Cherry Snowballs

I have a confession to make. I love our Elf on a Shelf. Are you familiar with this little stroke of genius?

For those of you who don't know, this little guy comes to your house and hides every day during the Christmas season and then at night he flies back to the North Pole and reports to Santa whether the kids have been good or bad.  He comes with an adorable story book all for the outrageous price of $30. Seriously.  A felt elf with a creepy face and a book for $30 and these suckers fly off the shelf. Why can't I ever think of these things?

I am not complaining.  I shelled out my $30 in a heartbeat and happily. Now why I think a tiny felt elf with a creepy face can make my kids behave when a grown up me cannot, I am not sure. But ever year, I hope. This year the Bells are split on the elf. The Bell who is 5 is buying it, the Bell who is 4 is not. He in fact gave me a look like I am completely insane and informed me that our Elf, whom we named Buddy last year, is not a REAL elf. I was crushed. I had all sorts of magical plans for Buddy. In fact, here is how he arrived this year.



That's right. He decorated our tree with the kids' underwear. If you don't know many 4 and 5 year old boys, underwear is pretty much the funniest thing ever as far as they are concerned. So this should have been a huge hit. Except the 4 year old seemed skeptical right from the beginning. Then when I reminded him Buddy was watching when a fight broke out, he reminded me that Buddy is a toy and not a real Elf at all. 

That night, when I put him to bed, I brought out the big guns. And I lied. I told him that Rabbit (his favorite stuffed animal that he sleeps with) probably has Santa magic, too, and that's why we can't always find him at bed time. He said, "No, he is where I leave him. Sometimes I just forget." So then I said, "You know how Woody comes to life in Toy Story when his kid isn't around? And he talks to the other kids? I think Buddy is like that." My sweet baby boy looked at me like he feared that him caring for me was going to come much sooner than anticipated and explained in his calmest my mom is an idiot voice, "Um, Woody has a string in his back that makes him talk, Mom. Buddy has no talking string."

So here we are, me trying to convince my child about Santa Magic. It makes me a little sad.... But these cookies?  Make me happy. Yes, I am an emotional eater.

Cherry Snowballs
Recipe by Taste of Home

Photo by Taste of Home

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 36 maraschino cherries, well drained

  • Icing:
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup milk
  • 2 cups flaked coconut, finely chopped

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in water and vanilla. Combine flour, oats and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
  2. Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each cherry, forming a ball. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until bottoms are browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar and enough milk to achieve smooth dipping consistency. Dip cookies, then roll in coconut. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. 



Enjoy!

4 comments:

  1. We bought our elf yesterday and he'd "arriving" tomorrow! Yay!
    Cookies look yummy! I'm adding this to my collection!

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  2. Excellent! Let me know how your kids take to him. You must make these cookies. They are heavenly.

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  3. Okay, I thought I was DONE baking cookies, but, I have GOT to try these! (And I am reading your blog in reverse... I love it!)

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  4. Thanks Tonia T! And welcome.... I love these cookies - let me know how they work out for you.

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