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    Showing posts with label sprinkles. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label sprinkles. Show all posts
  1. Mint Oreo Truffles

    Wednesday, January 16, 2013



    I'm sorry I haven't been posting too regularly. It's not because I haven't been taking photos or making food, it's because I keep forgetting or don't have the time to post. I am about a month behind in my posts, I made these truffles about a week before Christmas, so that should tell you something... I am not the most organized person, as anyone who knows me can tell you as well.

    I had truffles like these at a birthday party I went to with my daughter. Her friend Andrew was having his 2nd birthday party and his mom is a great baker and cook as well. She made a rich and delicious chocolate cake along with these truffles for dessert. I especially liked these because they taste so light and chocolate-y. Like you can keep eating them and the chocolate flavor doesn't become overwhelming.

    This is probably the easiest recipe ever. Does not require a lot of skill and it has simple ingredients. Although I do not feel that the mint flavor was strong enough for my tastes, so I'm going to make them again and add some peppermint extract - I'll let you know how it goes after I make them again.

    Mint Oreo Truffles

    - eight ounces softened cream cheese
    - one package of mint oreos
    - semi-sweet chocolate chips, about a cup and a half
    - white chocolate, or candy melts
    - sprinkles [optional]



    To start making the truffles, crumble up the oreo cookies and crumb them in either a blender or food processor. If you use a blender, like me, you may have to do it in batches. Pour the oreo crumbs into a medium sized bowl and add in the softened cream cheese, with a mixer on medium mix until well combined. 
    Place the bowl in the fridge for an hour to chill.

    While the oreo mixture is chilling, melt your semi-sweet chocolate chips. I used a microwave-safe bowl and put in for fifteen seconds at a time, taking it out and stirring it between each one until it was smooth.
    Take out the oreo mixture after the hour is up and roll into one-inch balls.
    Place them on parchment paper lined pans as you roll them. 
    Put the pans in the freezer for a quick chill, about thirty minutes.
    Take out the pans and dip the balls into the melted chocolate and place back onto the parchment paper.


    If you want to decorate your truffles with melted white chocolate, melt a small amount in the microwave like you did with the semi-sweet chips. Scoop the melted white chocolate [or green white chocolate] into a ziploc bag and snip the tip off. I had to hold the bag with a pot holder since it was pretty hot, but squeeze zig-zags of the chocolate onto the truffles. Sprinkle with sprinkles quickly after, if the chocolate cools before you get the sprinkles on there they won't stick.

    I used green and red since Christmas was coming up, but feel free to use whatever colors you want.



  2. Christmas Cookies and Smiling Faces

    Tuesday, December 4, 2012


    The many faces of Aria. She's turning into quite the little model. 
    She knows to smile now when I point the camera at her and say, "smile", but of course the best shots are candid. 

    I made Christmas cookies! I use the same recipe my mom uses which is delicious because it has hints of nutmeg and cinnamon in it. I also made royal icing for the first time. I found meringue powder at Target and was so excited to try making royal icing.


    This recipe makes a large amount, I always make this much or more so that I can make a few cookies and then freeze the rest of the dough until I want to use it again.

    Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
    - one cup unsalted butter
    - two cups white sugar
    - four eggs
    - five cups of flour
    - three teaspoons baking powder
    - two teaspoons vanilla extract
    - half teaspoon of cinnamon
    - half teaspoon of nutmeg
    - half teaspoon of salt


    Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
    Cream butter and sugar together thoroughly.
    Beat in eggs until light and fluffy.
    Sift dry ingredients together into a separate bowl and then gradually blend into butter mixture.
    Add vanilla.
    Chill dough at least three hours.
    Roll to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface. 
    Cut out desired shapes and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
    Bake for 20 minutes.
    Cookies should be barely golden on the bottom and look just baked when they come out of the oven.
    Let cool for five minutes on the baking sheet until transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Keep unbaked dough cold, unused dough freezes well.


    Royal Icing
    adapted from Joy of Baking

    - four cups powdered sugar
    - three tablespoons meringue powder
    - half a teaspoon extract (I used peppermint)
    - 3/4 cup warm water

    In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the powdered sugar and meringue powder together until well combined. Add in the water and extract and beat at medium to high speed until very glossy, stiff peaks form (5 to 7 minutes). If necessary, to get the right consistency, add more powdered sugar or water.

    The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air.

    Makes about three cups.