I adore cookies! Cookie Monster is my favorite Sesame Street muppet. Om nom nom. I am not much of a baker, but I used to help my mom make hundreds of cookies for church events – from lebkuchen (that had to be started a month ahead of time), to sugar cookies, currant bars, icebox cookies, shortbreads, thumbprints with raspberry jam, molasses cookies, spritz, ginger bread men, and something she called “snowballs.” See
my cookie post from 2012 about those! Ever since I’ve been hooked on eating balls of all kinds!
In 2013, I shared
Noreen’s easy recipe for Oreo Cookie Balls. There was even a video to make prep extra easy! Last year, I posted
an amazing recipe for toffee cookie balls from Snackworks! With only four ingredients! And three steps! And NO BAKING! I could do that! More balls made of cookies! With chocolate and toffee!
This year we’re going a little more exotic with doggy style cookies. Don’t worry – they still have balls on them!
You have two options:
1) Order the cookies
Melissa Vergel sells them at SweetFlanDeCoco on Etsy. They’re pricy but will make a big impression at your holiday party! I am not connected with her and it’s probably best if you don’t tell her where you heard about her! You found her…. “online somewhere…” Yeah… that’s the ticket.
They come in two sizes:
a. mini-cookies
https://www.etsy.com/listing/256862717/snoopy-christmas-decorated-mini-cookies?ref=related-1
b. regular size
https://www.etsy.com/listing/249210156/snoopy-christmas-decorated-cookies-a?ref=market
I am not a baker, so that’s what I’m going to do!
2) Make them yourself
If you are more kitcheny and oveny than I am, here are some clues in four easy steps.
First step
Get a plastic cookie cutter. You want the one of Charlie Brown’s dog Snoopy lying on his dog house. I found two online for about $7:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snoopy-Christmas-Cookie-Cutter-3D-Printed/262135709701?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D34576%26meid%3D9ce7485620f64c9082f63c8c66ae6738%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D252029488299
OR
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snoopy-Christmas-Cookie-Cutter-3D-Printed/262135709701?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D34576%26meid%3D9ce7485620f64c9082f63c8c66ae6738%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D252029488299
Second step
Make sugar cookies and icing
from http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/
Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
3 c unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 c sugar (I use sugar that I’ve stored vanilla beans in)
2 sticks (salted) butter, cold & cut into chunks
1 egg
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
Instructions:
Cookies:
Preheat oven to 350.
Combine the flour and baking powder, set aside. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and extracts and mix. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat just until combined, scraping down the bowl, especially the bottom. The dough will be crumbly, so knead it together with your hands as you scoop it out of the bowl for rolling.
Roll on a floured surface to about 1/4″ to 3/8″ thick, and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets (I recommend freezing the cut out shape on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking) and bake for 10-12 minutes. Let sit a few minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Royal Icing
follow the recipe here
http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/2010/01/royal-icing-102-or-201-or-whatever.html
When the icing is beginning to reach a stiff peak, add a drop or two of almond extract and beat until stiff peaks form. Transfer icing to three separate containers and color (white, black and red – she likes AmeriColors. Press plastic wrap down onto the icing.
Third step
Decorate!
Spread on the red icing to cover the dog house.
Spread on the white icing to cover the dog.
Let dry for at least an hour.
Using a #2 decorating tip, pipe the dog’s feature and stripes and swags. Then press little decorative balls to form the “lights” on the swags. You can find them in many larger grocery stores or craft stores.
Fourth step
