Hot Chocolate Dip

Christmas Cookie Dip Recipes
           *Hot Cocoa Dip

      Whip up this fun and delicious dip for a simple but fantastic dessert to serve at your holiday parties!

Hot Chocolate Dip Recipe

4 envelopes hot cocoa (no marshmallows)
1 8oz cream cheese (soft)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 oz. whip topping (Cool Whip)

Garnish:
Chocolate Chips
Mini Marshmallows 
Rest of whipped topping

Mix cream cheese with hot cocoa(one at a time),
add vanilla, mix in whip topping, and add garnish. Store in frig!  

Use these yummy cookies for dipping...

Happy Holidays from Samantha's Sweets!

12 Days of Christmas Cookies Post 12 ~ Best Thumbprint Cookies

Best Thumbprint Cookie Recipe by Samantha's Sweets

Ok, here it is!  I wasn't going to give it up, but it's Christmas and well, I'm feeling generous.  This is the cookie everyone wants from me...

Best Thumbprint Cookies

1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 egg whites, beaten with a dash of water
finely chopped walnuts, or sprinkles

Mix, roll in balls, dip in egg wash, roll in nuts or sprinkles.  Bake 375 for 5 minutes, pull out and thumbprint em', back in oven for about 8 minutes.  Watch they don't get too brown!  

Top with butter cream frosting or jelly!

Best Buttercream Frosting:

*icing recipe from Samantha's Sweets

1 1/2 sticks softened salted butter

1/4 cup pure vegetable shortening

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk(more for thinner consistency)

Whip butter and shortening until light and fluffy with mixer.  Mix in vanilla. Add 1 cup sugar, 1/2 tablespoon milk, mixing and alternating until all 4 cups and 2 tbsp. are added.  Add more milk for thinner consistency, and less milk for thicker.  Be sure and whip it good!  ;)  

My best cookie recipe!  You're welcome!

Merry Sweet Christmas from Samantha's Sweets and Sam's Sweet ARt Etsy!

Xoxoxo,

Samantha ~ Artist S.E. ❤

12 Days of Christmas Cookies Post 11 Chocolate Turtle Cake Balls

These cake balls are every one's favorite! 

If you already know how to make cake balls then I can tell you how to create these little bites of heaven.

Ingredients:

*Chocolate Cake ~ one box mix made

*Caramel Sauce ~ jar or dip

*Pecans ~ finely chopped!

*Chocolate for dipping ~ chocolate chips

*More pecans for garnish

Directions:

When you create your cake crumbs, use caramel sauce and finely chopped pecans as the binder. This is an incredibly tasty cake ball! 

*Crumble chocolate cake, (one box mix made.) Add caramel sauce (jar is fine or caramel apple dip in produce section of your store.) *Add finely chopped pecans and a little caramel at a time until cake balls can be rolled into firm balls.  Exact measurements can't be given due to the moistness of your cake. Sorry. 

*Let cake balls chill in the frig for about 30 minutes, then dip in melted chocolate, sprinkle extra pecans, and place on wax paper--- back in the frig. 

Yum!!!!!!!!!!!

12 Days of Christmas Cookies Post 10 ~ Buckeyes

This is my favorite recipe for Buckeyes ~ a.k.a. Peanut Butter Balls …

Best Buckeye Recipe

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (Jiff or Reeses)
1 cup (2 sticks butter soft)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 cups powdered sugar
1 - 2 bags chocolate chips (semi sweet) 

Mix ingredients well.  Roll into 1 inch balls, adding extra powdered sugar if needed. Mixture will seem dry. Just work it! Dip in chocolate and chill.  You can freeze them too!  

12 Days of Christmas Cookies ~ Post 9 Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    from Samantha's Sweets

Ingredients...

2 1/2 sticks butter
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup and 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. coarse salt
3 2/3 cups flour 
1 bag chocolate chips (your preference---milk, dark, or semi-sweet)  I like a mixture of all!

Bake at 350 until slightly golden. :)

12 Days of Christmas Cookies ~ Post 8 Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut Butter Blossoms!

Ingredients... 
1 bag Hershey Kisses
1/2 cup margarine (I use 1/2 butter and 1/2 margarine)
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Bake at 375 until cracking and slightly gold on edges.  Immediately place kisses and let cool.  I put mine in the refrigerator to cool quicker.  I also double this batch and use 1/2 margarine/ 1/2 butter.  

