Deck the Balls
If you are just joining us after the holiday weekend, let me catch you up.
- I was treated to a Thanksgiving morning dance recital.
- I made the best stuffing at Thanksgiving dinner. No, it wasn’t really a competition. But if it was, I would have won.
- I became a bread pudding convert and slept on the living room floor. The living room floor was closer to the leftovers. Easy access, baby.
And today. Today we decked the halls.
Every year when we pull out the large Rubbermaid bins from above the treadmill in the garage, it’s a mixed bag of emotions when we open the lids. There are the old friends we are happy to see again.
Gingerpeas.
Stockings to be filled. I’m suddenly wishing they were not true to the size of my feet.
Lady Gaga Nutcracker. For display purposes only, much like her namesake.
The Nativity Scene missing the most important person. We immediately put out an Amber Alert on Baby Jesus.
My favorite, the stairway garland. Totally worth the eight pounds of needles I have to sweep out of the entryway for the next four weeks.
And then, amidst the tubs of scattered ornament hooks, silver glitter and Red Hots of unknown origin are the decorations we wish had somehow not made it back into the bins.
Jingle antlers. The only purpose they serve is to tick Pea Kitty off as the girls try to make her wear them and guide their sleigh tonight.
The tackiest gingerbread house ever. Pinecones and disco glitter? Somebody overdid it.
The Elf Twins. Feared by many (okay, just me), loved by many more (okay, two).
Am I a bad mother if I don’t put this gem on display?
Graffiti the Snowman. He was created last Christmas, and I’m pretty sure he’s still not dry. Somebody overdid it.
I went about creating my own Christmas treasures today. The family jewels, if you will. Something you will not want to hide away in your drawers, but something you will want to proudly display out in the open for all of the world to see.
Christmas Cookie Dough Balls.
Yes, three flavors.
Somebody overdid it.
Christmas Cookie Dough Balls
Makes 15-20 balls
- 3/4 c. vegan margarine (i.e. Earth Balance)
- 3/4 c. powdered sugar
- 1/4 c. organic sugar
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
- 1 c. unbleached organic flour
- 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1-3 t. non-dairy or organic milk
For rolling:
- Christmas sprinkles
- cinnamon sugar mix
- crushed candy canes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a stand mixer or using an electric mixer and a large bowl blend together margarine, sugars, vanilla, salt and flour.
The mixture will look dry, but keep blending until a dough comes together, though it will still be crumbly. If you still haven’t reached a stage where the dough can be shaped into balls, add as little milk as necessary.
The more milk you add, the flatter your balls will be. And that’s all I have to say about that.
In the meantime, prepare whatever topping you choose to roll your balls in.
For snickerdoodle dough balls, combine 2 T. of organic sugar with 2 t. of cinnamon. For sugar cookie dough balls, put in a bowl whatever festive sprinkles you want to bedazzle your balls with. For candy cane dough balls, crush your candy canes.
If you want to make candy cane dough balls and only candy cane dough balls, you can also add 1/2 t. of peppermint extract to your dough during mixing.
Using a mini scoop or your hands, form dough into golf ball-sized balls.
Roll in the topping of your choice and transfer to a baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. The dough balls will be delicate still, so allow to cool for at least 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Everybody gets their favorite.
Pea Daddy liked the candy cane version, and the girls are all about sprinkles.
But I liked the snickerdoodle the best. And though the balls weren’t perfectly round, like their peanut butter chocolate chip predecessors, what they lacked in shape they made up for in texture and flavor.
Just in time, we found Baby Jesus.
But I had one more big task to take care of today.
No, the tree will get it’s finishing touches tomorrow (hint about future post…). I’m more concerned with whether or not I’ll be able to get rid of the Evil Elf Twins.
The girls can’t like them that much, can they?
Oh, balls.
Those cookies look fantastic..ugh I love all Christmas related treats. I want a tree soooo badly, but next to the whole no weapons or alcohol paraphernalia in my housing contract it specifically says no live christmas trees. And my parents always decorate the tree back home without me since I have finals up until the 18th. Sad.
Dolls like that always freak me out too..
