Holiday Treats

Hey friends! Are you feeling the Christmas time crunch yet?!

I know I am! I have yet to get several of the gifts on my list. If you are feeling the stress, fear not! I have a few recipes that make affordable, tasty gifts that everyone can enjoy.

Walnut Snowball Cookies

______

What you'll need:

-DOUGH-

- 1 cup Softened butter

-1/2 tsp Salt

-2 tsp. Vanilla

-2 cups chopped walnuts

-2 cups flour 

-FOR AFTER-

-1/2 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together WELL until combined. I use my hands, but obviously wash them first ;)

 Roll the dough into 1'' balls and place on an un-greased baking sheet. Bake for 13 minutes. 

The cookies will NOT expand, so placing them about an inch apart is okay. 

While they are still warm, roll them in the powdered sugar and place on a cooling rack.

-ENJOY!- 

"Tagalongs"

______

 What you'll need:

-Ritz Crackers

-1 Jar Peanut butter

-1 package semisweet chocolate chips

-1 package white chocolate chips

Spread some peanut butter between two Ritz crackers, and sandwich them together. 

Make sure no excess pb is leaking out of the sides. 

Melt the chocolate chips, heating them in intervals of 30 seconds and stirring after each interval. Doing this will ensure your chocolate won't burn! Once it's warm enough, you'll be able to drop each of the peanut butter sandwiches in and fish them out with a fork. Tap off the extra chocolate and place on wax paper to dry! (I popped mine in the fridge for a bit)

While those are cooling, melt the white chocolate using the method I mentioned above, and with a spoon, drizzle over the top of the cooled cookies. 

-ENJOY!-

 

Oreo Truffles

______

What you'll need:

-1 package regular size Oreo cookies, finely crushed  (NO double-stuffed Oreos!) For variation, you can use the mint Oreos too!
-1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened

-1 pkg semisweet chocolate chips

 Mix Oreos and cream cheese together (using hands is most efficient way). Roll into 1" balls. IMPORTANT:  CHILL IN FRIDGE FOR 1 HOUR.  Dip in melted chocolate (see chocolate melting instructions in the above recipe), place on waxed paper,  let harden in fridge or freezer 15-30 min. 

Feel free to drizzle some white chocolate over these bad boys, too! 

Helpful HINT:  When coating balls, drop into melted chocolate (or white almond bark) and lift with two forks to allow excess to drip off truffle before setting on waxed paper.  You may also use toothpicks, but then you have to cover the holes.  Or use a candy dipper utensil.  (I have a couple of these for you to use.)

-ENJOY-

Rolo Turtles

______

What you'll need:

 
-60 mini pretzel twists
-60 Rolo candies
-60 pecan halves

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray cookie sheet. Place pretzels in a single layer on the sheet.  Place a Rolo on top of each pretzel.  Be careful when moving the baking sheet around, the pretzels/rolos will slide around! Bake in oven 4 minutes (only). Remove from the oven.  Place one pecan halve on top of the rolo (which is on top of the pretzel hehe).  Press the pecan down to smoosh the rolo down.  Chill until cool.

-ENJOY!-

 Once all of your treats have been baked, dipped, and cooled, put some wax paper or tissue paper in a tin and layer the treats. 

Finish it off with a bow or some pretty ribbon and you have a fun, enjoyable gift for someone special!

Happy baking :)