We are celebrating a couple things this week and today I will start with this:
{The End of a Great Christmas Season}However, I did not forget about my 12 days of Christmas commitment and I wanted to share with you the last two days I had planned. (Bookmark this post and use it for next Christmas!)
My husband and I wanted to reach out to our neighbors in a special way this Christmas. We have lived in our house for nearly 2 years now and seem to not have close relationships with any of our neighbors… that, my friend, is a problem we wanted to change. So, we made about a gazillion cookies, packaged them into this adorable little box and delivered them door-to-door just a couple days before Christmas. It was a hit! Keep this in mind next year when you are looking for that sweet gift for a neighbor (or if you are like my sweet mother-in-law, you could make them for your mailman, hairstylist, etc. That is on my list for next year… thanking those people in your life who often get forgotten.)
{making cookies!}
{Three-Layer Bars}
{Favorite Sugar Cookies}
{Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Snowballs}
The little boxes of goodies: 1. Three-Layer Bars 2. Chocolate Chip Cookie (pre-made dough)
3. Favorite Sugar Cookies 4. Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Snowballs
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 1/3 cup HERSHEY®’S Cocoa
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cups crushed vanilla wafers (about 60 wafers)
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- FILLING:
- 3 tablespoons cold milk
- 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- TOPPING:
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
Directions
- In a large saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa and sugar. Cook and stir over low heat until butter is melted. Stir a small amount of mixture into the egg; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes or until mixture reaches 160°. Stir in the wafer crumbs, coconut and vanilla.
- Press into an ungreased 8-in. square dish. Let stand for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes.
- In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in pudding. Spread over crust. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes or until firm.
- In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Spread over filling. Refrigerate until serving. Cut into bars. Yield: about 1-1/2 dozen.
– – –
{Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Snowballs} My favorite!!!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces German sweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup flaked coconut
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
- TOPPING:
- 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 4 teaspoons shortening
- 2-1/2 cups flaked coconut, toasted
Directions
- In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the German sweet chocolate, coconut and pecans.
- Roll into 3/4-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until edges are browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
- In a microwave, melt semisweet chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip tops of cookies into chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; sprinkle with toasted coconut. Chill for 1 hour or until firm. Yield: about 5-1/2 dozen.
Recipes from Taste of Home. (Looking for the Favorite Sugar Cookie recipe, click here?
We had so much fun this year decorating Andrew & Asher’s room.
+ We strung lights from the ceiling.
+ We made snowflakes, painted and glittered them. Then hung those from the lights.
+ We added a teeny little Christmas tree and colored lights too!
The boys loved it…
Next year I want to try this (thanks Kristi!)
Pictures from the boys’ room:
. . .You can look forward to these posts later this week as we celebrate
{A Very Happy New Year} & {Ashlee Proffitt Design’s 100th Blog Post}