No live Christmas trees?! Couldn’t that be seen as interference with your religious practice? You need a lawyer to fight that.
Yes! I now have the answer to the question, which cookies should i make for the cookie swap party? Also, most of my friends have never heard of a holiday cookie swap. I’m pretty sure I need more foodie friends.
I’m trying to figure out which to give away on our goodie plates that we give to neighbors and friends. I guess I’ll just have to make all of them!
yum!! nice balls!
are you trying to kill me via massive weight gain?
thanks.
and i love your decked halls! and balls, of course, but the halls really have me impressed. i gotta go buy a slew of christmas decor now that i am a home owner!
i love you.
Yes! Invest in the Xmas decor! You won’t regret it. Or I can send you some really tacky…er, I mean GREAT pieces from our collection.
Remember when I was talking about that BFL challenge in January…dough balls might be the #1 reason to do it.
i am all for doing an official challenge with you. my regimen started today, however, because i go to mexico jan 28th. but we should get some official officialness going. momma b wants to, too.
Today?! I figured I had at least one more month of splurging in me…
You are making my “to-make” list quite lengthy!
First, I thought I’d just try the dough balls, then word spread like wildfire about the bread pudding, then I went researching through your website and found “cheese” burgers and roasted chickpeas. Then, you come out with different yummy versions of dough balls!
You know a cookbook I can purchase where I can just find all of this in one little happy place?
I do know such a cookbook! I’m thinking my second book should be all balls. And that may just be the title, “All Balls.” You like?
Not like – LOVE! I’d be on that waiting list!
And there could be different names – Love Balls, Hate Balls, Cranky Balls…obviously I have limited emotions at this time.
A ball for every occasion!
Holy holy holyyyyy balls. You have outdone yourself!
Mama Pea!
Such a fun day you must have had decorating and baking. I wish I could have helped!
I’ll be home now for two weeks before I have to go back to China until Christmas!
Is that enough time for you to send the girls artwork they made for the giveaway a won? Let me know if you need my address again or if you still have it.
Xoxoxo! And hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving!
Erin
Yes, Erin! I’m sorry…your address is still sitting in my inbox! We’ll get something in the mail ASAP.
$10 says one piece of artwork has a name that rhymes with Tahiti
LOL!
I’m pretty sure the US Postal Service doesn’t allow flammables, though.
After reading this post, I am kind of ready to go home for Christmas right about NOW.
Awww. Home is where the heart is. Or where the cookies are. Or both.
I really hope that no one missed this line in the post – “The more milk you add, the flatter your balls will be. And that’s all I have to say about that. ” hahaha I’m not sure which one I would like best…I’ll just have to test them all out. Molasses balls would also be incredible..my favorite part of making the molasses cookies with my dad every year, was eating all of the dough! Your tree is HUGE!! Good luck decorating…I’m sure the girls will have the bottom of the tree jazzed up in no time!
Glad you caught that line.
Mmm…molasses balls. So many inappropriate things come to mind.
“bedazzle your balls”
Super mega awesome lolz on that one. Those cookies look redonk, especially the snickerdoodle.
And I love graffiti snowman. He has a lot of character.
Grafitti snowman will stain your clothes.
Hehe! Those balls look delicious. I’m glad you were finally able to find Baby Jesus! Your house must be so fun, it seems like you always have some freshly baked good to devour.
I don’t know where Jesus was. He was here all along.
CUTE Cookies!!! I can’t wait to make them with my son.
Pretty stockings!
I’m looking forward to making these balls. If they’re anywhere as good as the peanut butter chocolate chip ones, then they MUST be made!
Pea D says they are just as good!
Mmm, bedazzled balls. Everything is better when it’s bedazzled. It’s a fact.
Hahaha–Graffiti the Snowman!!
Want him?
Wow, I’m in the Christmas spirit now after reading this post– Christmas decor, here I come!
When we were little, my Mom wouldn’t put baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas morning because that’s when he was born, haha. We tried and tried to find where she’d hide him and never could. It was always so cool to come downstairs on Christmas morning and find that he had been born.
p.s. That reminds me – another one of our Christmas traditions is to make Jesus’ birthday cake.
