Christmas Indulgence!

I just finished up the only Christmas baking I'll be doing... besides the requested dinner rolls for my dad's side of the family.

These bite -sized treats are not in the least healthy. Don't be fooled by the peanuts or coconut. (Although maybe that makes up for the sugar and butter!) hahaha

The first photos are of Coconut Balls (tastes like an Almond Joy!). The last photos are of the Peanut Butter Balls


Coconut Balls
Ingredients:
2 cups coconut
1 tsp vanilla
1/2-1 cup coarsely chopped almonds
1 can Eagle Brand Sweetenend Condensed Milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 pound bag powdered sugar
1/2 tsp almond oil- SECRET ingredient

Chocolate Dip
2 bags chocolate chips
1/4 bar paraffin wax or 1/4 cup Crisco

Mix coconut, nuts and butter in a large bowl. (I used a Kitchen Aid because it was awfully thick!) Add vanilla, almond extract, and milk with hands (if you don't use a mixer). Then add the sugar a fwe cups at a time and mix until stiff. You can also put your hand in a Ziploc bag to avoid your hands getting all sticky.  Roll into balls using your hands or a 1 teaspooon -cookie scoop.  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Lay out a sheet-pan sized piece of waxed paper.

Melt chocolate and wax (or Crisco) in a small glass bowl in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between each heating. (To keep from overheating your chocolate, heat minimally. My microwave heats 1 cup in a bout 1 full minute. Overheating your chocolate will result in a gritty-textured chocolate that will not be suitable for dipping. I know this from experience!) Poke ball with toothpick and dip into chocolate. Set dipped balls on wax paper and let dry. Store in refrigerator and enjoy! 

Coconut Ball mixture. This Pampered Chef Scoop works so well for

 this job!

I would scoop the right size ... 

and my son would help with perfecting the ball. 

He's a great helper!!

See? (Hands are washed, of course!)

I love these scoops!!

We ended up with 88 coconut balls! Sorry the picture is bright but I wanted to include the shot of the heavenly bites!

And here's the Peanut Butter Balls.....mmmmm Our favorite! This filling is much softer than the Coconut Ball Filling. It really needs refrigerating for it to work well.

Peanut Butter Balls

Cream together and then chill at least 30 minutes:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup chopped nuts (optional or just use crunchy peanut butter)

1 tsp vanilla

Roll into balls. Lay down waxed paper. Melt 1 pkg chocolate chips and 1/4 bar of paraffin wax in a small glass bowl in the microwave at 30-second intervals. (Stirring after each heating) Dip chilled peanut butter ball into melted chocolate, by using a toothpick. Lay on waxed paper to cool. Store in refrigerator.

This recipe made about 1/3 of what the other made. I suggest doubling this one if you like peanut butter.

I know, I know... you can see the lumps of powdered sugar. O well. They are still worth eating! LOL

We rolled out all of the balls, cooled them and then started the dipping the next day! (Today!!) Here is what I ended up using for the chocolate dip. 1/2 Dark Cocoa Candy Melts and 1/2 Dark Chocolate Chips with a small amount of Crisco. (Probably about the ratio of what the recipe says.)

Here's where I melted the 3 together.  (Can you tell I lost my helper? He was busy puting birthday Lego's together!) The chocolate should be a little lumpy after it's heated and then you just stir until it's mixed. If you overheat it... that's not good.

See? All better. These little Prep Bowls from Pampered Chef work well for this job.

Poke the toothpick into the Peanut Butter ball....

...completely covering it, and set is gently onto waxed paper.

This was my first try.  The rule in our house is that we have to eat the ugly ones first and save the others for giving away. A few were eaten tonight! haha

I tried a fork with the Peanut Butter Balls because it was getting too soft. A toothpick just works better actually.

And here they are! Topped with a single peanut!

Here's the Coconut balls... See how there's an ugly spot on the top? That was from using a toothpick. Just set a few flakes of coconut on top, or a nut for the peanut butter ones and they look much better!

Sorry... if you were here, I would have shared.

Speaking of sharing, my friend left these on my doorstep today. This is just what's left. When we arrived home we devoured them, not even knowing who made them till later. When I realized they were from my friend Jana, (a great cook!!), that made them even better!  I cut some in half so that we could taste each one. Those cheesecake ones in the back were one of my favorites!

Plus, she found some vintage potholders and left them for me too. How did she know that I would have a perfect spot for them above my sink? Thank you Jana!

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Birthday to our son Aidan!

Thank you Lord, for sending Your Son for us!!