It’s not the holidays without food! And while our to-do lists, shopping lists, and meal preparation lists may be long this time of year, it’s important to not forget or skimp on the favorite part of the meal: dessert. Sometimes a cookie or piece of cake could use a little extra “wow” factor and that’s where we come in! Here are some of our favorite ways to use candy in cooking and baking this holiday season.

Brownies: Brownie batter is a great opportunity to mix in some sweet treats, like M&M’s! These candies are colorful, crunchy (and delightfully melty if you bite into your brownie soon after it comes out of the oven!). We recommend purchasing M&M’s in bulk, since who knows how many batches of sweets you may need to make? You can purchase M&M’s in bulk and other candies mentioned here from the unwrapped candy section on our website.

Thumbprint Cookies: Who can forget about thumbprint cookies? These cookies are usually a sugar or peanut-butter dough and have a craved-after candy in the middle. You could go with the traditional Hershey’s Kiss as the topping, or you could switch up the recipe with chocolate covered peanuts or pretzels.

Trail Mix: Trail mix is a quick snack option for holiday shopping, cocktail parties, or other events on your Christmas calendar. Combine salty snacks like peanuts and pretzels with Whopper pieces. These are fun treats for family members of all ages. Plus, it can be an easy addition to any coffee or dining room table as a centerpiece!

We love variety, and while traditional dessert recipes are go-to’s for the holiday season, spice it up this year — mix in some whole or chopped candies to your dessert recipes. Shop now at BlairCandy.com and stay tuned for part 2!