This weekend I baked.
Cream cheese cookie dough
Chocolate dipped cream cheese cookies decked out for a Chanukah party.
I remember my mom making Cream Cheese Leaves for me to bring to a Girl Scout meeting way back when. She dipped them in semi-sweet chocolate and then nestled them in a wax paper lined coffee can.
This is my mom’s recipe.
I think they are now her official Christmas cookie. My mom says she called them Cream Cheese Leaves because of the way the dough rolled off the spoons when she first made them. She pinched each and every one to make them look more leaf like.
My mom has great patience when baking.
Sometimes I do. But not this weekend. I used my handy-dandy cookie scoop to make precise dough balls.
Besides I was too occupied being a moving target.
My apron.
And I wasn’t stopping at my mom’s cookies. I needed to try some new ideas for a cookie exchange party.
Next up, Compost Cookies!
Makes great dirt–not cookies.
These cookies have a funny name, but they are super easy. You start with your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough recipe. It can be vegan, gluten-free, whole grain–whatever you like . . .
It doesn’t have to be homemade. This works too–just let it soften at room temperature first.
Then mix and match 1 cup of your favorite add ins:
Candy bars, nuts, cereal, butterscotch chips, dried fruit, pretzels–whatever you want. Even leftover cookies, although that seems a tad cannibalistic.
Then drop and bake according to your recipe.
Up next, A Sprinkle of Fortune Cookie.
You take a basic sugar cookie dough (again, your tried and true favorite) and add in some freshly grated orange zest. After baking and cooling, dip them in melted white chocolate.
Then you can sprinkle crushed fortune cookies and colored sugar on top.
If you like extra sprinkles, then you’re a SPRINKY DINK, according to Urban Dictionary.
What is your favorite cookie? Are you a Sprinky Dink?
And to all those celebrating this week, warm wishes for a Happy Chanukah!
**If you enjoyed this post, you can subscribe to my mailing list to receive my new posts straight to your inbox. Just add your email in the space at the top of the right sidebar under my photo.
Coleen Patrick 
Great post! I LOVE the cream cheese cookies! Best part of the holidays!!!!
LikeLike
Thanks Em. 🙂
LikeLike
Okay, now I must go and hunt down a cookie … for breakfast! Thankfully, my daughter made me gluten-free chocolate chip cookies this weekend — with some chocolate icing to go on top just for fun! I love those fortune cookie cookies … and yes, I am a “sprinky dink.”
LikeLike
Love a cookie with frosting–yum!!
LikeLike
I admit it – I’m totally drooling! 🙂 All your cookies look SO good! You’ve put me in the mood to bake… except I have about a billion other things I have to do today… but SOON! 🙂 Oh, and I love toffee cookies, but for holidays, ginger or sugar 🙂
LikeLike
I know, it does take time–even using shortcuts. But it was fun to turn on the music and just hang out in the kitchen. 🙂 I’m a toffee fan too Susanna!
LikeLike
Cream cheese leaves look yummy! I couldn’t help thinking how exciting it must have been for your mom to write that recipe with the microwave directions. Seems like my old recipes say “in a double boiler” with a line that says “or you can ‘microwave’ it”
LikeLike
It was just a couple of years ago that she made the printouts for us. So yeah, I imagine she used a double boiler way back when! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my goodness what a great idea. the only cookies I bake that the kids eat are the premade ones like that tube, so it’s a great idea to shove other things into it. Nice one, Coleen!
LikeLike
As much as I love homemade dough and the ability to tweak it the way I want, sometimes the store bought just has to happen–especially when you just want to have fun!
LikeLike
Cream cheese cookies?! I had not heard of these. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I must give these a try.
Although my older daughter moved into her own home this summer, she came over to start her Christmas baking yesterday. (The temperature in her oven is “off”) She made lots of rich chocolate cookies with melted Andes candies on top. Yummmmm. I was glad for her company AND that I got to smell them baking all afternoon.
LikeLike
Yes! The house smell is definitely a bonus. And cookies with Andes? Sounds yum!!
LikeLike
Mmmmm…..I’m hungry- and I just ate lunch! These make me think about what my grandpa used to say as he grabbed a cookie; “better take two, they might get stale..” LOL as if!
LikeLike
That sounds like a good policy to me Jennette!!
LikeLike
Great post! Love the cookie recipes! I will let you know how they turn out!
LikeLike
Thank you Margie. 🙂
LikeLike
Your post brought back memories of Christmases past when the women in our family joined forces and cooked and baked in preparation for the holiday dinner. The first cookies to go were crescents made with an almond dough and filled with apricot filling. The raisin walnut filled ones were carried home to last until New Years.
LikeLike
I love cookies made with an almond dough. That sounds like a great memory! Thanks Tom.
LikeLike
Yum! Thanks for the recipe.
I made shortbread, butter tarts, and chocolate gooey butter cookies. They were all amazing! I love baking this time of year. It wouldn’t be season without it!
LikeLike
I agree–baking is a big part of the season for me too. All the cookies you made sound super yum—love a cookie with gooey in its title. 🙂
LikeLike
I am hoping some of those arrive at my house Saturday night!!!
LikeLike
You got it!
