This year, while my husband and I were visiting family, my husband stumbled upon a new favorite for him at the coffee house. It's called a Dirty Chai Tea. What is a Dirty Chai you ask? It is an awesome marriage of 1-2 shots of Espresso and Chai Tea Latte, and it is... DIVINE!

One thing I have learned about living in rural Nebraska is that if you find something you like in the city, there is a good chance that you won't be able to get it in our town. So it got me thinking...I could totally make a mix for him and he can have it anytime he wants. Now granted, it's not going to be exactly like the coffee house, but I have to admit, it's pretty darn close.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups dry instant nonfat milk
1 cup non-dairy powdered coffee creamer
1 1/2 cup French Vanilla flavored non-dairy powdered coffee creamer
2 cups instant coffee crystals (or 1/3 Espresso Powder)
3 cups white sugar
2 cups unsweetened instant tea
3 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground clove
2 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom*
1 tbs pink peppercorns** (optional)
1/2 tsp kosher salt

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl with a wire whisk. Using a food processor or a blender, add a couple of cups at a time and blend until it becomes a fine powder. When pouring the fine powder into a clean mixing bowl, make sure to pass it through a strainer to get out the peppercorns that did not grind up all the way.

Store in an airtight container - I used a 1/2 gallon Ball Jar (and a 1/2 pint jar for the overflow). To serve – add 3 tsp. to a mug of hot water, add a dash of milk.

*cardamom can be hard to find, and can be a little expensive. You can substitute nutmeg in its place. Will have a slightly different taste, but still tastes very yummy.
**peppercorns - it is very important to not substitute these with anything else. If you do not have them, leave them out. Regular pepper is too strong, and has a different flavor profile.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups Corn Chex
2 cups Wheat Chex
2 cups Rice Chex
1.5 cups Oyster Crackers
1 cup Pretzels
1 cup Sunflower Seeds
2 cups toasted Walnuts
1 package unwrapped pumpkin kisses
4 squares White Almond Bark
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup instant chai latte powder
1 tbsp freshly ground pink peppercorns
1 tbsp ground cardamom
1 tbsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Mix the powdered sugar, chai latte powder, and spices together in a ziploc bag. Set aside.
Melt the pumpkin kisses and white almond bark in double boiler, until it's easy to pour. Mix the remainder of the ingredients in a LARGE mixing bowl, then pour the pumpkin kiss mixture on top. Gently mix with a spoon until the cereal is thoroughly coated.

Pour the powdered sugar mixture in a large paper grocery bag. Dump the cereal on top of the powdered sugar mixture. Then fold the top of the bag down a few times and shake vigorously to coat, 1-2 minutes. Spread the coated cereal out on wax paper to dry.

Supplies
Mini candy canes
White chocolate
Semi-sweet chocolate
Christmas sprinkles
Waxed paper or parchment paper

Directions
Step 1: Line a baking sheet with waxed paper or parchment paper.

Step 2: Lay two mini candy canes next to each other, creating a heart shape.

Step 3: Continue filling the baking sheet with heart shapes.

Step 4: Melt the white and semi-sweet chocolates (in separate bowls), using short intervals in the microwave, or in a double boiler.

Step 5: When the chocolates are melted, spoon or pour each chocolate into a piping bag or thick Ziploc type bag. Cut a tiny bit off one of the corners of each bag. Begin with either flavor of chocolate, and pipe in a layer of chocolate between the arranged candy cane hearts. If you’d like your hearts to have both flavors of chocolate, then layer one kind on top of the other.

Step 6: After filling each heart with one, or both kinds of chocolate, top with sprinkles of your choice.

Step 7: Set the baking sheet of chocolate filled hearts in a cool place while the chocolate cools. Once cool, remove hearts from baking sheet and store in an airtight container.

The candy cane hearts can be stored up to one week (they are edible much longer than that, but the chocolate may begin to lighten after a week).

These delicious treats are perfect as little gifts, or beautiful mixed in with Christmas cookies on a dessert platter.

Original post from: http://www.celebrations.com/content/edible-candy-cane-christmas-art