Cookie Exchange Recipe & Presentation Part One

I have the luxury of attending two girls' weekends in a row involving cookies this week. This past weekend I got together with some longtime friends from college. We set aside some time for a cookie decorating workshop of sorts and I would say that they did very well for their first try! There were many laughs (and a few pomegranate martinis) shared over this tray of cookies. I loved it.


This coming weekend I will be attending a cookie exchange with some other girlfriends. I thought that this week I could share both of the simple recipes I have brought to this party in years past along with the details of how I displayed them. (I tend to get really into the "presentation competition!")

Year one I brought the easiest Oreo truffles you could ever imagine. I was first introduced to these by my friend Courtney, who brought them to a party I attended years ago. I had never seen people rave so much over one cookie and was intrigued. I have since brought these to an annual Christmas party the past few seasons and am always approached by strangers for the recipe. Easy and a winner? I love it.

Easy Oreo Truffles

Ingredients:
8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 package Oreos, finely crushed
2 packages semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Directions:
Mix cream cheese and 3 cups Oreo cookie crumbs until combined.Shape into 1 inch balls (I use a baking scoop to keep the truffles a consistent size.) Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. (I balance the ball inbetween 2 forks to dip it into the chocolate.) Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs. Chill 1 hour or until firm. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator. Yields 4 dozen truffles.

Source: Kraft foods

I firmly believe that presentation is key. For my presentation, I decided to make a "truffle tree." I took a foam cone, cut various patterns of ribbon and then hot glued the ribbons onto the cone. For the base I picked a few magnolia leaves off of our tree and glued them onto a foam circle which I attached the cone to. I added a ribbon at the top and then pinned the truffles to the "tree" using decorative toothpicks.



Enjoy!