Classic Holiday Treats | Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars + Sugar Spiced Pecans
This post is sponsored by McCormick® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. #McCormickMakesItHome #McCormickAtWalmart
The season of pumpkin spice and warming scents can't come soon enough for me. I'm sharing a couple of my favorite classic holiday treats of pumpkin cheesecake bars and sugar spiced pecans that are perfect with salads and wrapped up as hostess gifts.
Holiday Spirit Down Every Aisle
The holiday spirit is alive and well at my local Walmart and not only because I can find all the ingredients I need to make tasty holiday dishes. No, on my recent trip to stock up on my holiday herbs, spices, gravy and extracts for my baking from McCormick® I witnessed the care I've come to expect at Walmart.
My heart sang as I watched a young Walmart associate give very detailed driving directions to a visiting couple. I saw her a second time, walking them through the aisles to help them knock out their grocery list.
It was so touching to see such care and goodwill in action. I know that the couple will pay it forward and I hope I remember to do the same this holiday season.
Taking care of my holiday recipe grocery list is so easy at Walmart. Easy parking, wide aisles to stock my cart and well marked grocery sections eliminate the stress of the season so I can focus on my list and those for whom I'm baking. Check out all of the McCormick® products you can find for your holiday baking at Walmart.
Holiday Baking Headquarters
A fully stocked spice aisle is just what I need to make a batch of my spiced pecans. McCormick® Ground Cinnamon, McCormick® Ground Ginger, McCormick® Ground Cloves, McCormick® Ground Nutmeg and exotic McCormick® Ground Cardamom combine for a perfect spice blend that's sprinkled over crunchy pecans and topped with coarse sugar. Just 15 minutes in the oven and a spell on the cooling rack complete these little holiday gems.
I always stock up on what I refer to as powdered gold or cinnamon at Walmart. They have McCormick® Ground Cinnamon and McCormick® Cinnamon Sugar blends that are a daily ingredient in our breakfast and after school snack time too.
For a quick and easy breakfast all year, I transfer McCormick® Cinnamon Sugar to a small sugar shaker that my kids can dust onto butter toast and top with sliced bananas or strawberries.
Sugar Spiced Pecans Recipe
After I mix up a batch of my sugar spiced pecans, I let them fully cool and fill a half dozen small canning jars that I wrap with a ribbon. I'll store these sweet hostess gifts in my pantry and take them over the river and through the woods at our next invitation to celebrate the season with friends and family.
This recipe is a breeze to make with just a few steps. I start by combining maple syrup with my pecan halves in a bowl, then add my McCormick® spice mix to the bowl and combine.
Next, I spread the coated pecans on a parchment lined cookie sheet and sprinkle with coarse sugar. I bake them for 15 minutes - flipping the pecans every 5 minutes - and let them cool completely.
- 3 cups pecan halves
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Ground Ginger
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Ground Cloves
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp McCormick® Ground Cardamom
- 1 TBS coarse sugar
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium size bowl, combine pecans and maple syrup.
- In a small bowl, combine all spices.
- Add spices to pecan bowl and stir to coat.
- Spread pecans out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle sugar over pecans.
- Bake in oven for 15 minutes, turning pecans every 5 minutes. (set your timer for 5 minutes three times.)
- Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container and enjoy!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars Recipe
I'm so happy to share this family favorite that I make all fall and winter. With three layers of goodness to these pumpkin cheesecake bars recipe, every bite is a surprise! I top with hand whipped heavy cream with a little bit of sugar and just the right amount of McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract.
I start this pumpkin cheesecake bars recipe with a graham cracker crust that takes just minutes to make. I let the kids turn crackers into crumbs with the nearest wooden spoon and a resealable bag!
Next, I combine cream cheese, sour sugar, eggs, and McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract in a bowl. I layer this on my crust base and bake for 30 minutes.
While my cheesecake is baking, I make the pumpkin topping in a saucepan using pumpkin puree, McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract, McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice and McCormick® Ground Cinnamon, sugar, milk along with eggs and a bit of unflavored gelatin to give it a great texture.
I layer on the pumpkin topping to my fully cooled cheesecake and refrigerate overnight. I'll serve these pumpkin cheesecake bars with a dollop - or two! - of whipped cream.
- 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 2 TBS sugar
Ingredients for the cheesecake
- 16 oz softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 medium eggs
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1 tsp McCormick® Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
- 1/4 cup water
Stress-Free Holiday Tips
When your holiday menu is settled and you're planning other elements of the season, remember your own self-care to make the season special for you.
I use a few tricks to ensure I feel my best throughout the holidays.
- Get plenty of rest. Stick to a bedtime that's reasonable for your lifestyle.
- Drink plenty of liquids including water as well as warm and soothing beverages that fill your belly and comfort your soul.
- Make gratitude a habit. Start and end each day with a little list of the things in your life for which you're grateful. You can speak these or write them down.
And when find yourself out and about for the holiday season, make quick work of your list when you visit Walmart to check out all of the McCormick® products you need and more.
HELLO THERE!
Today is a gift. Let's put a bow on it!
Find creative and sustainable ways to make family life a delight! Sharing modern etiquette that kids will enjoy.
💕 jennifer
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