Butter Archives - Simply Happenstance

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies

December 17, 2015

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies //

We are just days away from school being out and all of the holiday fun to begin. Like many of you, the last couple weeks leading up to the holiday break are packed full of performances, gift exchanges, and class room parties….not to mention a cookie exchange or two thrown into the mix. For the past few years, I have attended one of my dear friends fun and festive cookie exchanges. Her rules are simple…7-9 dozen of the same cookie. Homemade and in the comments of the Evite, she monitors to make sure we all have a variety of cookies to share. 7-9 dozen cookies you say….crazy right!?, but not so crazy once you have attended one of her parties. Every year she rounds up all of the wrapping (bags, bells, boxes, and tags) so you can create gifts for teachers, neighbors, friends, heck even for the mailman, and sets them out on a large table. Once you do your rounds of picking all of the 7-9 dozen cookies you need, you sit down with a celebratory drink and start wrapping cookies in the prettiest of ways.

It’s a fun way to visit with friends, meet new ones, and find a new favorite cookie or two. This year, like last year, I be bringing these yummy and simple, Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies. The recipe calls for a few ingredients, but the kicker is that it makes approximately 112 cookies. The perfect recipe for an exchange as it is only one batch of cookies, and best of all I made mine ahead of time and was able to freeze the dough.

Every year I leave this cookie exchange; happy, festive, and accomplished. Sara and I hope you like this recipe and try it over the next week with your kiddos, as we are sure they will love the sweet combo of peppermint candy and chocolate chips. Let us know what you think?, we hope you bake a batch before company arrives.

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies are an oldie but a goodie. They make almost 9 dozen in one batch.

Print Recipe

4.50 from 2 votes

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies

Prep Time25

Cook Time8

Total Time33

Servings: 9 dozen

Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

2 cups softened unsalted butter
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 ounces white chocolate chips
1 bag of White Chocolate Peppermint M&M's
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups sugar
5 cups of oatmeal blended
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla

Instructions

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender of food processor until it's a fine powder.
Add oatmeal to a large bowl along with the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
Whisk lightly to blend the ingredients and set aside.
In the bowl of a mixer blend the butter until smooth.
Add the sugars and blend until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs and vanilla until blended.
Next add the oatmeal/flour mixture one cup at a time. Blending in between in short periods so that you don't over mix the cookies.
Once done with the flour add both of the chocolate chips and m&ms and mix until incorporated by hand or by mixer.
Roll the cookies into 1-2 inch balls and set on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Snowball Cookies

December 13, 2015

Snowball Cookies //

Cookies… they’re definitely one of my top 5 favorite treats. I love how simple they are to make, that they come in the perfect size for indulging, and that there is usually an abundance of dough… so you have plenty to share!

During the holidays, I tend to try out some new cookie recipes along with a few tried-and-true faves. At bakeries, I’m always tempted by the traditional wedding cookies. They’re called varying names depending on the culture (Italian Wedding Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Polvorones, Russian Tea Cakes, and even Snowball Cookies — to name a few), and are baked for celebrations. Typical recipes call for nuts to be added, but in this particular recipe, I opted to substitute mini (semi-sweet) chocolate chips for the nuts to make it more kid-friendly. The outcome was heavenly… the kids couldn’t have been happier!

Growing up, I always looked forward to the Christmas tin of cookies that my Aunt Jean would make for our family. She would include a mixture of sweet treats that she baked up fresh in her kitchen (sugar cookies, fudge, seven layer bars, chocolate chip cookies, and these wedding cookies). It’s a tradition that I LOVE and try to uphold each year.

These Snowball Cookies with Mini Chocolate Chips have a rich buttery taste and melt-in-your-mouth with each bite. They’re delicate and flavorful… a lovely treat to share with family and friends over the holidays, and perfect to include in those cute holiday tins!

These little cookies are great for little hands to help with, too. Preparing the simple dough, adding in the mini chocolate chips, rolling into balls, and covering in powdered sugar are fun tasks in preparing these little bites of joy!

