friday fun finds-- top christmas cookie recipes

christmas is upon us and i am baking up a storm! here are my favorite recipes of the season. enjoy!

santa hat brownie bites

this idea has gone viral and i am not sure where it first came from. you can bake brownies from scratch (as in the recipe link), but my plan is to buy brownie bites at costco, strawberries and icing and simply assemble. they are so easy to make and couldn't be cuter.
(photo credit: www.daisyt13.wordpress.com)

spritz butter cookies

i think that these are a little time consuming, but they were a tradition in my home growing up. looking forward to making them. buttery and delicious.

rice krispie wreath treats

a yearly tradition in nellie's house. fun and simple.

melted snowman cookies

adorable! what fun to make with the kiddos!

white chocolate peppermint bark

you had me at paula dean. won't this make a lovely hostess gift?

snickerdoodle shortbread

mmmmmmm!

candy cane blossoms

couldn't be cuter!

oreo balls

the fastest desert. to make and eat. they will be gone in a flash.

forgotten kiss cookies 

they are made with no egg so you (or your kiddos) can eat the dough. (not that i have ever done that--hee, hee).

easy peasy lemon bars

so easy and so good. a great crowd pleaser.

soft, brown sugar cookies

this will be my first time making these....but don't they look heavenly?

what is *your* favorite holiday baking recipe?

mmmmm, mondays: oreo balls

let the holiday baking begin! this recipe actually doesn't involve baking at all and is pretty amazing any time of the year. still, i tend to throw these into a cookie box for our friends each year and they are always a favorite of everyone who tries them. really, the "oreo balls" title just isn't sufficient...there should be something totally obscene in the title of these little treats...they are just that good.

oreo balls

one package oreo cookies

one 8 oz. block of cream cheese

white chocolate or white candy coating for dipping

place the oreos (i do one sleeve at a time) into a food processor or blender and blend until they become a fine powder. pulverize the entire package and place into a large mixing bowl. add the 8 oz. of cream cheese, softened. mix the oreo puree and the cream cheese with your hands until thoroughly mixed together. there will be no oreo crumbs and the mixture will form a soft ball.

pull off quarter sized clumps of the mixture and form into 3/4 inch to one inch balls. place on a large cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator to harden slightly. after about 30 minutes, remove from the refrigerator and dip each ball in white chocolate. place back on the cookie sheet and cool again in the refrigerator until coating is set.

if you're feeling creative, you can add Christmas sprinkles to make them more festive. i'm not sure it's necessary as they will be eaten in about five minutes. seriously, try to eat just one.