Ooh, maybe I’ll hide Him again!
wow, I really think it sucks being a jew now! I’m gonna find a way to make those balls “kosher for hannukah”
Been thinking about you, Eden & hope everything is okay!
thank you mama pea, I’m very grateful for all the prayers and warm wishes sent my way. Look like I need to make some get well balls.
I think Ive just gained about 50 pds from reading this post and looking at those yummy balls!!! WOW!!
and i was laughing my arse off with your comments.. my other half of course is like what in the world are you laughing at.. so i had to read and show the whole post to him. He just doesn’t get it.. Men.
good luck with the evil twins.. they are kinda creepy!
He doesn’t get me?! Ouch, that hurts.
The elf twins remind me of two snowmen my mom puts out on the couch every year since I can remember. They are FREAKY looking now, of course I loved them back then. Gotta love tradition…like the painted light bulb ornaments we made as kids that kind of resemble the grafitti snowman. I am surprised we have not dropped and broken them yet…but we’ve managed to drop and break every brand new ornament we try to buy.
The stairway garland was my fave too, when we had stairs in the house. Now I use any excuse to put it out and have it around my island in the kitchen. Tacky, yes. Tradition, oh yes.
Last but not least–of course I am salivating over your balls, but I gotta say, you’re photos look GREAT. Two thumbs up
Thanks Mary Beth! I’ve been trying to work on my photos. I may be getting a new lens for myself for Christmas too. Or from Santa, I mean.
Ooooooooooooh….I hope Santa brings that for you!
OH and I have a request: balls involving oatmeal? Any in the near future??
I contemplated oatmeal balls this weekend. We shall see…I have a feeling people are getting balled out.
Oh one can never have too many ballz….
You are nothing shortt of amazing with your cooking and decorating skills! I like the Gingerpeas the best.
Where did you get your GingerPeas??? Adorable!!!! Did you make them?
My uncle made them. They were my family’s growing up, and then he made us a new Lulu when she came along. The ginger pigtails kill me.
Oh my gosh… I love the Gingerpeas!
Me too
I distinctly remember so many of my childhood favorite Christmas decorations. It’s so weird being back home for Christmas this year but actually quite nice to have all of these again. Your girls will remember these moments forever!
I hope so. I know I will.
I’m sad I can’t make these right away. Though if I could, I’d absolutely skip my train back to school and use my parents’ kitchen as a dough-ball laboratory…
We’re missing a different piece of the Nativity scene every year. And we always forget to put Baby Jesus in his manger on Christmas day. Hope you have a good Monday!
You too, Gabriela!
ok, i really need to make your snickerdoodle dough balls!!
I love balls – take that how you want it.
I actually gnawed the head off of one of the wisemen in our nativity scene when I was two. Maybe if my mom had made me some doughballs, I wouldn’t have been so hungry?
At least you knew enough to stay away from the son of God.
Those snickerdoodle ones look the best!
Oooh, cute dough balls!
One year, our standard poodle ATE the baby Jesus from our nativity scene, and we had to use a little robot man as a stand-in for a few days. You know…you do what you can.
Robot Baby Jesus?! Gah!!!!
I made gluten free dairy free snickerdoodle dough balls and they lasted less than an hour in my house! I don’t know if that means I should make them again or if they are dangerous in the house!
Nah…it’s Christmas! Make another batch!
Love it! So festive and fun! Peter will love to roll his balls in the toppings! That doesn’t sound right, but you know what I mean.
Oh, and thanks for the milk tip. I personally like my balls full and round, so I’ll take it easy with the milk.
Wow, you just had to go there, didn’t you, Amy?
Hey, you laid the path, lady. I just followed it
Snickerdoodle balls?! Brilliant!
I love the gingerbread peas!
As for the elf dolls… I think I’m on the same page as you.
I was waiting for the Christmas varieties!! These look so good!
Your home looks amazing, too.
Thanks! I didn’t even show you half of it
Those are the CUTEST little cookies!
