Weekend Cooking: Christmas Balls and Other Holiday Baking
I have decided to participate in the weekly meme hosted by Beth at Beth Fish Reads called Weekend Cooking. For more information you can check out the original introduction post here.
After some talk on twitter last night about my holiday baking and my apparent obsession with balls once the holidays roll around, I had a request to share some recipes. Here are the three that I *have* to make every year, no matter how little time I have (one year I made them with only two days before the holidays). Everyone expects to get them though, so clearly I have to make the time! I also included two other holiday treats I love.
Cherry Balls
These are my absolute favorite and I usually end up making a double or triple batch.
1 1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1 1/2 cup fine coconut
2 tbsp cream or milk
1 tsp almond flavoring
Mix well, chill, and then roll around glazed cherries. Roll in shredded coconut. (Recipe calls for walnut crumbs but I prefer the extra coconut.)
Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup icing sugar
1 cup rice krispies
1/2 cup walnuts (I add more rice krispies and coconut instead)
1 tbsp margarine
Mix well and chill. Roll into balls. Dip in melted 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate and 2 tbsp paraffin wax.
Coconut Balls (Laura Secord Balls)
1/2 cup butter
2 cup icing sugar
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp salt
4 cup coconut
Mix well and chill. Roll into balls. Dip in melted 16 ounces chocolate chips and 1 section of paraffin wax.
Whipped Shortbread
I like my shortbread light and fluffy – this recipe gives that perfectly. They are best if you add a drop of icing to each one once cooled.
1 lb 50/50 (or 1/2 lb each margarine and butter)
1 cup icing sugar – whip together
1/2 cup cornstarch – whip together
1 tsp vanilla – whip together
3 cups flour – whip in 1 cup at a time
Put in a pastry bag and squeeze onto cookie tray. OR (my choice as it is easier) spread onto a baking tray and cook as a sheet. Cut immediately after removing from oven.
Bake at 350* for 10-14 minutes.
Cherry Loaf Pound Cake
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup maraschino cherries
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp lemon extract
Combine flour and salt, and then in a separate bowl mix 1/2 cup of the flour mixture with the cherries. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, add eggs one at a time. Add remaining flour gradually. Stir in extract and cherries and then pour into large greased loaf pan.
Bake at 300* for 90-100 minutes.
these all look yummy — the “whipped” shortbread intrigues me — I’ve never been a big fan of shortbread, tho itsone of my daughter’s faves, because I find it so dense and heavy. This recipe might just satisfy us both
Yes it is a much lighter and fluffier option for shortbread. I’m not a fan of the heavy stuff myself either theBookGirl.
Wow. What an awesome group of recipes. I’m going to try your easy shortbread baked in a sheet. That sounds perfect for the busy holiday season. The cherry pound loaf bread is also new to me — I bet it looks pretty on the plate. My mom liked to make Christmas balls, she also made apricot balls and bourbon balls (my favorite).
Thanks Beth F. It is always fun making them. And the cherry pound loaf does look great on a tray I agree. Your mom’s treats now… they sound quite tasty too!
All of your recipes look great! I wish I was up there to test them for you!
You’re welcome to come have some if you can make it Kathy!
Lovely treats! I really feel like making some balls myself now!
I hope they taste as good as these ones Uniflame
You’ve been a busy little baker. The all look great.
Thanks Irene.
Cherry Loaf Pound cake sounds yummy! Why are the cherry balls called cherry balls there doesn’t seem to be any cherry in them? Thanks for great recipes!
The mixture is wrapped around cherries Peggy!
Hmm, very nice! I’m getting in the mood for baking myself now. Thanks for these wonderful recipes.
Good luck and enjoy Judith!
I love to bake Christmas cookies while watching holiday movies. Thanks for sharing these; they all look great!
Thank you Diane. Watching movies while baking would be smart!
Thanks for all such a generous gift of your favorite holiday baking. I copied the Cherry Pound Cake and will give that a try. I’ll bet it’s very attractive on a platter thu=is time of year.
Good luck and enjoy Margot!
wow, those two cherry recipes have my attention..I love cherries..
Me too Cait
They are my fave.
these all look good. I’ll have to print them out. Thanks.
Hope you have luck with them Heather!
I love PB balls, but I’ve never seen ‘em with rice krispies. They sound good!
Hmmm they work well with them Jill!
The cherry balls sound yummy!
They are my absolute favorite Sheila
The cherry loaf is something totally new to me! Sounds great!
Definitely a tasty one Col. It’s much heavier than what I usually enjoy but really good still.
How lovely! I’m especially intrigued by your whipped shortbread…
Thanks Chinoiseries, it’s really good!
I have a friend who makes peanut butter balls every year, and I love them! Actually, all your desserts look great, and I would love to recreate some of them over here when I do my holiday baking, so thanks for posting the recipes and pictures!
Thanks zibilee, I hope you have success with them. They are all super easy
Those peanut butter balls sound really yummy!
I recommend them Amanda
Oh, my goodness! Wow! I love these recipes! I’m bookmarking this page because I have loads of holiday cookies to make this year and I need some new ones. I love it! I think I’ll be trying the Coconut Balls.
I hope you enjoy them Natalie!
Ooh, recipes that don’t require cooking! I like mixin’ and chillin’ , I do.
Oh yeah, best way to do it Niranjana
Yummmmyyyyy!
Mmmm, can’t decide which recipe I should try first.
The cherry balls are my personal favorite Care
I like the Whipped Shortcake! Now who is going to bake one for me ?:)
I wonder if it would still be edible if I mailed you some… I think likely not, unfortunately, Kinna!