Santa Pancakes

For a meal sure to make little eyes shine bright, try this adorable breakfast.

Ingredients

2 cups biscuit/baking mix

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 medium bananas, sliced

18 semisweet chocolate chips

1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling

Whipped cream in a can

Directions

In a large bowl, combine baking mix and cinnamon. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased hot griddle. Turn when bubbles form on top; cook until second side is golden brown.

Place pancakes on individual plates. For Santa's eyes, place two banana slices on each pancake; top with a chocolate chip. For ears, cut remaining banana slices in half; place on either side of pancake. For nose, remove nine cherries from pie filling; place one in the center of each pancake. Spoon 1/4 cup pie filling above pancake for hat. Use whipped cream to spray the beard, hat brim and pom-pom. Yield: 9 servings.

Santa Claus Cupcakes

HO, HO, HO!  

It's that time of year again.  Make everyone smile at your holiday party with these cute Santa Cupcakes from Taste of Home.  The kids love 'em! 

Ingredients

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) white cake mix

1 can (16 ounces) or 2 cups vanilla frosting, divided

Red gel or paste food coloring

Miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips, red-hot candies and flaked coconut

Directions

Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

Place 2/3 cup frosting in a small bowl; tint with red food coloring. Set aside 3 tablespoons white frosting for decorating. Cover two-thirds of the top of each cupcake with remaining white frosting. Frost the rest of cupcake top with red frosting for hat. Place reserved white frosting in a small heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a 1/4-in. hole in one corner.

On each cupcake, pipe a line of frosting to create fur band of hat. Press a marshmallow on one side of hat for pom-pom. Under hat, place two chocolate chips for eyes and one red-hot for nose. Gently press coconut onto face for beard. Makes about 1-1/2 dozen.