AMAZING! I just got invited to a cookie swap in a few weeks and immediately I thought of your peanut butter chocolate chip dough balls-I’ve been DYING to make them since your post! NOW, it’s decided, I am making these bad boys…hopefully they will actually make it to the cookie swap and not just in my belly!
PS-loved the “Amber Alert on baby Jesus!” Lol
You should make the peanut butter ones too. I’m not just saying that. They are really awesome.
i like your balls.
We have the same issue at Easter…we have the evil bunny twins..UGH…my kids love them but I just know that they are staring at me all the time…they are creepy and every year I “forget” where I put them…only to have one of the kids find them…they do it every year…I don’t have the heart to throw them out because my grandmother purchased them for me as a child…maybe this year they will hop to a needy family’s house!?!
Ours were a gift from Aunt Shari. She’s trying to drive me away so she can swoop in and comfort Pea Daddy.
Starred, saved, and WILL be made at some point this holiday season.
I love all the decorations. Although I’m with you – dolls like that creep me out.
Though they are far cheaper to dress than an American Girl doll…
Love love love… I think these little bits of doughy gorgeousness might be perfect wrapped up with little bows and given to my friends as Christmas gifts!
I think they would be so cute tied up in little cellophane packages!
Oh my goodness, your girls are SO cute
The dough balls looks perfectly holiday!
Hahahaha – I loved this post, Mama Pea!
I can’t wait to try the original Dough Balls – they look amazing!
Oh, and just because it’s true – you have the cutest daughters EVER!
Yes, I think you need to start with the originals and work your way up!
Gingerpeas and BALLS! YESSS! Totally making the balls
I want to shove all your cookies in my face and die of a cookie coma. Heart you, happy belated Thanksgiving, we were moving and in the middle of insanity, still haven’t surfaced. If you don’t hear from me in a few months, send out the search party, you know where we live…or you would if I’d send you my new address.
Hi Kel! I’m sorry I missed wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving. Let me know if there’s anything I can help with…and yes, send me your new address for Christmas card purposes!
How festive! Your balls inspire envy in my heart
Hey Mama Pea, fun post. I love your Christmas stockings. Where did you get them? I’m on a hunt & a half for stockings for my little fam and yours are too cute.
thx!
They are from Pottery Barn Kids, but this style is about four years old. Good luck on your hunt!
Oh Mama Pea, you’ve out done yourself! These dough balls look fantastic. And I’m so excited to try the recipe sans peanut butter. Thanks!
You’re welcome! You could easily just add chocolate chips to these too.
I love how you turn your recipes into stories! You are truly talented! The dough balls look delicious, can’t wait to make them soon!
Thanks, Kayla.
Where’s your Gingerpea pea kitty?
Also what flours do you prefer for baking such as for cookies (chocolate chip, sugar, gingersnaps or gingerbread men) and cakes and other wonderful treats? I want to use a healthier version than just the plain all-purpose flour I usually do. I’m going to be baking away this Christmas. Being a college kid does nothing for the baker inside of me when you only have a microwave and a mini fridge.
Hi Bethany!
I use whole wheat pastry flour, at least in part, for most of my baking for cookies, muffins, cakes, etc. It is a lighter, less dense version of whole wheat flour that still has all of the nutrition of whole wheat flour. You can find it on the bulk foods aisle of natural foods stores, or sometimes on the baking aisle under the name “white whole wheat flour.” For heartier cookies, such as oatmeal or even gingersnaps, you can get away with using a higher ratio of the whole wheat pastry flour, but for lighter cookies, like sugar cookies, I’d use a higher ratio of all-purpose.
I’d advise against using whole wheat pastry flour in yeast breads, though. The gluten isn’t high enough and you’ll have trouble getting a good rise.
Hope that helps!
You sleigh me.
I’ve bookmarked this and your previous ball recipe! What do you think about adding cocoa powder and rolling in powdered sugar? My grandmother used to make a chocolate crinkle cookie (along with oh, about 47 other varieties of cookies) at Christmas time, and I’ve never been satisfied with my vegan-izing attempts.
That sounds like a great idea! I’d love to hear your results if you try it!
I love your Christmas decorations! Although I still refuse to decorate until December.
Bahumbug!
