Cookies and Cake Balls and Bars, Oh My!

Feeling overwhelmed during this holiday season? Do you always wonder what dessert to take to holiday parties that’s easy and doesn’t take a lot of time to make? I have found the quickest, easiest and yummiest desserts to make this holiday season that will help you de-stress a little. While they are not ‘”traditional holiday desserts” or as typical as chocolate chip or  sugar cookies, or not as festive as a cranberry spice cake, they’re still sure to please friends and family and easy to eat!

Cake Balls

These definitely seem to be the new trend in desserts; they also happen to be surprisingly easy. Just bake a box of your favorite cake, let it cool, crumble the cake in a large bowl, stir in half a can of frosting and roll into bite-size balls. Refrigerate the balls for a few hours or overnight. Once you’re ready to dip the cake balls, melt either chocolate or almond bark (my favorite). Once melted, dip the ball into the candy coating and place on a tray, immediately sprinkle them before candy coat hardens. See, I told you that wouldn’t be very complicated

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Who doesn’t love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? This recipe tastes just like them! In a bowl, stir in 2 ½ cups of graham cracker crumbs, 2 ¾ confectioner’s sugar, 1 cup peanut butter and 1 cup of melted butter. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a pan. Then melt chocolate chips and spread over the peanut butter and graham cracker mixture you made. Chill for about five minutes or until the chocolate is almost completely hardened, cut into smaller bars then chill until ready to serve. This one will have your family and friends drooling.

Gooey Butter Cookies

Always sweet and always yummy. Mix together 8 ounces of cream cheese and a half cup of softened butter. Stir in 1 egg and ¼ teaspoon vanilla then add 1 box of yellow cake mix, stirring until blended. Roll into 1 inch balls and roll into confectioner’s sugar and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes at 350 degrees. If you like gooey butter cake, you will love these cookies and won’t be able to put them down.

Cookie Oreo Brownie Bars

All you need is a log of cookie dough (you can use homemade cookie dough too), a pack of Oreos, a box of brownie mix and a container of vanilla ice cream. Line a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with wax paper and spray with cooking spray; this makes it much easier to get out. Next, place the Oreos over the cookie dough (I crunch mine all up first, but you don’t have to) then pour the brownie batter over the top. Pop it into the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or so. If it’s still not done, leave it in for a few extra minutes. Cut it into bite-sized squares and let guests top it with vanilla ice cream. Beware, it is extra chocolaty and extra delicious!

Cookie Dough and Cake Batter Dips

This is the ideal party dish! Everyone loves cookie dough and cake batter, but it’s not very safe to eat.  There is a recipe that is eggless and safe for everyone to dip into! Cream together ½ cup butter, softened and ¾ cup light brown sugar. Stir in 1 cup flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon vanilla and 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Add one tablespoon of water at a time, up to 6 tablespoons, until the dough reaches cookie dough consistency. Now you have safe to eat chocolate chip cookie dough batter.

Next, cream together ½ cup butter, softened, and ¾ cup sugar for your sugar cookie dough dip. Mix in 1 1/3 and 1 tablespoon flour and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Add water one tablespoon at a time, up to two tablespoons, until you reach sugar cookie dough consistency.

Finally, my personal favorite, cake batter dough. Mix together ½ cup butter, softened, and ½ cup sugar. Mix in ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ cups flour, 2/3 cup yellow cake mix, 2 tablespoons sprinkles and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add water one tablespoon at a time, up to 8 tablespoons, until you reach again, a cookie dough consistency. Graham crackers, vanilla wafers, animal crackers or anything similar are best to dip into these delicious recipes!

I hope you enjoy these delicious recipes because I know my family and friends have! Please comment and let me know how yours turned out, I would love to hear from you. Also, feel free to post any other recipes that our readers might enjoy. Happy Holidays.