LikeLike
It’s been so long since I had a REAL cookie (I have no cookie baking patience), that I can’t even remember what it was like! But those compost ones with the chocolate look divine! 🙂
LikeLike
Hmm, I guess sending cookies to Australia from the US would be ridiculous, right? 🙂
LikeLike
You had me craving cookies all day. I thought I had better stop by and tell you about it. I managed to make a few “cowboy cookies” from a mix a friend gave me for Christmas. Happy Chanuka!
LikeLike
Awesome Stacy!! Thanks for letting me know. Hope they’re yum!
LikeLike
A Spinky Dink? Really? Spinky Dink?
I’m definitely a Spinky Dink. I don’t have time to decorate the cookies. Besides my husband eats them too fast to even bother with decorations.
I love your suggestions though. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll try my hand at Spinky Dinking! That sounds so dirty.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
LikeLike
Sprinky dink. I first heard someone say it on a Food Network show, but she was saying it like, “Now put a sprinky dink of this on this.” But then I looked it up and saw it’s a person. But yeah, drop the “r” and somehow it sounds dirty. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh – you see – my bad eyes automatically dropped the “r.” I guess that’s why it sounded so goofy. It makes more sense with the “r” in there. Duh.
And I left out a word (I can see that now) I am definitely NOT (it should have said not) a Spinky (or Sprinky) Dink. Funny how one little letter can change everything!
Patricia
LikeLike
That’s ok Patricia. All day yesterday I kept replacing their with they’re and your with you’re. My brain was on strike, apparently. 🙂
LikeLike
I haven’t done any holiday baking for a couple of years now. I think it’s time to break that nasty trend. Like now. Because my mouth is watering. These look delicious, Coleen! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Kristy!!
LikeLike
Sounds like a cute name for a story book – Spinky Dink. Beautiful photos of your cookies. I think like the cream cheese cookies the best. I used to bake a lot cookies, make white chocolate peppermint bark, and large gingerbread houses. But, those days are over. Now I enjoy other people’s creations — like yours.
LikeLike
I love gingerbread houses! I’ve only made one once, with my kids. So much fun, but lots of work. 🙂
LikeLike
You have amazing timing. I just bought all the makings for cookies. I may have to try one or two of these. They look soo tasty. And photograph so nicely. Yum, yum, yum.
Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Thanks Debra–happy baking!!
LikeLike
Thanks for the compost cookie idea. I’m going to try that and will add orange zest (or lemon zest) to my sister Kathy’s excellent sugar cookie recipe. She and I are fools for citrus flavor.
Your cream cheese cookies are beautiful with their blue sprinkles.
LikeLike
Thank you Pat! 🙂
LikeLike
OMG…where do you live??? I am on my way!!!
Those all look soooo amazing!!! I may have to take up baking…
LikeLike
I am a thousand miles south of you, but I know what to bring if I’m ever up in your area! Thanks Natalie!
LikeLike
I love this post Coleen and you have inspired me to try something new this year…
LikeLike
Thank you Susie. 🙂
LikeLike
Woah. Yum. Need cookies NOW! 🙂 Great post, Coleen, scrumptious for the eyes and (soon), my belly.
Hope you’re having a fabulous holiday week!
LikeLike
Thanks August! You too 🙂
LikeLike
Love your cookie creativity! Especially sprinkling in the fortune cookie crumbs. And the cream cheese cookies look yummie! my fav is five alive balls. 😉
LikeLike
Had to look them up–they sound yummy. 🙂
LikeLike
Yummmmmmm. This post mad me so hungry! They all look delicious! I’m no sprinky dink, I actually don’t like sprinkles at all. I usually just make sugar cookies for Christmas but this makes me want to try some new recipes!
LikeLike
Sweet! Happy baking Amanda!
LikeLike
YUM! Know what I love about these recipes? They look delicious and oh, so simple. I think I’d be considered a sprinky dink. The more sprinkles, the better! I’m going to try your mom’s recipe next week when my daughter and I do our holiday baking. Thanks for the cool ideas!
LikeLike
Yes, simple is key for me. Sometimes I get BIG, complicated ideas and I end up not having fun. Fun is why I do it–and getting to eat something yummy of course. 🙂
LikeLike
We’re planning Christmas cookie baking this coming Sunday, which is my sister’s birthday. I’ll bring the kids to my mom’s house, my sister will come over, and we’ll spend the day baking and listening to Christmas music. It’s a huge tradition that I love!
I make sugar cookies with lemon zest. I’ll have to try the orange zest. That sounds divine!
LikeLike
That sounds like a great time. Happy baking Kate!
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, these are look REALLY good. I kind of want to stop by your house on the way to work. Compost cookies, in particular, look like they’d make a really good breakfast.
LikeLike
Yes, all that chunkiness makes them breakfast ready, but I think you will be a little late for work . . . 😉
LikeLike
COLEEN!!! omg, my mouth is SO watering right now! These cookies look FANTASTIC!!! I think I might like the compost ones the best, but mmmm…. those cream cheese cookies look AMAZING. :d
Thanks for the wonderful recipes! Have a super Merry Christmas! ❤
LikeLike
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote
the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some
pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is
fantastic blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be
waiting for your next write ups thank you once
again.
LikeLike