Countdown to Christmas – Day 2 – Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Butterballs |

Countdown to Christmas – Day 2 – Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Butterballs

Filed under Dessert - Cookies

Dec 15
These cookies almost didn’t make the list. It’s not because they aren’t delicious – they are extremely delicious and extremely addictive – but they did not work out for me on the first time around. See, whenever I make cookies, 85% of the time they are simple drop cookies. These took a little more work. You make the dough, which in the instructions says that the dough will be crumbly. Well it was definitley crumbly. So crumbly that I had no idea how it would stick together into balls. I tried rolling it with no luck. So I added some water. At first, I thought I was so smart. The balls came together, I put them on the baking sheet and into the oven they went. But what came out of the oven were gooey little balls – not the sandy-textured cookies I was expecting. They still tasted good, but they definitely didn’t look right. But the taste won me over and I was determined to try again.

The next day, I went for try #2. I figured I messed up on the ingredients somehow the first time around, so I payed special attention this time. But the dough was the same. Super crumbly – not sticky at all. But then I figured it out. If you put some of the dough in one hand, then rub both hands together to form the ball, the heat from your hands slightly melts the butter which makes them stick. I’m not sure if this is really the correct way to do it, but it worked! And I got perfect cookies out of the oven. And so delicious that my husband and I ate both batches – the good and the bad. I think I’m going to need to go on a major sweets detox once these 12 days are over!!

Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Butterballs
from Betty Crocker Christmas Cookies Dec/Jan 2009

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold butter
1 cum miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 400F. In a large bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon and the salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in chocolate chips and vanilla (mixture will be crumbly).

Using hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls. On greased cookie sheets, place balls 1 inch apart.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes, or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie shets to cooing racks. Cool slightly, about 20 minutes.

In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Roll cookies in sugar mixture, shaking off excess back into bowl. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
12 Comments

12 Responses to “Countdown to Christmas – Day 2 – Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Butterballs”

Rosa's Yummy Yums said on December 15th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

Those butterballs look very tempting! A gorgeous treat!

Cheers,

Rosa

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Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer said on December 15th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

I will turn into a butterball if I eat to many of these…hehehe
But well worth it!! Look great!!!

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Ryley said on December 16th, 2009 at 12:21 am

REALLY?? No eggs?? AWESOME!!!!
I can actually make these and eat them…
Oh how I love recipes for cookies I can eat!

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Valerina said on December 16th, 2009 at 12:39 am

Yum! These sound wonderful. Thanks for the tip on forming the balls, I would have been quite frustrated if I had run into the same issue. :>

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Grace said on December 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

love. true love. i'm glad you figured these out, because i want an entire batch all to myself. and yes, a little detox will definitely be in order.

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Mary said on December 16th, 2009 at 6:33 pm

These are an "oh, my God" creation. I love the chocolate cinnamon combo that you've used here. I really have to try these.

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Katie said on December 16th, 2009 at 7:11 pm

These look and sound divine! Great chirstmas gift cookies

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Maria said on December 16th, 2009 at 9:00 pm

I love the little balls! Glad you made them!

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Anonymous said on December 17th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

Well, I dont know what I did wrong. I baked them for 8 minutes and all I ended up with were greasy cinnamon chocolate globs!
They smell super yummy … but they are not going anywhere but in the trash!

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Deborah said on December 17th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

Anon – I'm sorry! That's what happened to me the first time I tried them, but I did add water. They worked for me the second time, though when I followed the recipe as written. Sorry they didn't work out for you!

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Rebecca said on December 20th, 2009 at 3:43 am

I think you must have bought the same Betty Crocker Christmas publication I did! I made the cinnamon butterballs in the food processor and they worked very well that way. Pulsing the ingredients in the food processor made a nice, moist crumb that held together easily when rolled.

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Shannon said on December 20th, 2009 at 11:24 pm

I made these last night, and mixed on low/med to combine, and then moved up to high for about 30 seconds. The batter went from crumbly to just shapeable. They look greasy when they come out, but are perfect after you roll in the sugar mixture, and let sit a bit. My husband and I are becoming quickly addicted!

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