Ingredients for Oreo Balls

Oreo cookie balls are a yummy, sweet treat that is perfect for the holidays. Oreo cookie balls are great any time of the year, but can be decorated specifically for special occasions using different colored icing, sprinkles and food coloring.

If you are not familiar with Oreo cookie balls, you may have heard of them referred to Oreo balls, Oreo truffles, or Oreo cake balls. Regardless of what they are called, they are all delicious!

Here you will find a very easy recipe for Oreo cookie balls and ideas on how to decorate them for Christmas and other occasions. I have included the recipe with ingredients and instructions for easy printing, at the bottom, but first you will find step-by-step directions with pictures to give you a better idea on how to make these fabulous Oreo cookie balls.

Image Source: All images used on this recipe are property of Stephanie Manning and may not be used without permission.

Ingredients for Oreo Balls

Ingredients for Oreo Cookie Balls

1 Package of Oreo Cookies

1 Package of Cream Cheese

1 Package of Almond Bark

Supplies You Will Need

Wax or Parchment Paper

Cookie Sheet / Baking Pan

Fork

2 Spoons for Stirring

Gallon bag

All ingredients and supplies again so that you could make sure you have EVERYTHING. With the chocolate, you want to make sure you have everything on hand and nearby so that when you get started, you don't have to stop and get supplies while your chocolate beings to cool and harden.

Crushed Oreo's with Cream Cheese

Pour an ½ the package of Oreos into a gallon back and crush them using a rolling pin, meat tenderizer or other utensil. Crush them until they are a fine mixture of both the cookie crumbs and the Oreo filling. There may be a few chunks that don't crush up but as long as they are small, they will be fine. Once the first half is complete our them into your mixing bowl and crush the 2nd half.

You can also use a food processor to crush your cookies, but honestly, it takes only a few minutes and by the time you get the processor out and set up you could have already crushed them with a rolling pin. Plus, there's no cleanup, simply toss the bag in the trash.

Crushed Oreos and Cream Cheese for Oreo Balls

Once your entire bag of Oreo's have been crushed and placed in a large mixing bowl, add a whole (8oz) block of cream cheese to the top of the cookie crumbs. Mix the two together so that the cream cheese is evenly blended with the crushed cookies. The easiest way to do so is to wash your hands, remove any jewelry and mix by hand. Mix until it is blended well creates a 'dough'. Shape your dough into a ball and leave in the bowl.

Take a small pinch of dough, about 1 tablespoon worth, and roll it into a small ball. Set the cookie ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Complete the process until all your dough is rolled into cookie balls.

How to Melt Almond Bark

Once you have formed all your cookie balls, it's time to melt the chocolate (almond bark). If you are using blocks of chocolate or almond park, break them into small pieces. As you can see in picture #1 to the left, I took the larger squares and broke them into smaller pieces using a butcher knife. The smaller the pieces the quicker it will melt, reducing the chance of burning.

Place your chocolate in a glass bowl (or other microwave safe bowl- glass is easier to clean) and place it in the microwave for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds remove the bowl and stir. Continue melting the chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until it is completely melted and creamy like in picture #2 to the right. Do not over heat it as it will burn.

Dipping Oreo Balls

Once your chocolate is melted, set the cookie ball on a fork and lower it into the melted chocolate. Cover the cookie ball completely and lift out of the chocolate by holding it on the fork. Do not 'stab' the ball with the fork or else it will crumble. Hold it over the bowl for a few seconds until the majority of the excess has dripped off.

Next, slide the dipped cookie ball off of the fork onto the cookie lined with parchment paper. Continue this until all of the balls have been dipped.

Allow the chocolate covered Oreo balls to harden completely before moving them. This usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour depending on the temperature of the room, humidity and a few other factors. Do not put them in the fridge as it can cause the inside to separate.

Oreo Cookie Balls

Now that your Oreo cookie balls are completed and the chocolate has hardened completely, you can remove them from the parchment paper. Simply 'peel' the cookie away from the sheet and serve on a decorative plate, platter, or dish. Left over Oreo cookie balls can be stored in gallon bags or airtight containers with lids. They will last for at least a week at room temperature, that is if they haven't been eaten within the first day!

Original article and pictures take http://www.squidoo.com/christmas-oreo-cookie-balls site