M&M’s Pudding Cookies

Here’s another cookie recipe that I made for my treat boxes to give out this Christmas. Who can resist M&M’s and white chocolate chips? I’m not sure if the pudding mix is for added flavor or to make the cookies soft and chewy. Either way, these cookies are a sweet treat. Next Christmas, be sure to put some out for Santa! You can most certainly switch out the M&M’s candy colors to suit other occasions to enjoy these cookies all year long.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks of butter (1 cup)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 box (4 ounce size) vanilla pudding mix
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup green and red M&M’s
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
2. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or until fluffy; scrape side of bowl.
4. Beat in dry pudding mix. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until smooth. Beat in vanilla.
5. On low speed, gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture until well blended.
6.  Stir in chocolate candies and white chips until blended.
7. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto lined cookie sheets.
8. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until light brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Balls

Although I like to make scratch recipes, sometimes taking a short cut and making something semi-homemade works best for me. These truffle balls would be fun to make with kids and since I’m a kid at heart, these were great fun for me to make. To be honest, I did not care for the raspberry gummy candies. Next time I will use a different type of candy. But others in my family loved them. So, it’s all a matter of preference.  This recipe yields 24 truffles.

INGREDIENTS:

• 10 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 box your favorite chocolate cake mix
• 24 raspberry jelly candies (I used Haribo Black and Red Raspberry Gummies)
• sprinkles for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt butter in the microwave until in liquid form.
2. Combine melted butter and chocolate cake mix. Be sure to mix well.
3. Spoon a rounded tablespoon of batter into your hand and flatten.
4. Place raspberry gummy in the middle of the flattened circle and enclose with chocolate batter.
5. Roll into a ball between your hands.
6. Roll the chocolate truffle into sprinkles.
7. Set onto wax paper.
8. Place in refrigerator to allow to firm and dry. Serve after chilling for one hour.

Cranberry and Pistachio Bark

I had planned to make nine different cookies for my Christmas goodie boxes this year. But getting sick right before Christmas ruined my plans. I was able to make four differents cookies but I had to stop there. My ambition was there, but my energy level was exhausted by then. Since I had a ton of extra chocolates not being used now, I  decided to try my hand at making a chocolate bark. Surprisingly simple to make and quite tasty to boot.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coconut oil, divided (1 teaspoon and 1/2 teaspoon)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup pistachios, shelled

DIRECTIONS:

1. Line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a microwave safe bowl, place dark chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Microwave on half power in 30 second intervals, stirring between each time, until melted.
3. Place white chocolate chips in a separate bowl with remaining coconut oil. Repeat microwave directions until chips are melted.
4. Spread dark chocolate out on prepared sheet pan. 
5. Drizzle white chocolate over dark chocolate. Use a butter knife and drag through drizzles to make a pretty pattern. (Yeah, I know mine isn’t dragged or pretty. But I was sick!)
6. Sprinkle with pistachios and dried cranberries. Chill until hardened. Break into small pieces and serve.