Bantha Milk Hot Cocoa

This sweet drink, made with white chocolate chips and tinted with food coloring, is inspired by the mysterious blue beverage Aunt Beru made for Luke Skywalker while chiding him to eat his vegetables in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of your favorite kind of milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • Blue food coloring
  • Optional: whipped cream
  • Optional: blue candy sprinkles

Directions

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan, stir together milk, vanilla extract, and white chocolate chips. Add drops of blue food coloring one at a time until mixture is desired shade of bantha milk blue.
  2. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until white chocolate chips have melted.
  3. Remove from heat and pour immediately into mugs. Optional: top with whipped cream and blue candy sprinkles.

Make a Death Star Ornament

Let the world know you’re a true-blue Star Wars fan—with this clever Death Star Ornament. The handy template makes it easy to bring a little “Dark Side” to your very own Christmas tree…

Supplies:
8.5 x 11-inch white printer paper
3.25-inch round clear glass ornament (same as recent Tinker Bell Ornament craft)
Scissors
Double-sided tape
Ribbon

  1. Download and print out your Death Star template (Page 1) onto white printer paper.
  1. Using scissors, cut along the image’s outline to eliminate any white “border.” Smaller scissors may help you cut into each inner corner.
  1. Place double-sided tape along the center of the image (horizontally), on the blank side. Then, align the center of the image to the center of your ornament and press down—all the way around.
  1. Next, place double-sided tape onto the back of each top flap and press down, surrounding the top half of the ornament.
  1. Place double-sided tape onto the back of each bottom flap and press down, surrounding the remaining bottom half of the ornament.
  1. Cut a piece of ribbon and pass it through the looped wire hanger on the ornament’s cap.
  1. Hang the ornament on your tree and imagine you’re spending Christmas on Kashyyyk… We hear it’s lovely this time of year!

NOTE: Cutting should be done by an adult.

Ink and Paint Artists Remember Tea Time at the Disney Studio

The holiday season offers the perfect time to sit back and reflect on favorite memories from days gone by. And for the generations of artists and staff members of the Disney Studio, there are many great tales to recall.

There was the especially busy December of 1939, when the Studio was hard at work finishing one of the most technically complicated animated films of all time—Pinocchio. That memorable Christmas Eve, Walt Disney, reportedly, burst through the doors of the Inking and Painting Department in a porkpie hat, pushing a cart filled with wrapped presents for the artists, sharing cheer and appreciation during an especially taxing season.

At D23’s Art of Disney Animation—Featuring Pinocchio event in September, D23 Members had the opportunity to meet four Ink and Paint artists who recalled other favorite memories from their time at the Disney Studio. Here’s an especially “warming” story about our favorite time of all—tea time!

Cranberry Ginger Upside Down Cake

From our friends at ABC’s The Chew, wow your family with this cran-tastic dessert that’s as easy as it is delicious!

For more recipes and crafts, visit TheChew.com and tune in WEEKDAYS 1e|12c|p on ABC.

Servings: 10
1 to 2 hr

Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons ginger, freshly grated
¾ pound fresh cranberries
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup quick cooking fine polenta or corn flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup milk
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup heavy cream
2 ounces dark rum
2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar

Step-by-step Directions

  1. To make the topping, butter a 9-inch round cake pan. Put the butter, brown sugar and ginger in the prepared pan, and place the pan over medium heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved. Scatter the cranberries over the butter-sugar mixture. Set aside.
  2. Preheat an oven to 350°F.
  3. To make the cake, in a bowl, mix together the flour, polenta, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2 to 3 minutes with an electric mixer on medium-high speed). Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix well. Using a silicone or rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk.
  4. In a bowl, using a whisk or an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Using the spatula, fold the whites into the batter.
  5. Spoon the batter over the cranberries in the cake pan, spreading it evenly. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake. Invert onto a serving plate, let stand for 5 minutes, then lift off the pan.
  6. To make the whipped cream, in a bowl, using a whisk or an electric mixer, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Stir in the rum and confectioners’ sugar.
  7. To serve, cut the cake into wedges and top with the whipped cream. Makes one 9-inch cake; serves 8 to 10.

Tips

  • Make the cranberry/ caramel portion of the cake the day before.
  • After baking and letting the cake set, let the bottom of the cake pan slightly warm over low heat before flipping out onto serving platter.

Create Alice in Wonderland Gift Labels

Don’t be late to a very important (Christmas) date! Make sure to label all your Wonder-ful gifts with these Alice in Wonderland-inspired tags before you head out for a nice game of croquet with the Queen of Hearts.

Supplies:
8.5 x 11-inch white cardstock (printable)
Scissors
Double-sided tape

OPTIONAL:
8.5 x 11-inch white sticker paper (found in scrapbooking section of craft store)

  1. Download and print out your sheet of gift labels (Page 1) onto your cardstock.
  1. Using scissors, cut around each tag—using its grey border as your outline.
  1. Fill in the “to” and “from” on the front of the labels.
  1. Attach to your gifts using double-sided tape.

OPTIONAL:
Print the gift labels onto a sheet of sticker paper—then cut around each image (as described above), fill in the “to” and “from” on the front; remove the backing and affix to your packages.

  1. Give gifts to friends and family… and watch them smile as big as the Cheshire Cat!

NOTE: Cutting should be done by an adult.

