Hot Chocolate Snowball Cookies

There’s just something about July that screams Christmas to me. OK, not really. I think that I’m just really needing an excuse to make a ton of cookies and indulge.

Please tell me that I’m not the only one.

So I thought I’d share, again, one of my favorite Christmas-time cookie recipes. Just in case anyone else is in the mood for Christmas. Or tons and tons of cookies.

I found this recipe in the Penzey’s Spice catalog, which always has tons of tasty recipes. This one I had to make right away. They sounded so good. And they taste even better. Hot chocolate, cream cheese and sugar. Sounds like heaven to me.

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Hot Chocolate Snowballs

2/3 cup butter, softened
3 oz cream cheese, softened (I used non-fat)
2/3 cup hot chocolate mix (the recipe calls for Penzey‘s, but I just used what I had in the house)
1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans (I didn’t use these, not a fan)
1/2 cup extra powdered sugar for rolling
~ optional: cinnamon sugar mix for rolling ~

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese, hot chocolate , powdered sugar and vanilla. In a separate bowl sift together the flour and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix until well blended. Stir in the pecans, if using. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat over to 350º. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets (I often line my cookie sheets with tin foil for easy clean up). Back at 350º for 15-18 minutes or until firm. Let cool for 1-2 minutes. roll warm cookies in the powdered sugar (or cinnamon sugar, or a combination of both). Place on wire rack to cool.

More Christmas-Time Goodies

Just in case these don’t take care of any Christmas related cookie cravings, here are more of my favorite Christmas-time cookies.

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