Just seeing the girls all dressed up makes me excited for the holiday seasons. Some little sugar plums they are!
Wait until you see their Nutcracker costumes…
Aww.. more balls to try. Those look fabulous and I bet they taste that way too.
We have the Little People Nativity set and I love seeing the daily cast of characters that rotate through the manger: fairies, princesses, trains, dora, etc. Baby Jesus also visits the Barbie castle from time to time. Goodness knows they need some churchin….
Happy Decorating!
I want that Nativity! I saw it at Target yesterday. So cute!
Ohh, Mama Pea! I am a wee bit upset with you. I haven’t had dinner yet and now all I can think about are those cookie dough balls! I am drooling as I type. Although, I guess I can’t complain about cookies for dinner, can I?
My heart just skipped a beat because I thought this was a negative comment. Phew! Sorry I ruined your dinner
Ah! Sorry for scaring you
To make it up to you I’ll fill you in on a little secret…I am eagerly awaiting your book! I will buy a copy for myself the day it comes out, and that’s the truth!
You are wholly forgiven
What’s that? Did my heart just stop beating? Those balls look deadly! mmmm…
I literally have a Mama Pea’s recipe folder in my favorites. This little jem just moved up to first place.
I’m honored to have a folder! If only it had NKOTB on the cover.
I, too have a Mama Pea recipe folder!
Oh my gosh, you have some decorations that just scream “epic win”!
You have to put out all the crazy things that the girls have made! Those are the best ones!
My Mom is Jewish and every year she brings out the two Menorahs that my sister and I made as kids. Mine looks like someone threw up paint on a block of wood and called it a day. My sister’s looks like it would fit in next to the Mona Lisa.
So sad.
My art work was always the “throw-up.” Still is.
You are too ballsey for your own good!
You should make some Green Balls and put little faces on them — The Pea Ball Family !
…okay maybe that’s just weird
Peppermint cookie balls??!?!! Yes Peas!!
I read this post this morning and I just read it again tonight…you always make my day! I especially like Graffiti the Snowman. What happened there??
All of the balls look so yummy…
(WAAY too many TWSS’s on this one). I laughed throughout…because I have the humor of a 9 year old boy. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Thanks, Hayley.
As for Graffiti, Gigi just has no restraint when it comes to glitter and paint. This does not bode well for her teenage years.
I must make these!! Tonight! But would whole wheat flour be an ok replacement for the wheat pastry flour? I have looked for WWPF previously to no avail.
Thanks!
Hi Amy, you can mix your own whole wheat “pastry flour” by mixing 1/2 whole wheat flour and 1/2 all purpose. Or just use all all-purpose (though they won’t be as healthy).
Mama Pea!!! Beside the fact that your balls look fab (he he he) just had to tell you that both have the best taste in stockings. You have the EXACT same 4 that we have! Great minds (and moms) must really think alike.
Get out!!!!
Is it wrong that I want to try adding chocolate chips to the basic cookie recipe? (Anyone else tried that yet?)
But for tonight I’m making the PB Balls again, as I am out of granulated sugar. Thank you for the great cookie recipes!!!!
Jill in Chicago
No, I think that is a great idea! In fact, I was going to make a chocolate chip variety too, but thought I’d save it for another post
Let me know if you try it, though.
do these freeze well? they look amazing
I don’t see why not. But they don’t last that long.
So,because I was so adamant about trying vegetable shortening, I made another batch of these using it, and they came out like shortbread cookies. Oh man. So good. I don’t know which version I prefer!
Oh, I should not read your posts on breaks at work because it is too hard to hold back my laughter.
These look ridiculously good. I love that you put an “amber alert out for baby Jesus” – hi-larious!
I have my first batch of balls in the oven and decided not to wash the dishes quite yet…I have a feeling I need to double the batch.
Smart move…
I recently discovered your website (through a fellow vegetarian) and love it! I love that the recipes aren’t too complicated and that they are kid-approved! I just tried this recipe for a Christmas Carolling party I am attending later this evening and can’t wait to share with my fellow vegetarians/vegans!
Aww, thanks for the endorsement! I hope your cookies are a huge success!
