NORTHFIELD, Minn. December 8, 2011 – Judges try hundreds of products and award top placement to very few. Launch your cookie and candy baking with these sure-fire recipes. Simple and promising to please, they are also quick and easy enough for children to make.

My family members select one type of holiday cookie to put onto my baking agenda. (See Simple and satisfying Christmas cookie recipes to find recipes that my spouse and I savor.)

My college age son found a new favorite a few years ago from our 4-H club. Katie, a ten year old 4-H member, had received a blue ribbon for this recipe at the County Fair. She brought them to our 4-H club holiday party and kids devoured them.

Cookie Balls

1  8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 16 oz pkg. chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed (about 4-1/4 cups)

1 16 oz. bag chocolate chips (semi-sweet)

Cookie Sticks (if desired)

1.   Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until well blended.

2.   Shape into 1-inch balls.  Make about 4 dozen or 48 cookie balls.

3.   Cool for at least one hour.

4.   Melt chocolate.

5.   Dip cookie balls in melted chocolate.

6.   Place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet.

7.   If desired, insert sticks before chocolate sets.

8.   Refrigerate until firm.

9.   Store cookies in a tightly covered container in a cool area.

Melting Chocolate: Place your chocolate in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds

Dipping Cookie Balls: To easily coat cookie balls with the melted chocolate, add balls in batches, to bowl of melted chocolate. Use 2 forks to roll cookie ball one at a time in chocolate until evenly coated. Remove cookie ball with forks, letting excess chocolate drip back into bowl. Place on prepared baking sheet covered with wax paper or tin foil; let stand until firm.

Variation: White chocolate or almond bark is also a good choice for dipping the cookie balls.

Our daughters choice for a Christmas treat is decades old. It was one of the favorite snacks shared at 4-H club meetings in the 1990’s. It also originated as a 4-H award winning recipe. Its popularity with kids and adults is a testament to its wonderfulness.

Cookies + Kids = Happiness

Puppy Chow

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter

12 oz. chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

8 cups corn and/or rice chex cereal (any brand like Crispix, Chex)

2 cups powdered sugar

1. Combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.

2. Microwave for one minute then stir to blend all ingredients thoroughly. Add 30 seconds of heating, stir, until mixture is all melted. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir well.

3. Place the 8 cups of cereal in a very large bowl.

4. Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal and toss evenly, making sure all the cereal gets a good covering.

5. Place half of the powdered sugar in a large zip-lock type plastic bag.

6. Add half of the peanut butter-chocolate cereal mixture to the bag, leaving enough room for the puppy chow to be shaken.

7. Shake the bag vigorously to evenly coat each piece of the cereal with powdered sugar.

8. Add the other half of the peanut butter-chocolate cereal mixture to the bag, leaving enough room for the puppy chow to be shaken.

9. Coat any additional pieces by shaking the mixture in the powdered sugar filled bag.  Add powdered sugar to the bag as needed until all the mixture is coated. 

10. Once the mixture is fully coated, place in a large baking pan to cool. Once cereal is cool, store it in an air tight container or zip-lock bag(s).

These Christmas cookie and candy recipes will surely rate a blue ribbon in your family.

For more Christmas cookie recipes visit Claire Hickey’s column Feed The Mind, Nourish The Soul. 

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Donna Rae is an award winning writer, consultant, planner, facilitator, and coach.She holds the coveted ‘Futures’ award was named an Outstanding Faculty member at the University of Minnesota. She has co-authored five books and numerous articles. Connect with Donna at LinkedIn      Follow Donna at Twitter

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