Recipes to Ring in the New Year!

Let’s get ready to turn the page to a new year and gather with friends & family with delicious drinks & desserts!

An exciting night deserves something a little special – amp up your normal holiday meal with some sparkling sangria, homemade cinnamon bread pudding, and a warm mug of adults-only “devil-spiced” hot chocolate.

Winter Berry Sangria

1 bottle white wine (750ml)
½ cup white grape juice
¼ cup apple juice
¼ cup simple syrup
¼ cup cranberry juice
4 oz. peach schnapps
Chopped fruit: Granny Smith Apple, Braeburn Apple, Frozen Cranberries (as desired)
12 oz. Sierra Mist or other lemon-lime soda
6 Fresh rosemary sprigs, lightly dusted with sugar (optional)

1. Mix all ingredients except for Sierra Mist together and allow fruit to marinate in the wine for one hour.
2. To serve, pour sangria over ice, making sure to get chopped fruit into each glass. Add 2 oz. splash of Sierra Mist into each glass when ready to serve. Garnish with a sugared rosemary sprig, if desired.
   Yield: 1 pitcher; 6 servings

Juicy Red Sangria

1 bottle red wine (750ml)
7 oz. cranberry juice
5 oz. orange juice
5 oz. simple syrup
2 oz. brandy
Chopped limes, oranges, pineapple and mixed berries (as desired)
12 oz. Sierra Mist or other lemon-lime soda

1. Mix all ingredients except for Sierra Mist together and allow fruit to marinate in the wine for one hour.
2. To serve, pour sangria over ice, making sure to get chopped fruit into each glass. Add 2 oz. splash of Sierra Mist into each glass when ready to serve. Garnish with additional fruit.
   Yield: 1 pitcher; 6 servings

Homemade Cinnamon Bread Pudding

2 lbs. brioche/sandwich bread/Texas toast
2 quarts half & half
12 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
16 oz. Hershey’s cinnamon chips
butter, for greasing dish

White Chocolate Glaze
1 cup butter
12 oz. Hershey’s white chocolate chips
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
¼ cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Whisk together half and half, eggs, sugar, salt, brown sugar and vanilla extract.
3. Lightly coat a large deep baking pan with butter. Cut brioche into chunks & add to pan. Pour egg mixture & cinnamon chips over brioche & toss to evenly mix in chips.
4. Cover pan with aluminum foil & bake at 325° F for 25-30 minutes or until a fork stuck in the center comes out clean. Remove the cover for the last 5 minutes to allow bread pudding to brown.
5. Meanwhile, prepare White Chocolate Glaze: Heat butter and white chocolate chips in microwave for 20 seconds, then stir to blend. Add confectioners’ sugar and mix. Add milk and mix until smooth, then reserve until ready to serve.
6. Drizzle individual portions with White Chocolate Glaze when serving.
   Yield: 18 large portions

Devil-Spiced Hot Chocolate

1.5 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
½ oz. milk
4 oz. prepared hot chocolate
4 light shakes chipotle chili spice
whipped cream
cinnamon stick
chocolate shavings

1. Measure chocolate vodka and milk into a tall coffee mug. Sprinkle with chili spice. Top with hot chocolate and stir.
2. Top with whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick and a dusting of shaved chocolate.
   Yield: 1 serving