Fabulous! Making your balls right now! Just what we needed – something easy for the kid to help me make, especially since I have a cold and am not feeling particularly Martha-esque. Love your recipes!
I’m sad to say that my Christmas Cookie Dough Balls fell quite flat – any idea of what might cause that to happen? I only added 1 teaspoon of rice milk. I’m happy to say, though, that the Chocolate Peanut Butter Dough Balls remained quite ballsy and were the very best cookies I’ve ever baked.
Thanks for your beautiful recipes and blog and happy holidays!!!!
Hmm…not sure…the main culprits are not chilling long enough (for the original PB balls), not packing the balls tight enough, overbaking and too much liquid. Sorry they went flat!
I just made these and they ended up really flat for me as well. They’re also really greasy? Sad balls. You mention chilling the dough in your comment, but that isn’t listed in the recipe. I just looked at your other dough ball recipe and it says to chill for 30 minutes? You might want to update this page to prevent more droopy balls in the future!
I’m not going to change the recipe…lots of people have made these and had good results without chilling the dough. I can’t help but think that you may have substituted ingredients? I can’t really speculate…but I stand by my recipe. Sorry you weren’t happy with them!
I’m not saying they weren’t tasty, just not very ball-like, I guess! Not sure what happened – no substitutions were made, and I only used 1/2 tsp. soy milk. I’ll have to try again and see what happens.
Strange! Maybe your oven is hotter than mine? You might try baking a little less.
I decided to make these tonight for my boyfriend’s family that I am meeting tomorrow. I ended up making 3 batches because they are absolutely AMAZING. I can’t decide which ones I love the most, but I do know for sure that they are going to LOVE ME!!!!
Thank you Mama Pea!!!
You are welcome!!! Good luck with the family
These or the pb choc chip ones? Which should I try first? Would using simply whole wheat flour make a big difference? Thanks!
I would make the PB Choc Chip FIRST (and these second). Don’t use whole wheat flour. If you can’t find pastry flour, just use all purpose, or use a mix of whole wheat and all purpose. If you use all whole wheat they’ll be really dry and dense.
Thanks! I’m going to the store to get the ingreeds right now! Ill let you know how they go!
Your girls are so adorable!! Especially with those cute little antlers! And the cookie dough balls look scrumptious.
I made these dough balls just as the recipe stated and them came out pretty flat – closer to a normal cookie but very doughy in the middle – my husband went nuts for them and ate 3 right away – anyway I don’t… I noticed another comment said the same thing… I didn’t add any milk because the dough came together w/o it. Anyway no biggie they still tasted good – but the looks were blahh… not good for giving as gifts. We will just eat them LOL
You know what… maybe I just figured it out – I actually didn’t follow the recipe exactly because I used real butter instead of Earth B — maybe the other girls with flat balls LOL used butter???
Could be! Unfortunately, if you swap out ingredients, you can’t really expect the same results. I don’t cook with butter so I have no idea what that would do.
I “swap” butter for other fats always in recipes… and they work perfect or better – but since this is a very different type of recipe maybe it matters.
These dough balls are DELICIOUS! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple months now, and have been meaning to try them. I also read a few other foodie blogs, and everyone raves about your dough balls…now I know why! Cinnamon sugar have gotten the best reviews in my house so far, but I also rolled a batch in crushed chocolate chips (so they melted nicely on the top of the ball). I can’t wait to experiment some more!
Oh that’s just wonderful! Thanks for telling me, Nikki. Enjoy!
Okay..I think I just ate 10 in the past 24 hrs. Pure delight. My substitutions: I used smart balance light, only all purpose flour and only chocolate chips. I baked for 10 minutes. Straight out of the oven, they were still way too gooeyy. Let them cool a good 15/20 minutes and they are perfect. Perfect the next day too..if they last that long. Mine flattened a little bit but they were still suppper dense and perfect. I’m making them again to bring to work.
Oh, I made the pb choc chip ones. These are next, though!
10?!? That’s impressive!
I can’t wait to make these. I wonder if I could make them like funfetti cake and put the sprinkle in te dough instead of decorating them on top.