This post is sponsored by McCormick® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

When it comes to our own holiday traditions during Christmastime I always think about the night that we go to see all the Christmas lights. It’s always cold so we make our favorite homemade hot cocoa recipe and I always bake something sweet.

Growing up I learned to bake using McCormick® Herbs & Spices so naturally when I had a family of my own I knew that was the brand I would use. I always shop at my local Walmart store for everything I need. Walmart has the best prices too and I know I can easily find everything I need for our holiday get-togethers. I picked up the pumpkin pie spices we needed for our favorite fall recipes.

Every year I make my favorite holiday recipes using my favorite McCormick® products.

Homemade Hot Cocoa Recipe
- 2 cups of filtered water
- 2 1/2 cups of milk
- 1 cups of organic baking cocoa
- 2 TSP of McCormick® Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups of cane sugar

It’s all of the McCormick® Extracts that make this hot cocoa recipe really unique. I also add a touch of McCormick® Cinnamon as well for added flavor and my girls love it! You can even heat it up right on the stove and take it to go. It’s so easy to make it’s one of our favorites!


We also made our mini pumpkin pie bites. These are our favorite thing to bring to Christmas parties and it’s our families favorite dessert! I always use McCormick® spices to really bring out the flavor of the pumpkin pie and these bites wouldn’t be complete without those spices. I love adding a bit of McCormick® Ground Clove to my pumpkin pie adding additional flavor that just screams Christmas cheer!

I love making things that are semi homemade. Using a store bought pie crust saves me time and a simple circle cookie cutter makes the perfect round shells for my mini muffin tin.

Since these are mini pies I baked them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. They’re so easy and delicious to take on the go to see all the Christmas lights!
Learn more about McCormick® Extracts here and more McCormick® Herbs & Spices here!
I go through so much of those spices, I have to buy them in bulk. They really do make the best!