I’m writing from the road this week, and feeling a little scattered…stalking random hotspots for free wifi and trying to post before my blinking orange battery symbol turns red…(this is all really just my excuse for being a lousy cook and giving you the easiest, no-bake, no-fail recipe ever invented).
That said, this Christmas, if you’re looking for a quick, chocolate, yum-alicious dessert that every sweet tooth will love, go for Oreo balls (call them bon bons and make them look fancy, but we all know they’re just crushed Oreos with more bad stuff squished in.)
What you’ll need:
1. One pack of Oreo cookies. I use the regular ones, but if you’re feeling inspired go wild and do the double stuff. (Mint might work too, who knows? I’m no chef. I don’t stray from the recipe. And still…the fire alarm goes off every time I cook. WHY???)
2. One 8 oz. carton of cream cheese. I use Philadelphia (because I like the shiny silver box) and to make myself feel less guilt about eating Oreo balls, I use the low fat version (but really, what’s the point?)
3. One pack of Almond Bark or similar chocolate candy coating (You can use vanilla too. Pick your poison.)
That’s it…all healthy, organic, chemical-free ingredients, right? Whatever. I’m a sustainable farmer who strives every day of the year to feed my family home-cooked, wholesome meals (that part is true. Really, it is.) So…when I have a reason to stray from our hand-milked goat cheese and plain vanilla goat yogurt, I tend to go a little nuts. Like that kid in the candy shop who has never been allowed to eat sugar. Yep, that’s me.
Now for the fun part…
What you’ll do:
1. Use a food processor to crush the Oreos (a few at a time) and place finely crushed cookie crumbles into a large bowl. (Do this step quickly or your risk eating the Oreos before you make the pretty little desserts.)
2. Mix crumbs and cream cheese until thoroughly combined. (Tip: Spray your hands with Pam to reduce the ooey, gooey, sticky mess…and still…it’s ooey and gooey. Kids love to do this, by the way. Kids and weird people like me who still like to make mud pies.)
3. Form mixture into small balls and freeze until firm.
4. Melt candy coating according to directions and dip frozen Oreo balls into melted chocolate coating.
5. Set on wax paper to harden/cool.
6. Optional: Melt vanilla coating and drizzled pretty swirls or zigzags over chocolate coating. You may also want to sprinkle finely chopped nuts or candy canes onto the coating before it dries. For Christmas, you may also want to make them completely white with red and green shiny, sparkly, sprinkles … bring on the bling!
Many options exist for these kind of bite-sized desserts. And I’m certain every single alternative would be healthier than this. But…if you want a dessert people devour and ask for more…try this simple, ooey-gooey no-fail recipe for Oreo balls, and you’ll be the hit of the Christmas party. Promise. (Weight loss /exercise tips set to follow soon, so dig in guilt free!)