12 Days of Christmas Post 7 ~ Seven Layer Cookies

Here's a yummy one...
Seven Layer Cookies  ~ a bar cookie, and also family favorite!

Ingredients 
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup crushed graham crackers
1 cup coconut
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup nuts
1 - 15 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

9 x 13 greased pan
Press grahams and butter mix into bottom of pan. Layer in order, coconut, butterscotch, chocolate, nuts.  Pour milk over. Bake 350 for 25 -30 minutes.

12 Days of Christmas Post 6 Candy Dandies

This recipe is a true family favorite!  It comes from The Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library ~vintage! ;)

Candy Dandies ~ Pecan Toffee Bars

1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips (semisweet, milk chocolate, or both)

Butter baking pan(cookie sheet with edges), spread pecans out.
Heat sugar and butter to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, 7 minutes.  Immediately spread mix evenly over nuts in pan.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot mix; place sheet in oven at 350 for just a little bit until chocolate pieces melt completely.  

Chill and cut into squares.

I like to double this recipe so I have plenty of mixture.  Be sure your sugar cooks well and dissolves.  You can even slightly toast those pecans prior.  :)

~soooooo gooood!  
Message me questions anytime! 

Xoxo,

Samantha

12 Days of Christmas Cookies Post 5 Sour Dough Sugar Cookies

Sour Dough Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 stick (1/2 cup) softened butter

3/4 cups sugar

1 small egg

2 tablespoon sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar for sprinkling on cookies prior to baking

*For Christmas time:

Use red and green sprinkles!!!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Using a mixer or fork, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add in egg and vanilla extract. Blend in the dry ingredients.

Roll into loose balls of dough and sprinkle a little sugar on top.

Place on lined cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes until cracked and set.  Don't allow them to get golden brown on edges.  Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet.  Store in your favorite cookie tin and ENJOY!!!

Makes about #40 small cookies.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies Post 4 ~ Sugar Cookie Cut Outs

Best Sugar Cookie Cut Out Recipe

ingredients 

1 cup butter softened

1 cup+ 2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp. extract -- pure vanilla, or other

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

3 cups flour

Mix well!  Roll, cut, and bake at 350 degrees just until set, lightly golden on bottom.  

This sugar cookie icing is a lot like our favorite Eat n' Park cookies!!!  It's a color flow icing that's self leveling and perfect for fill in and piping!  We love it!  

Best Sugar Cookie Icing ~ Color Flow

ingredients

3 cups powdered sugar

4 tbsp. water

1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract or other

2 1/2 tsp. corn syrup

a few drops lemon juice if desired

Mix well until the consistency of glue.  Add more powdered sugar for thicker consistency.  Use gel food coloring.  Just smooth it on with a spatula or spoon and it also works great in a piping bag. Add your sprinkles quickly before the icing sets.  Let dry for several hours before packaging.  If you really want that professional look, start by outlining your images with royal icing, then use color flow to fill in.  

Some of these cookies are decorated in my marshmallow fondant!  Try it!  It's really not that hard to make...

1 lb mini marshmallows

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

4 tbsp (table spoon at time)

2 lbs powdered sugar

On flat greased surface, mix and knead shortening with melted marshmallows, adding in sugar, water, sugar, water, until incorporated and rolling consistency.   :)

Roll and cut in shapes.  Ice cookies in butter cream and then add your fondant pieces. 

Xoxoxo,

Samantha

12 Days of Christmas Cookies Post 3 ~ Oat Cake Cookies

Oat Cakes ~ Nova Scotia Cookies
   ingredients...
*3 cups rolled oats
*3 cups flour
*1 3/4 cup sugar
*1 cup shortening
*2 sticks margarine or butter or 1/2 and 1/2
*1 tsp. baking soda
*1 tsp. salt
*3/4 cup cold water

Mix well, drop by rounded spoonful on greased cookie sheet, bake 350 degrees, about 10 minutes until golden brown edges(see photo above.)
May be molded or rolled and cut if adding a little extra flour. :)

These are a family favorite - great with tea!