It's Christmas time again, everyone! And that means, it's time to bring out the stretchy pants and put that healthy eating on hold until next year.
Why?
Because cookies. Cookies. Cookies and more cookies.
My favorite Christmas tradition is cookie baking with my mom and four little sisters. We line up to wash our hands at the sink and then bolt over the table. Whoever reaches the table first gets dibs on cracking the eggs. The rest of us fight over the remaining, not as awesome, jobs and get to getting, from egg cracking to pouring, to whisking and then rolling. Henry Ford couldn't have made a better moving assembly line.
And at the end of all our work, we can indulge in some warm, mouth-watering cookies.
Family and pounds of sugar, what could be better?
Well, these really awesome Christmas cookies are a close second:
1. White Chocolate Ting-A-Lings
Recipe by lemon tree dwelling/Pinterest
These are probably the weirdest-looking cookies you'll ever see. They basically look like a bunch of random, squiggly lines that were smothered in delicious white chocolate and bombarded with festive sprinkles.
But what's the best part about a White Chocolate Ting-A-Ling? It's the easiest cookie you'll EVER make.
What you'll need:
- 3½ c. chow mein noodles
- 2½ c. salted cocktail peanuts
- 32 oz. white chocolate candy coating
- candy sprinkles
What you'll do:
- Mix chow mein noodles and peanuts in a large bowl.
- Melt white chocolate over low heat until smooth; pour over chow mein noodles and peanuts and mix well.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper; top with candy sprinkles.
- Cool completely and store at room temperature.
2. Reindeer Poop Cookies
Recipe by Life is Sweeter by Design/Pinterest
Here's another... eccentric one for ya.
It's brown.
It's round.
It's lumpy.
It's Reindeer Poop, and it's delicious. You'll be the belle of the ball when you walk out with a tray of these bad boys in your hand. And just like the Ting-A-Lings, you won't have to slave away in the kitchen like Cinderella to make one.
What you'll need:
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 cups rice krispies
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
What you'll do:
- Put a layer of wax paper on your dining table top or kitchen counter. This is where the cookies will be cool and set up.
- In a saucepan place your butter, milk, cocoa powder and sugar and bring it to a boil. Boil for about a minute and stir all ingredients together.
- Now turn off the heat and stir in your rice cereal, peanut butter, salt and vanilla. Mix well.
- Place spoonfuls of cookie mixture onto the wax paper to cool. If you want to shape your cookies into more "poop-like" shapes you need to do that now before they totally set up!
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas Cookies
Recipe by In Katrina's Kitchen/Pinterest
I don't care how much of a grouch, grump or grinch you are, these cookies will leave powdered sugar and a smile on anyone's face. They're green. They're fun, and there's a little heart in the middle of each one for love. So while you're presents maybe safe from any grinches this Christmas, these cookies will be snatched up in a matter of seconds
What you'll need:
- 1 box french vanilla cake mix
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- green food coloring, 1 drop
- Confectioners (powdered) sugar for dusting
- Sprinkles or candies, large heart-shaped
What you'll do:
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In the bowl of your mixer cream together cake mix, food coloring, oil, and eggs.
- Chill the dough for 10-15 minutes.
- Drop by Tablespoon into confectioners sugar and roll into balls.
- Place on baking sheet and press 1 large heart candy/sprinkle.
- Bake for 8 minutes until just set.
- Let cool 2 minutes on pan before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Christmas Cornflake Wreaths
Recipe by Pretty Providence/Pinterest
C'mon just look at these little guys. Who wouldn't love them? Take these easy to make mini wreath cookies to your office Christmas party and everyone will envy your culinary skills. Who knows, you might even make some friends while giving people baking pointers.
What you'll need:
- 1/3 cup butter
- 4 cups miniature marshmallows
- 1 tsp green food coloring
- 6 cups corn flakes
- Handful of red cinnamon candies
- Measure corn flakes into a large bowl.
What you'll do:
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
- Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir continuously until completely melted. Stir in food coloring.
- Pour melted marshmallows into the large bowl with the corn flakes. Stir until well coated.
- Lay out a piece of parchment paper on your kitchen counter. Dollop spoonfuls of the cornflake mixture onto the parchment paper.
- Grease your hands with butter or cooking spray. Use your fingers to shape each spoonful into an individual wreath. Top each wreath with cinnamon candies.