TIPS //

Use only real butter for best cookie results! You won’t be sorry!
Wait for the cookies to cool for a few minutes before rolling in powdered sugar. This will allow them time to cool (so as not to burn your hands) and set properly so that they don’t crumble.
Before serving, you can give an additional roll in powdered sugar to make them look freshly dipped in snow (wink, wink)!
The dough is stiff enough to work with right away, or if you prefer, you can roll them into balls and freeze in an air-tight container. The raw cookies can go straight from the freezer to the oven by adding 2 to 3 minutes to the original cooking time.

I hope that you and your families truly love the “mini” addition in this traditional cookie recipe! Making half the dough with mini chocolate chips and half with nuts (chopped pecans would be my choice!) would be a delicious way to share these treats with those you love! Warmest holiday wishes to you all… and Happy Baking!!!

Print Recipe

Snowball Cookies

Prep Time10

Cook Time7

Total Time17

Course: Cookies

Cuisine: Dessert

Servings: 4 dozen

Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips I used semi-sweet
Additional powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Mix softened butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer until fluffy.
Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl: flour & salt. Slowly, add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar until the dough comes together. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
TIP // If the dough is too soft or sticky, chill it until you can work it easily with your hands (30 minutes or so).
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, scoop small amounts of dough (approx. 1-2 tablespoons worth) and roll into balls using the palms of your hands. Place balls of dough on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake cookies for 7-9 minutes until bottoms are just slightly brown. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes, until you can handle them.
Fill a small bowl with sifted powdered sugar and roll each cookie in the sugar until coated. Place on a rack to cool. (Once cookies are cooled, or just before serving, you can re-roll them in more powdered sugar to look like they're freshly covered in "snow"). Enjoy!

Notes

Original Recipe Inspiration From: Crazy for Crust

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

January 29, 2015

:: Strawberry Pretzel Dessert ::

What seems to be a lifetime ago, I worked at a local newspaper. Every year we held a community bake contest to launch our Holiday Gift Guide Edition of the paper. This Strawberry Pretzel Dessert was one of the delightful recipes that we got to taste and vote on. I voted 5 stars on this dessert and I think you might, too. It’s a little strawberry and a whole lot of Valentine’s fluff!

[Read more…]

Easy Mashed Potato Casserole

November 18, 2014

:: Easy Mashed Potato Casserole ::

It’s crazy to think that in just 8 short days we will be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, but don’t panic! This recipe for Easy Mashed Potato Casserole will allow you to plan ahead and stress less on the big day. [Read more…]

Chocolate Almond Oat Bars

November 11, 2014

:: Chocolate Almond Oat Bars ::

{no-bake + gluten-free}

Let’s talk about these chocolate bars! I’ve been trying to cut back on processed sugars over the past year {ok… several years!} It’s not always easy, since I’m the busy mama of four, have a crazy love of baking, and have a total sweet tooth! These days, I try to sweeten the treats I make using raw honey, when I can. I feel so great when I’m able to offer my kids a wholesome, homemade treat using fine, simple ingredients. These Chocolate Almond Oat Bars are just that.

[Read more…]

Vanilla Spice Donuts With Maple Glaze

October 21, 2014

:: Vanilla Spice Donuts With Maple Glaze ::

Who doesn’t love a warm glazed donut? These Vanilla Spice Donuts With Maple Glaze are tasty and full of fall flavors with a hint of Halloween wrapped into one. Both kids and adults alike love donuts . I think donuts bring along a sentiment of childhood in all of us. I remember going to Winchell’s as a kid on a special occasion and being able to pick out the largest apple fritter with a little carton of milk. I loved that!

Today, my kids love going to get donuts. I have over the years built some sentiment into their childhood with us going to get a donut on Sunday morning. Sometimes, we bike to the store, or walk, either way it’s time with my kids that I have enjoyed. It gives us an activity to do as my husband is often scheduled to work on family day, Sunday. This particular Sunday, the kids had asked for donuts and I decided it was time to make a homemade version of a simple frosted donut. These Vanilla Spice Donuts With Maple Glaze are kid friendly and adult approved, oh yeah did I mention, they are baked and not fried. [Read more…]