Christmas baking

With my cookie decorating party and various cookie exchanges we've been invited to, there's been some holiday baking going on around my house lately... So here are a few ideas if you need to bring something to a party too:

In the super quick and easy category, we have cookies & cream bark and cookie brittle. The bark is easy because there's no actual baking required - just microwave the white chocolate to melt it, and mix with crushed Oreos. Or to make it even more festive for this time of year, you can use peppermint ones (I used the peppermint version from Trader Joe's). The original recipe is from Bakers Royale here.

The cookie brittle (like a shortbread) is quick and easy because you just mix the (few) ingredients and then bake in bar form - so just pop it in to the oven once and you're done. The original recipe is from Toll House (here); I like to make mine with mini chocolate chips and no nuts.

On the more involved side are decorated sugar cookies and peanut butter balls, but these have wow factor and are always a big hit. They also make quite a bit, so you'll have plenty to serve, or you can freeze them for later. The sugar cookies (recipe here) require multiple steps of course - making the dough, chilling, rolling/cutting it out, baking, decorating - but these are really tasty and are a great activity with kids, friends, or family get togethers.

The peanut butter balls (recipe below) are a bit labor intensive too since you have to roll 45-50 balls, chill them, and then roll them all in chocolate. I drizzled some melted white chocolate over top to make them a little fancier.

Peanut butter balls (recipe from my great grandma)

2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (17 crackers)

1 lb powdered sugar (4 cups)

2 sticks melted butter

1 cup peanut butter

12 oz chocolate chips

Mix first 4 ingredients and roll into balls (makes 45-50) and place on wax paper on cookie sheet. Chill.
Melt chocolate chips and roll balls in melted chocolate; chill to set chocolate.

[Sharing here.]