You can never have enough treats around the holidays, and we are excited to share these super simple treat ideas that you can make at home for your holiday party with a little help from our concession machines.

Frozen Hot Cocoa Slushies

There are many flavors we associate with the holiday season (eggnog, gingerbread, peppermint…), but is there any flavor as universally loved as hot cocoa? We think not! If you just can’t get enough of hot cocoa this holiday season and want a fun new way to enjoy this classic treat, then frozen hot cocoa slushies are for you!

This is a super simple make-ahead, “set it and forget it” party recipe that makes about 1.5 gallons of slushy using our single barrel Frusheez machine (or 3 gallons if making a double batch in our double barrel machine). This recipe only requires two ingredients: hot cocoa mix and water. In a large pot, start by dissolving 2lbs of hot cocoa mix (one bag of this gourmet mix will do the trick) in 1.5 gallons (or 24 cups) of warm water. Once the cocoa mix is fully dissolved, chill the prepared liquid in the fridge or freezer (do not freeze!). Once chilled, pour the mixture in the Frusheez reservoir, turn on the mixing drum, and set the temperature to freeze. Let the machine run as you make your last-minute party preparations. In about two hours the mixture should be frozen to the perfect slushy consistency and ready to serve. This drink is great on its own, but you can take it a step further by providing toppings like marshmallow fluff, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or crushed peppermint candies.

Grinch Cotton Candy

The Grinch has been a beloved Christmastime character since his debut in Dr. Suess’ 1957 children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, almost as beloved and recognizable as Santa himself. If you have a soft spot for the big, green, holiday grouch with a heart two sizes too small, you will love this Grinch inspired holiday treat.

For this recipe you will need a sour apple and pink vanilla cotton candy sugar (or some other green and pink flavors), paper cotton candy cones, and, of course, a cotton candy machine. To bring this treat to life, start with a small batch of pink vanilla sugar in your machine, rotating the paper cone around the bowl to create a small ball of fluffy pink cotton candy. This represents the Grinch’s heart. Quickly set aside and repeat with as many cones as you want to make, or until the pink sugar runs out. Now load a medium to large batch of sour apple sugar into the machine and use those same paper cones to roll up the green cotton candy, completely covering the pink. Repeat with the remaining cones. Now you have a delicious treat that is sour on the outside and sweet on the inside, just like the Grinch. 

Snow Cream Cones

While we may not get much snow here in the southern states, many of us still have memories of leaving a bowl outside on a rare snow day to collect the precious main ingredient of a nostalgic winter treat: snow cream! While snow in the south may be rare, enjoying the sweet, creamy flavor of snow cream doesn’t have to be. You can make a snow cream inspired snow cone any time of year!

For this recipe you need evaporated milk (half-and-half and heavy cream work as well), white sugar, and vanilla extract. This recipe can be made in both small and large batches, depending on whether you want to treat a party full of guests or just enjoy a sweet treat for yourself. The key to nailing that snow cream flavor is ratio. Ideally you want a 2:1 ratio of evaporated milk to sugar, along with a small amount of vanilla for flavor. For example, mixing 1 cup of evaporated milk with ½ cup of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla will produce enough mixture for about 6 servings. Pour over or mix into freshly shaved snow cone ice (our Sno-cone machine is great for large batches) and enjoy!

Reindeer Food Popcorn

If you have less of a sweet tooth and prefer the balance of a sweet and salty combo, this final recipe is for you. Reindeer food is a festive holiday take on trail mix that is easy to make for adults and children alike.

This recipe uses popcorn as the main ingredient, but you can customize the toppings you choose to adjust the mix to your taste. For this recipe, start by popping a large batch of popcorn (our popcorn machine gets the job done in no time) and combining it with your toppings in a large bowl. We suggest a mixture of mini pretzels, salted peanuts, Christmas M&Ms, and corn Chex. Once combined, spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pour white chocolate chips into a microwave safe container, and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, then return to the microwave in 10 second increments until melted, stirring after each round. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the popcorn mixture, allow to cool and harden, then gently break the mixture apart with your hands or a dull knife. Serve in a festive bowl or in clear bags labelled “Reindeer Food.”