Did you know the average person gains between 7-10 pounds during the holidays? Hard to believe but so easy to do with holiday parties, decorating cookies with kiddos and making goodies to give away (you can’t resist trying at least a couple right?). I am absolutely guilty of over baking this time of year…and over indulging too 🙂 So, what to do with your leftover Christmas cookies…now that I’ve scared you with the weight gain fact? The great thing is that it’s also the season for giving so turn your leftover cookies into beautiful, bite size and scrumptious Cookie Truffles. Perfect as a gift or dessert for any holiday party all the way through New Years!
A couple years ago I was in the midst of planning an epic Kids Christmas Decorating Party and happened to be watching one of my favorite Food Network shows, The Kitchen when Jeff Mauro shared this Cookie Truffle idea <<click on link for original recipe or scroll to bottom of post>>. I quickly pinned it just in case and boy am I glad I did! I ended up with about two dozen leftover cookies (after an amazing afternoon with over 15 toddlers) and no way could I eat or decorate any more. I got the food processor out and got to rolling – voila, perfect holiday gifts for my neighbors.
While the recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar cookies you can easily adapt this to work for most any cookie. I would just suggest that you keep like cookies together so don’t go mixing all of your cookies from that cookie exchange party into one batch. Keep the chocolate chip with the chocolate chip and gingerbread with gingerbread, etc. The cookie truffle combos are endless!
And get creative with the toppings! Check your pantry or baking drawer and pull out whatever sounds yummy to you. I ended up using crushing pretzels, nuts and cocoa and sprinkles for my cookie truffles.
Cookie Truffles Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups crumbled sugar cookies (or cookies of your choice – keeping like cookies together)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp chocolate-hazelnut spread (think Nutella, cookie butter or even peanut butter will do!)
- toppings of your choice (get creative! crushed pretzels and nuts or even additional leftover cookie crumbles are all yummy!)
Directions:
- Mix first 4 ingredients either roughly in a food processor or hand mix in a medium bowl.
- Using clean hands, roll quickly into desired bite-size shape (this is a great kid friendly activity!)
- With toppings in shallow dish, roll balls until coated.
- Store in fridge or until ready to serve.
Enjoy and I’ll see you at the gym come January 😉
