Playing Catch-Up-Cookie Countdown Days 2, 3 and 4

So I'm already behind on my cookie countdown.  We were experiencing some internet problems so I couldn't get online to update.  To make up for it, here's 3 recipes today.

#1-7 Layer Bars
These are my all-time favorite Christmas cookie.  There's nothing really Christmas-y about them except that we always only made them at Christmas.  They are delicious and so easy.

1 stick of butter
1-2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1 cup each:
Chocolate Chips
Butterscotch Chips
Chopped Walnuts (or whatever nut you prefer)
Sweetend Coconut Flakes
1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter and pour into 9x13 pan.  Add in graham cracker crumbs and press firmly into bottom of pan.  Then evenly distribute chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nut and coconut.  Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over whole pan.  Bake for 25 minutes or until lighly browned on top.  Cool completely then cut into bars.  Yum!

#2-Peppermint Crunch Cookies

I found these at Pillsbury.com (I get their newsletter and it's always got lots of great recipes and cute holiday ideas.) They look fabulous and only 3 ingredients *You don't have to use the refrigerated dough if you choose to make your sugar cookie from scratch. I'll be posting my Grandma's Sugar Cookie recipe as part of the countdown.

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies
1 1/2 cups white vanilla baking chips or semisweet chocolate chips
8 round hard peppermint candies, crushed (1/4 cup)*

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour until well blended. Shape dough into 36 (1-inch) balls. Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 5 minutes.  In small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla chips and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil uncovered on Medium (50%) 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once halfway through microwaving, until melted. Stir until smooth.  Dip half of each cookie into melted chips mixture, allowing excess to drip off; place on waxed or parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle each with about 1/2 teaspoon crushed candy. Let stand until set.

#3-Chocolate Snowballs

I found this yummy delight on Betty Crocker's website. I always loved snowballs as a kid and I like the chocolate twist.

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 egg

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1/2 cup finely chopped almonds

1 teaspoon almond extract
60 Hershey's Kisses milk chocolates, unwrapped
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, flour, cocoa, almonds and extract until soft dough forms. Shape dough into sixty 3/4-inch balls; wrap each around 1 milk chocolate candy. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Roll cookies in powered sugar. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Re-roll cookies in powdered sugar. Store tightly covered.

Happy Baking!