Enjoy a holly jolly holiday party with these recipes

When it comes to celebrations, there’s no season quite like the holiday season. Entertain with some of these great recipes that are sure to please Christmas guests.

Courtesy of Family Features

Parmesan Pepper Spritz Crackers
Makes about 7 dozen crackers

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2  cups (about 8 ounces) grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/3 cup milk
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In small bowl, combine flour, black pepper, white pepper and salt. In large bowl, beat cheese, butter and garlic until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture to cheese mixture. Mix until dough forms a ball. Gradually add milk, mixing until fully incorporated. Shape into small logs and place in a cookie press. Using desired disk, press crackers onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet on cooling grid. Remove from sheet and cool completely. Store in airtight container up to 1 week.

Merry Mushroom Bites
Makes 24 bites

1/3 cup diced yellow onion
3 tablespoons butter
12 ounces portobello or baby portobello mushrooms, coarsely diced
4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1-1/4 teaspoons black pepper
3 eggs
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
1 package (4 ounces) water or other favorite crackers
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced chopped rosemary or parsley (optional)
Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare bite-size silicone tree mold with vegetable pan spray.
In large skillet, cook onion and butter over medium-low heat stirring occasionally until soft, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, rosemary and black pepper; cook until liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes; cool slightly. Transfer mixture to food processor. Add eggs, flour, and salt. Pulse until mixture is pureed with no large pieces of mushroom or onion. Fill cavities of silicone mold completely with mushroom mixture, patting flat.
Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until top of the mushroom mixture is firm. Cool in pan 15 minutes; carefully remove and place on cracker. Top with sour cream, sliced red pepper and, if desired, rosemary. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Savory Southwest Donuts
Makes about 36 mini donuts

1 tablespoon ground paprika, divided
1-1/2 cups cake flour
1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, finely minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

Topping
1 ripe avocado
1 teaspoon lime juice
Salt to taste
Additional chopped cilantro
Preheat oven to 400F. Spray mini donut pan with vegetable pan spray. Lightly sprinkle wells with some of the paprika.
In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cumin, chili powder and salt. In second bowl, whisk together milk, egg, oil, garlic and cilantro. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until flour is moistened. Fill each donut cavity about 1/2 full.
Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched. Let cool in pan 4 to 5 minutes before removing. Wash pan, dry thoroughly and prepare with pan spray and paprika. Repeat with remaining batter.
For topping, mash avocado with lime juice and salt; stir until smooth using a whisk or in a food processor. Pipe avocado mixture over top of cooled donuts. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately.
See step-by-step instructions for Mint Chocolate Chip Truffles, Chocolate Raspberry Chip Truffles and Snowflake Shortbread Cut-Out Cookies on www.wilton.com.

Peppermint Blitz Hot Chocolate
Makes about 4 servings

1 quart (4 cups) milk
1 cup (about 6 ounces)
Dark Cocoa
Candy Melts, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 ounces chocolate liqueur (optional)
1 ounce peppermint liqueur (optional)
In a large pot over medium-low flame, heat milk and Candy Melts, whisking frequently, until boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in extracts and liqueurs, if using.
Garnish with peppermint sticks or curls or snowman decorations and serve immediately.

—Courtesy of Family Features