Christmas Memories – Peppermint Oreo Truffle Recipe

By: June Owens

The Christmas season is upon us and if we each pause to take it all in, we quickly realize that all five senses are involved in making this one of the most magical times of the year. We see decorations throughout our neighborhoods with twinkling lights perhaps catching the crystals of fresh fallen snow. We hear the sound of Christmas music playing and the Salvation Army bells ringing while at our local grocery store. We feel the heat from the crackling fireplace as we experience the textures of the ornaments that will soon be adorning the prickly tree branches. And when we think about both smell and taste, there’s one thing that certainly comes to mind that evokes Christmas memories. It’s peppermint! Check out this recipe for Peppermint Oreo Truffles that has become a family favorite.

What you Need

• 16 oz. package regular Oreo cookies (use the whole cookie - no need to remove the filling), crushed into fine crumbs
• 8 oz. package cream cheese
• 1 ½ tsp. peppermint extract
• 8 oz. vanilla melting chocolate, candy melt, OR almond bark
  • NOTE: To help prevent the Oreo mixture from mixing into the white chocolate/candy coat and making it a muddy color, simply melt smaller batches of chocolate/candy coat at a time and use a fresh batch after dipping every 4-5 truffles.
• 6 large candy canes, crushed into mini pieces

What You Do

• Place crushed Oreos in medium bowl
• Add cream cheese and peppermint extract to the crushed Oreos; mix until well blended
• Refrigerate mixture until firm, at least one hour
• Roll the cookie mixture into balls, about 1-inch in diameter
• Dip balls in melted chocolate/candy melt/almond bark; place on wax paper (see melting chocolate note above)
• Sprinkle with crushed candy canes immediately after placing on wax paper.
• Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, before serving
• Store uneaten truffles (good luck with this 😊), covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days

Variations

• Add ½ tsp. to 1 tsp. more peppermint extract for bolder peppermint flavor.
• If you want a drier consistency for the truffle filling, start with 4 oz. of cream cheese. You can add more cream cheese, ounce by ounce, to get your desired consistency.

May we all see a few more happy faces, hear the laughter, and touch a few more hearts this season while creating Christmas memories in the kitchen smelling and tasting these tasty treats!