A Jolly Birthday for Dick Van Dyke—Plus More in News Briefs

Dick Van Dyke Celebrates 90th Birthday at Disneyland Park

Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke turned 90 years young on Sunday, December 13—and he celebrated at the Happiest Place on Earth, of course! Thousands of guests lined up on Disneyland Park’s Main Street, U.S.A., and sang “Happy Birthday” to Van Dyke as he rode by in a special cavalcade held in his honor.

The actor’s big birthday bash kicked off earlier with a special unveiling of a silhouette of “Bert” (the chimney sweep he played in 1964’s Mary Poppins) at the Poppins-themed Jolly Holiday Bakery Café. Later, Van Dyke joined his a cappella quartet, the Vantastix, to sing a few songs for park guests.

Check out some of the celebrations in the video, above.

Mark your calendar with upcoming Disney events

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
January 29
D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience: Walt Disney’s Office Suite
April 20
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour in Portland, Oregon
June 8
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour in Salt Lake City, Utah
Studios
December 18
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
January 29
The Finest Hours opens in theaters.
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.
April 15
The Jungle Book opens in theaters.
May 6
Captain America: Civil War opens in theaters.
May 27
Alice Through the Looking Glass opens in theaters.
 Parks
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
January 16
Club Villain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
March 2—May 30, 2016
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Television
December 25
32nd Annual Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade airs at 10 a.m. ET on ABC
January 15
The Lion Guard series premieres on Disney Channel at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT
January 19
Marvel’s Agent Carter returns to ABC at 9 p.m. ET

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Galactic Magic from Star Wars: The Force Awakens World Premiere

D23 was lucky enough to attend the massively cool Star Wars: The Force Awakens world premiere in Hollywood on Monday, November 14—collecting all manner of amazing photos and speaking with several of the film’s biggest stars.

Take a peak at our coverage… it’s sure to whet your whistle as we all await the film rocketing into theatres this Friday! Lightspeed to Endor!!

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The Lion Guard Series Marches onto Disney Channel This January

Fans of The Lion King will feel the Pride Rock love on Friday, January 15, at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT as Disney Channel’s The Lion Guard gets its series premiere—with encores throughout the weekend on Disney Junior and Disney Channel. The animated series’ story was kicked off with The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar this past November, and will continue to follow the adventures of Kion (the second-born cub of Simba and Nala) and his diverse group of pals, each with a unique skill, as they unite to protect the Pride Lands.

If you’re hoping for a sneak peek, you’re in luck: A full-length preview episode, titled “The Rise of Makuu,” is already available on WATCHDisneyJunior.com, the WATCH Disney Junior app, and iTunes!

Each episode of The Lion Guard incorporates Swahili words and phrases, plus original songs; additionally, the Education and Science experts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park serve as consultants—inspiring original stories based on their first-hand experiences, and advising on the characteristics, behaviors, and habitats of various African animal species. The show’s starry voice cast includes The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride alums Jason Marsden, Lacey Chabert, and Andy Dick, as well as Rob Lowe, Blair Underwood, Ana Gasteyer, and Sarah Hyland.

A Very Merry Making of the “Jingle Cruise” at Disneyland Park

Disneyland Park’s iconic Jungle Cruise is getting into the holiday spirit for the second year in a row—and we’ve got a great behind-the-scenes look at the magic! According to this video from our friends at the Disney Parks Blog, it takes a full two weeks to redecorate… and this year, they’ve added a brand-new Christmas-y tableau.

You have until January 10, 2016, to see the “Jingle Cruise” in all its yuletide glory. Catch a glimpse at the team who creates this jolly jungle excursion in the video, above!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Red Carpet Recap

Star Wars: The Force Awakens jumped into hyperspace this week, taking over all three of Hollywood Boulevard’s storied theaters—the TLC Chinese Theatre, the El Capitan Theatre, and the Dolby Theatre—in one of the biggest red-carpet premieres ever. Director J.J. Abrams was joined by a galaxy of Hollywood’s brightest stars, including the entire cast of The Force Awakens, heralding the arrival of the seventh film in Lucasfilm’s blockbuster Star Wars franchise. Original trilogy actors Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford joined newcomers Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, and Lupita Nyong’o, delighting the crowd of fans and journalists.

D23 was able to talk with many fan favorites on the red carpet, including Ridley, Ford, Isaac, Boyega, Hamill, Lucasfilm President and Star Wars: The Force Awakens producer Kathleen Kennedy, actor Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Boyega, and Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger.

Watch D23’s video from the red carpet!

View a photo gallery from the red carpet.

Paddy Mint Mocha

This specialty coffee is served during the winter holidays on the Disney Cruise Line, a festive ending for a dinner party – or any time of day.

Our friends at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are featuring this recipe in their new cookbook, Even More Delicious Disney Desserts, and we think you’ll enjoy making it as much as guests of the Disney Cruise Line enjoy eating it.

Ingredients
1 ounce espresso
1 ounce chocolate mint syrup
11 ounces steamed milk
2 ounces chocolate syrup, divided
Whipped cream, for topping

Instructions
Mix espresso, chocolate mint syrup and 1 ounce of chocolate syrup in a glass mug. Slowly pour in warm milk. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with remaining chocolate syrup.