Baking and delivering Christmas cookies each year is one of our favorite traditions! We actually started this when we still lived in Ohio– what seems like many lives ago! Each year looks a little different, but we always try at least one new recipe and always make our famous buckeyes.
Buckeyes are totally an Ohio thing and many people in KC haven't heard of them or call them peanut butter balls– which is fair considering that's what they are. In Ohio, we just don't dip them entirely and leave some of the peanut butter showing so they look like a buckeye because there are few things we love more than our Ohio State Buckeyes.
I have had varying recipes, and usually, the peanut butter mixture is too dry. One of my former teacher colleagues brought thee best buckeyes to school one day, and she was so kind to share her recipe with me and her secret ingredient: heavy whipping cream. Over the years, I have tweaked the recipe a bit, and I'm sharing it with you today!
The Best Buckeye (or dipped peanut butter balls) Recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
1.5 cups Creamy Jif Peanut Butter
1 c. butter (2 sticks), softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
6 cups powdered sugar
20 oz chocolate melting wafers or almond bark
INGREDIENTS:
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Pop in the freezer until firm for easy dipping.
Melt chocolate according to package instructions.
Put a toothpick in the middle of the frozen peanut butter ball and dip in the chocolate leaving a little of the peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like buckeyes OR dip completely. Place the dipped ball back on the cookie sheet and remove the toothpick. If you are making them look like buckeyes, dip the toothpick in a little warm water to smoothe the peanut butter and remove the toothpick hole.
Refrigerate until serving.
yeilds approximately 60 balls.
Christmas Monster Cookies
The new recipe we tried this year was Half Baked Harvest's Christmas Monster Cookies. I'm a huge fan of HBH, and her recipes are always a little extra. The dough for these cookies was really easy to make, but do be warned that you do have to babysit the cookies a bit once they are in the oven. They bake for 8 minutes, then you turn the pan for two, pull them out and add M&Ms on top (we ran out and used chocolate), then they bake another three before you pull them out and let them cool ON the cookie sheet- because they continue to bake a bit!
However, like all of her stuff, they are very tasty and nearly everyone requested the recipe!
Nutter Butter Santas
We also made these cute little Nutter Butter Santas that we made our very first year we started this tradition. They're so cute and so easy. It is just a Nutter Butter dipped in melted white almond bark and a few sprinkles. I will say they are a lot cuter if you use candy eyes and a mini red M&M for his nose, but we were last-minute shoppers this year and had to work with what we had on hand! You can find various ways to do these little cuties on Pinterest. You can also make snowmen or reindeer if you use chocolate almond bark! We have a friend who makes ghosts with them for Halloween! They're always a hit and one of our favorites!
I always package our cookies up by putting them in a clear treat bag and adding a tag with the ribbon! This year Hattie helped give our tags a little flair with some green and red doodles! Then we go for a walk, look at Christmas lights and door drop our cookies to our neighbors!
Cheers, friends! Meredith
Meredith Maag Photography is a Kansas City newborn photographer and specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, and family photography in the Kansas City area, including Mission, Westwood, Brookside, Waldo, Country Club Plaza, Crossroads, Westport, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, Prairie Village, Leawood, Independence, Lenexa, Olathe, and The Northland.
Meredith has a passion for connecting and helping moms through community, support, friendship, and kindness. In addition to using her blog to showcase glimpses and full sessions, she also enjoys writing and sharing products she loves.
.
I am so happy you are here and would love to tell you more about a Kansas City newborn photography session! From wardrobe to the delivery of your fine art products, I’ve thought through every detail, making the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free.
If you are interested in a custom portrait session with Meredith Maag Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
Clients invest $2,550+ on their full portrait experience. Click here for additional investment details.
Sessions are currently booking well into 2022. To ensure availability, please reserve your date early!
Cheers, Mama!
