Five dorm-friendly homemade holiday gift treats

Bright lights drape trees, and hints of peppermint, gingerbread and eggnog fill coffee shops and kitchens — the time of year we’ve all been waiting for has finally rolled around.

As college students, we might not have the means to make or spend a lot on gifts for friends and family. But one of the best ways to showcase your holiday joy and spirit is by making and giving someone a homemade gift. For this holiday season, try making your own treats to give to your loved ones! They’re both sweet and easy to make, and require no oven. These are the perfect cost and dorm friendly treats for anyone who have just a microwave and fridge at their disposal.

1. Decorated Oreos

Oreos are good around anytime of the year, but with some chocolate and decorations you can make them look like festive ornaments!

For this holiday treat you will need:

• ­Oreos
• ­White chocolate (or milk or dark, if you prefer)
• ­Sprinkles or red and green M&M’s for decoration
• ­Mini Reese’s for decoration
• Cookie sheet

1. Lay out a sheet of foil or parchment paper before you begin.
2. Melt your chocolate according to the package or  using a double boiler (or by simply heating it up in a microwave for about a minute and for additional 10 second intervals until the chocolate is smooth).
3. Carefully dunk your oreo into your liquid chocolate, making sure it is fully covered and as smooth as possible. Lay it on a sheet.
4. Add decorations as you would like before the chocolate completely cools and hardens. Mini Reese’s or chopped Twix bars can be placed on the “top” thin side of an oreo and the cookie can be adorned with colorful M&Ms or sprinkles to resemble a holiday ornament!

***If you don’t have oreos, you can also dip pretzels or pretzel rods in chocolate and roll them in colorful sprinkles or nuts.

2. Holiday Bark

Have some extra chocolate and oreos? Another great and easy chocolate ­oreo treat is holiday bark, and it uses similar ingredients.

For this holiday treat you will need:

• ­8 ounces semi­sweet chocolate
• ­12 ounces white chocolate
• ­8 oreos, chopped
• ­6 candy canes, crushed

1. Lay out parchment paper or foil on a cookie sheet and melt your semi-sweet chocolate.
2. Pour the melted chocolate in an even layer on the parchment paper and chill in your fridge for about 15 minutes.
3. Melt and pour white chocolate over the hardened white chocolate in an even layer. Sprinkle crushed candy cane and oreos over chocolate before it begins to solidify.
4. Chill until hardened. Break or cut into square pieces and package a few pieces together for a nice holiday treat for a friend!

3. Chocolate-covered Candy Canes  

Leftover chocolate is great for dipping. Placing marshmallows on peppermint candy cane sticks and dipping in chocolate and peppermint makes for a great snack or even better, a hot chocolate stirrer!

For this holiday treat you will need:

• ­Large marshmallows
• ­Semi­sweet chocolate
• ­Candy canes (pieces and crushed)

1. Break candy cane into sticks to place onto the top middle of your marshmallow.
2. Melt your chocolate and dip a marshmallow about halfway to three ­quarters in the chocolate. Roll the marshmallow in crushed candy cane and let harden.

This is a great snack as is, or can be used to stir into some hot chocolate for an extra chocolatey and minty taste with a marshmallow included!

4. Delicious Reindeer Chow

“Puppy chow” is an all time favorite among many. Make some “reindeer chow” and wrap in cellophane or a festive boxed container to easily hand out to friends.

You will need:

• 5 cups Chex Mix
• 4 ounces semi­sweet chocolate chips
• ­1 1⁄3 ounces unsalted butter (about 1⁄3 of a 4 oz stick of butter)
• ­1⁄3 cup peanut butter
• ­Dash of vanilla extract
• About 1 1⁄2 cups of powdered sugar

1. Melt chocolate in the microwave. Add peanut butter and butter and microwave for another 30 seconds.
2. Continue microwaving and mixing the ingredients until consistent throughout.
3. Add vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, measure out 5 cups of chex mix. Place one large plastic bag inside another and fill the bag with the powdered sugar.
5. Pour the chocolate mixture over the Chex Mix and carefully combine until all pieces are coated.
6. Transfer the cereal into the bag with the powdered sugar and close both bags securely.
7. Shake and flip the bag until all pieces are coated in the sugar. I personally used too much sugar so maybe start out with 3⁄4 to 1 cup of powdered sugar and continue adding afterwards if necessary.
8. Add in red and green M&Ms (I added regular and peanut M&Ms and found the peanut ones to go great with the peanut butter taste)!
9. Divide evenly and separate into small cellophane bags with a twist tie to easily hand out to friends and family!

5. DIY Mason Jar

Lastly, a creative gift to give to someone is a treat they can make on their own! Placing dry baking ingredients in a glass Mason jar makes for a great presentation and a great gift your friend or family member can make on their own. I added in red and green chocolate M&Ms to accentuate the Christmas spirit for these holiday cookies! Adding ribbons or decorative cards with recipe instructions would be a good addition too.

You will need:

• ­A pint sized mason jar (or other 16 oz glass container)
• 3⁄4 cup + 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon flour
• ­ 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• ­ 1⁄4 cup white sugar
• ­ 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• ­ 1⁄4 cup semisweet chocolate chip
• ­ 1⁄4 cup M&Ms

1. I made the flour and baking soda my bottom layer and then followed with the brown sugar, white sugar, and finally the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
2. Make a tag with the following instructions for your gift ­recipient to make these cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, combine 1⁄4 cup + 2 tablespoons butter, 1 egg and 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla.
2. Beat until creamy.
3. Add the dry mixture and mix together.
4. Drop 1 tablespoon amounts of cookie dough onto a cookie sheet and bake for six to 10 minutes.