• Home
  • About
    • Simply… Nicole
    • Simply… Sara
  • Food
  • Family
  • Lovelies
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Recipe Index

Snowball Cookies

December 13, 2015

Snowball Cookies - a traditional Christmas cookie with added chocolate chips! (Recipe via simplyhappenstance.com)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! 

Snowball Cookies (Recipe via simplyhappenstance.com) #ChristmasCookies

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!

Snowball Cookies (Recipe on simplyhappenstance.com)

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! 

Snowball Cookies (Recipe via simplyhappenstance.com) #ChristmasCookies #CookieExchange #EdibleGifts

TIPS //

  1. Use only real butter for best cookie results! You won’t be sorry!
  2. 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. 
  3. Before serving, you can give an additional roll in powdered sugar to make them look freshly dipped in snow (wink, wink)!
  4. 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. 

Snowball Cookies Made With Mini Chocolate Chips! (Get the Recipe on simplyhappenstance.com)

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 mins
Cook Time7 mins
Total Time17 mins
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

 

Snowball Cookies

  sarasignature3 copy

Filed Under: Food

Protein Packed Energy Bites

April 28, 2015

Protein Packed (No-Bake) Energy BallsProtein Packed Energy Bites //

There are few things I enjoy more than whipping up something delicious for my four little ones. I love knowing the ingredients that go into the foods that nourish their bodies. I also love the sweet smiles on their cute little faces when they bite into homemade treats! 

Protein Packed (No-Bake) Energy Balls

This recipe is a simple one that the kids can even help with. With only a handful of healthful ingredients — this snack can be made in minutes. Their little hands are perfect for rolling the (no-bake) mixture into bite-sized balls. 

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks-19

I must admit, once you take your first bite, you may feel a little guilty! It’s sort of like eating a ball of cookie dough… only this time, you don’t have to sneak it!

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks #kids

Oatmeal, flaxseed, chia seeds, natural peanut butter, unsweetened coconut, raw honey, and chocolate chips make up the ingredients. The kids will have no idea that you are really filling up their bellies with protein-packed energy food!  

Protein Packed Energy Bites (recipe on Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks

These energy bites are great served as part of breakfast, packed in school lunches, eaten as an afternoon snack, prepared for upcoming road trips, for a fun day hiking, or an outing to the beach. (In fact, these little goodies will be accompanying my little girl on her field trip today!)

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Recipe via Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake #healthysnacks

There are so many ways that you can customize these energy balls to make them your own! Try adding nuts, pretzels pieces, dried fruit, white chocolate, peanut butter chips, and/or endless other ingredients! (Just make sure to add enough nut butter and honey to bind it all together.) Enjoy! 

Protein Packed Energy Bites (Simply Happenstance) #energyballs #nobake 

Print Recipe

Protein Packed Energy Bites

Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Healthy Snack
Servings: 20 -25
Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry oatmeal
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
  • 1/2 cup ground flax seed
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup raw honey
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until thoroughly combined. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1/2 hour.
  • Once chilled, roll into balls (I used a 1" cookie scoop to make mine bite-sized for the kids). If the mixture isn't forming/staying in a ball, simply add a bit more honey to bind it all together.
  • Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Recipe adapted from: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/

 sarasignature3 copy

 

 

Filed Under: Food

Chocolate Almond Oat Bars

November 11, 2014

No Bake Chocolate Almond Bars {simplyhappenstance.com}-44:: 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…]

Filed Under: Food

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About

bioSara and Nicole are sorority sisters that simply “happened” to end up in the same small town. They have many things in common, which have set the tone of their blog. They hope that you will join them in their journey of motherhood, dreams that may be, the daily life, and their passion for cooking, yoga, fashion, and design!

SIgn Up For Our FREE Newsletter!

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with Simply Happenstance!

Categories

Archives

recent pins

  • Strawberry Tropical Cocktail - Simply Happenstance
  • pineapple princess - the summer's most delicious cocktail
  • Festive Amaretto Orange Margarita

Copyright 2015 • Simply Happenstance • Grits Design


All personal images and videos are copyright to Simply Happenstance. All other images are copyright to their respective owners.
We would love for you to use our images, but please cite www.simplyhappenstance.com.