Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Chocolatey Holiday Goodness

I went to a Cookie Swap this past weekend and brought these...

Oreo Truffles

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use entire cookie, including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
white chocolate bark, or dark chocolate bark, or any variety of chocolate chips

1.Use a food processor to finely crush the Oreo cookies (or hand-crush the cookies in a ziploc bag).
2. Stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.
3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Freeze the balls for at least an hour, allowing them to set well.
4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. If you are using chocolate chips, I like to add a teaspoon or so of vegetable oil to loosen them up a little bit.
5. You can add cookie crums, or colored sprinkles (or whatever!) on top for decoration.
6. Once dry, refrigerate and let set again.
7. Enjoy! (and enjoy again and again!)
(This makes around 40 truffles.)

Delaney, who is my very picky eater, gave the Truffles the thumbs-up endorsement by proclaiming, "These are wonderfully delicious."

I brought a few extras home and they disappeared rather quickly. And I've been asked to make them again real soon!

There were other wonderful treats at the Cookie Swap...like gingerbread cookies, and chocolate chip cookies, and cheesecake bites, and butterscotch haystacks, and orange balls.

But my other favorite treat there was Allison's Homemade Hot Chocolate. When I saw that she was starting it with--get ready!--chocolate ganache, I knew it was going to be really delicious. And it was!

She had a pot of Chocolate Ganache...

6 ounces chocolate, finely chopped (if you're using chocolate chips, this is 1 cup)
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or your favorite flavoring
(Allison also added in a little bit of honey)
In a microwave-proof bowl, heat all ingredients at full power for 30 to 45 seconds. Stir and heat again at full power in 15-second increments, stirring each time, until fully melted. Remove from microwave. (You can also do this over a double boiler on the stove; just be sure and watch it so it won't burn.)

(This recipe here makes 1 generous cup of ganache.)

Allison then had a pot of warm milk sitting by on the stove. To make the hot chocolate she put a heaping spoonful of the ganache into a cup and added warm milk. She also had peppermint and butterscotch schnapps to mix in.

It was--as you can certainly imagine--absolutely delicious!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is why going on a diet during the holiday season is utter non sense. It all looks so good and I will have to take a crack at it. My thighs and belly hate you but I love you!!

Anonymous said...

YUMMMMMMMMMMMY

I shouldn't have dropped by today because now I'm just craving chocolate ;)

Cheryl Wray said...

Yvonne--LOL The holiday season is NO time to be on a diet, that's for sure. :-)

Jeff-- You cannot believe how good both of these things were. Yummmyyyy is right!!

Adrienne said...

Jaelyn told me about these! LOL

Travis Erwin said...

My wife is going to one of those tomorrow. She's baking as I type.

Edleen said...

i'd really love to have some of those Cheryl!!! guess i'll have to be glad it's good to eat off the screen since i'm on a diet! hehe...

hope you're well and done with Christmas shopping? ;)

hippo chick said...

Both of those recipes will make it into my book. Yummy!! I know you're not a coffee drinker, but on Christmas morning we have BAiley's Irish Cream in our coffee. That's just before our mimosas. You can see why we stay in our pj's all day.

~hippo hugs~

Cheryl Wray said...

Adrienne--LOL Yep, Jaelyn liked them a lot!! :-)

Travis--Fun!! And fun for you, because you get cookies out of it!

Ed--You always have the best food on your blog, so I figured you'd appreciate this. :-) Almost done with my shopping; just a few things to go.

Pam--Actually, I have just finally discovered coffeee...as long as it is mostly creamer or other flavoring. I bet the Bailey's in it is fantastic! And yumm for mimosas. I love Mimosas on Christmas morning, but this year I think I'm going to try a bellini recipe I found. I'll share if it works well!

Monogram Queen said...

That looks utterly decadent... I am TRYING so hard to get up enough gumption and nerve to make some holiday goodies!!!

Gretchen said...

Oh, I must make those Oreo thingies, I must! I can diet in January with the rest of the teeming masses, right?

Anonymous said...

Delicious!

Mz.Elle said...

Oooh my goodness,I need that hot chocolate! The touch of honey is perfect too. I cannot have cocoa without it now,it makes it so smooth and comforting,way better than sugar.

Cheryl Wray said...

Queen--Cmon girl. You can do it!! Bake, bake, bake! (It will make you feel good. I promise)

Gretchen--They are SO good!!

Anon--Yes, it was!!!

Ms. L--I had never had honey in my hot chocolate before and it was wonderful!!! This is the best hot chocolate i've ever had. You'd love it!

Marjolein said...

Oh my gosh...those oreo truffels sound so good!!! Gotto buy me those and start making them during the Christmas holidays with the girls! Thanks for the recipe!

Susie Q said...

Oh My Goodness! These look SOOOOOO
decadent!

My downfall... ; 0

Love,
Sue

Lynilu said...

That all looks/sounds SOOO good!! I love Oreos anyway, but this is just over the top! YUMMMM!

cinnibonbon said...

Oh yes yes...I'll take two please!!!

Thanks for stopping by and wishing me well...I should be back into the swing of things real soon..
Take it easy

Kimberly said...

Those look so good. Hey I have deleted my old blog but i am starting a new one...can u email me so i can email u back the link..lol that sounds so funny..lol
kimberlysmith76@yahoo.com.
have a great Christmas!

Unknown said...

OMG! I am drooling over here! I am so in the mood for some Christmas cookies! YUM! And that Chocolate Ganache looks wonderful! I think I need to run to the grocery store now! LOL!