This year has felt like slow motion in our household but now the holidays feel like they are coming at warp speed! Many around the world are trying to navigate this holiday season with travel and gathering restrictions. I have heard so many people talk about how their holidays are ruined because they can’t be with all of their family and friends. For my little family, all of our traditional holiday celebrations have not been canceled, and actually look pretty “normal”. We are a military family and have always lived hours (or even continents) away from all our family. Typically holidays are spent in our own home and starting last year, we decided the holidays are meant to focus on OUR family. No feeling guilty for not seeing every person in our whole family, no running around to 5 different relatives’ houses, and giving us time to relax and enjoy the season we are in with our small children. 

This year most families will be celebrating like us by staying home and having more intimate celebrations. Just because you are not having your traditional holiday, doesn’t mean you can’t make it extra special. We always decorate early (the day after Thanksgiving) and play Christmas music whenever we are awake. My nights are filled with Hallmark movies and we BAKE- a tradition that has been a part of my life since I was born. My Dad is an awesome baker and makes dozens of cookies, fudge, and other incredible confections every holiday. So naturally, I decided to instill this tradition into my children. 

This year to make our celebration extra special, I have discovered some new cookie recipes to add to our cookie tray. My kids are obsessed with Oreos and asked to add them to our tray. Of course, I am all about the Oreos, but I wanted to find something a little more special than just opening a bag and dumping them on a plate.

Check out these cute Oreo Cookie Ball Gifts! They are no-bake, super easy to create, and you (or your kids) can decorate the packages any way you like!

OREO Cookie Ball Gifts

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened
• 36 OREO Cookies, finely crushed
• 12 oz. white candy coating wafers
• 4 oz. red candy coating wafers
• 100 mini heart sprinkles

Instructions

• MIX  cream cheese and cookie ll until blended; shape into a 10×5-inch rectangle on a parchment-covered rimmed baking sheet. Freeze 30 min.
• CUT  cream cheese mixture into 50 (1-inch) squares. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• MELT  white candy coating wafers as directed on the package. Dip cream cheese squares, 1 at a time, into melted candy coating, turning to evenly coat all sides of each square with candy coating. Return to the baking sheet. Let stand for 10 min. or until the candy coating is firm.
• MELT  red candy coating; spoon into a pastry bag fitted with small writing tip. Use to pipe 4 lines on each square to resemble ribbon on a present as shown in the photo. Pipe a small dot of the remaining candy coating onto the center of each square, then immediately press 2 heart-shaped candies into the candy coating to resemble a bow on a gift package as shown in the photo.
• REFRIGERATE  1 hour or until firm. Keep refrigerated.

If you are looking for something a little simpler, I found another no-bake option that will give you the same flavors with less work. I made these Snowball Oreo Cookies this weekend before my first Hallmark movie of the season to have something festive to eat as I watched. I even used Gingerbread flavored Oreos to give them that holiday feel!

Snowball Oreo Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened
• 36 OREO Cookies, finely crushed
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

• COVER  large rimmed baking sheet with waxed paper. Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.
• SHAPE  cream cheese mixture into 48 (1-inch) balls. Roll, 1 at a time, in sugar until evenly coated on all sides.
• PLACE  in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• REFRIGERATE  1 hour or until firm. Keep refrigerated.

I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday season. Though your celebrations may not look the same, you can always make them feel special. Make the 2020 Holiday Season a great one for you and your immediate family with Oreo. And don’t forget to head down to your local Commissary for all the ingredients for these delicious recipes!