake is frosted with layers of red and white buttercream frosting to resemble a candy cane. It’s covered with white silky Italian buttercream frosting then topped with white chocolate shavings. -And of course, I cannot forget, the very happy, faced gingerbread man.
This recipe brings my family so much joy and what’s not to love about gingerbread men? They’re just the cutest!
White Christmas Cake
Begin by preparing and shopping for your McCormick® ingredients at Walmart. For this spiced gingerbread cake recipe, you’ll need:
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- McCormick® Ground Ginger
- McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- McCormick® Ground Cloves
- McCormick® Ground Nutmeg
- McCormick® Ground Allspice
- butter unsalted
- McCormick® GourmetTM Organic Ground Cardamom
- light brown sugar
- molasses
- eggs and boiling water
For the Italian buttercream frosting, you will need:
- McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- McCormick® Ground Allspice
- McCormick® Ground Cloves
- McCormick® Tarter
- egg whites (room temperature)
- sugar
- McCormick® GourmetTM Organic Ground Cardamom
- butter unsalted
- red food coloring
- water
Start by preheating the oven to 350°. Butter and flour three 7″ round cake pans. In a medium-size bowl, combine boiling water and baking soda together. Add flour, baking powder, McCormick’s® Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Allspice, Ground Cardamom, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
Using a mixer with a whisk attachment, blend butter on the high settings until butter is light and fluffy. Next, add the light-brown sugar mixture and continue to beat for three minutes. Add molasses, baking soda and flour mixture. Then add in the eggs. Beat until well blended.
Divide the cake batter into three pans and bake for 35-40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool and then place it inside the fridge for 10 minutes to completely cool.
Once your cake layers are cool. Remove the “muffin top” from each cake and set aside.
In a large bowl, add and mix six egg whites. Continue to mix until foamy. Next, add 1/4 teaspoon of McCormick® Tartar and slowly add 1/2 cup of sugar. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue to beat until soft peaks start to form.
On the stovetop in a medium saucepan, add one 3/4 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup of water on low heat. Continuously stir until sugar melts and becomes clear.
Drizzle sugar into the mixture immediately. Continue to mix until cool.
Add one tablespoon of room temperature butter at a time in the running mixer, add salt and McCormick® Vanilla extract. Beat until you’ve reached a silky texture.
Divide buttercream into 2 bowls. The largest amount for the white and remainder for the red. Use red food coloring as directed to get a desired deep red appearance for the candy cane swirl.
In two separate piping bags, add white buttercream and then red. Snip each end. Place both bags inside another piping bag and snip off the end and pipe a red and white swirl between each cake layer. Use the leftover white buttercream onto the cake and smooth.
Chill the cake until frosting sets. Add shredded white chocolate pieces to the top of the cake and garnish with a gingerbread man if desired.
White Christmas Ginger-Spice Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp McCormick® Ground Ginger
- 1/2 cup butter (unsalted)
- 2 1/2 tsp McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp McCormick® Ground Cloves
- 3/4 tsp McCormick® Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp McCormick®Ground Allspice
- 1/2 tsp McCormick® GourmetTM Organic Ground Cardamom
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup light-brown sugar (packed)
- 2/3 cup molasses
- 2 eggs (room temp)
Buttercream Frosting
- 6 eggs whites (room temp)
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 tsp McCormick® GourmetTM Organic Ground Cardamom
- 1 tsp McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp McCormick®Ground Allspice
- 1/4 tsp McCormick®Ground Cloves
- 2 cups butter (unsalted)
- McCormick® Red Food Coloring
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Tartar
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 350°. Butter and flour three 7" round cake pans. In a medium-size bowl, combine boiling water and baking soda together. Add flour, baking powder, McCormick's® Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Ground Nutmeg, and salt into a large mixing bowl.Using a mixer with a whisk attachment, blend butter on the high settings until butter is light and fluffy. Next, add the sugar mixture and continue to beat for three minutes. Add molasses, baking soda and flour mixture. Then add in the eggs. Beat until well blended.Divide the cake batter into three pans and bake for 35-40 minutes. Allow the cake to cool and then place it inside the fridge for 10 minutes to completely cool. Once your cake layers are cool. Remove the "muffin top" from each cake and set aside.
Buttercream Frosting
- In a large bowl, add and mix six egg whites. Continue to mix until foamy. Next, add 1/4 teaspoon of McCormick® Tartar and slowly add 1/2 cup of sugar. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue to beat until soft peaks start to form.On the stovetop in a medium saucepan, add one 3/4 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup of water on low heat. Continuously stir until sugar melts and becomes clear.Drizzle sugar into the mixture immediately. Continue to mix until cool.Add one tablespoon of room temperature butter at a time in the running mixer, add salt and McCormick® Vanilla extract. Beat until you've reached a silky texture.Divide buttercream into 2 bowls. The largest amount for the white and remainder for the red. Use red food coloring as directed to get a desired deep red appearance for the candy cane swirl.In two separate piping bags, add white buttercream and then red. Snip each end. Place both bags inside another piping bag and snip off the end and pipe a red and white swirl between each cake layer. Use the leftover white buttercream onto the cake and smooth. Chill the cake until frosting sets. Add shredded white chocolate pieces to the top of the cake and garnish with a gingerbread man if desired.
Feta Bruschetta
Are you gathering with friends or family this New Year’s Eve? If so then try my recipe for Feta Bruschetta. They are super easy to assemble, oh so good, and make the perfect appetizer to share with your guests during the holiday season.
For this recipe you’ll need:
- One loaf of French bread
- One tomato (diced)
- Olive oil
- Basil leaves
- McCormick® Pure Ground Black Pepper
- McCormick® Garlic Powder
- Feta Cheese (crumbles)
- Butter (melted)
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°. In a small mixing bowl add 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of melted butter. Place french bread slices on a lined baking sheet then brush butter mixture on each slice.
By using a spoon, sprinkle feta cheese on each slice. Next, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of McCormick® Garlic Powder and one tablespoon of chopped fresh basil.
In a small bowl add diced fresh tomatoes, a pinch of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of McCormick® Pure Ground Black Pepper. Blend together and then add tomato mixture to each slice.
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Serve warm.
Feta Bruschetta
Ingredients
- French Bread Loaf
- 1 Tomato (diced)
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup Butter (melted)
- 1 tbsp Basil Leaves (fresh)
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Pure Ground Black Pepper
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Garlic Powder
- Feta Cheese (crumbles)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°. In a small mixing bowl add 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of melted butter. Place french bread slices on a lined baking sheet then brush butter mixture on each slice.By using a spoon, sprinkle feta cheese on each slice. Next, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of McCormick® Garlic Powder and one tablespoon of chopped fresh basil.In a small bowl add diced fresh tomatoes, a pinch of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of McCormick® Pure Ground Black Pepper. Blend together and then add tomato mixture to each slice.Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Serve warm.
Whatever the occasion may be, you can count on McCormick® to help spice up your festivities, and help bring your family and friends closer to you. Throughout my family’s generations, McCormick® Herbs & Spices, Extracts, and Gravy & Sauces have complimented many of the meals on our dinner table. They have become a staple to our recipes from the past to the present.
For more information about McCormick® Extract, Herbs & Spices, or Gravy products and recipe inspirations, visit their website.
Make sure that you visit your local Walmart to purchase a wide variety of McCormick® Extract, Herbs & Spices this holiday season!
Michele
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