By The Alabamian staff

Rocky Mountain Snow Drops 

By Charlotte Wheeler, courtesy of Hannah Irvin

Ingredients:

2 pounds white chocolate bark 

1 cup peanut butter 

3 cups miniature marshmallows 

1 cup dry roasted peanuts 

3 cups Rice Krispies® 

Place white chocolate in a 3 quart casserole dish, microwave 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until melted. Add peanut butter; mix well. Add in remaining ingredients and drop on wax paper. Let cool until hardened. Enjoy! 

Chocolate Chip Dip 

By Carrie Alexander, courtesy of Madelyn Alexander

Ingredients:

2 blocks cream cheese (softened) 

1 stick butter (softened) 

1 cup sugar 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

1 cup chocolate chips 

1. Mix cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla extract until combined. A hand mixer works well for this.
2. Add chocolate chips and mix thoroughly. 
3.   Serve with graham crackers.

Best cheesecake

By Joe Ann Barton, courtesy of Xander Swain

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 

1/3 cup butter melted 

1-1/4 cups sugar, divided 

3 pkg (8 oz. each) cream cheese softened 

2 tsp. vanilla 

3 eggs 

1 cup sour cream 

1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling (optional).  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees if using a silver 8 or 9 inch springform pan (or 325 if using a dark 8 or 9 inch nonstick springform pan). Mix crumbs, butter and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Press firmly onto bottom and 2-1/2 inches up side of pan; set aside.  

2. Beat cream cheese, remaining 1 cup sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until well blended. Blend in sour cream. Pour into crust.  

3. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until center is almost set. Turn off oven. Leaving door slightly ajar, leave cheesecake in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven; cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Remove side of pan; Top with pie filling. Store in refrigerator.  

Peanut Butter Munchies 

By Laura Numeroff, courtesy of Cady Inabinett

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) 

1 cup sugar 

1 egg

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. 

2. Using your hands, roll the dough into one-inch balls and drop onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. 

3. Bake for 10-12 minutes in a 350 F oven, until golden brown. Press the tines of a fork into each cookie while still soft. 

My friend Julia’s mom’s sugar cookies

by Nancy Nelson, courtesy of Cady Inabinett

Ingredients:

1 cup butter 

2 cups sugar 

2 eggs 

1 cup oil 

¼ tsp salt 

1 tsp vanilla 

5 cups flour 

2 tsp soda 

2 tsp cream of tartar 

Cinnamon and sugar mixture 

1. Blend all of the above in the order given. 

2. Roll into small balls and flatten with a heavy glass dipped in cinnamon and sugar. 

3. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.