Baking Frenzy

Hey ladies! As I mentioned in my last post I have been in a frenzy. I posted up in my kitchen on Saturday making rounds of toffee, bourbon balls, crinkle cookies, and fudge. I listened to my huge stack of Christmas music, drank cups of coffee, and baked/ate to my hearts content.

One of my favorite things to do around the holidays is making treats for others to enjoy. I love it that so many of my blogging friends do homemade gifts too. Getting my treat bags together is definitely a labor of love, but I have found a few traditional one's that bring back fond memories to those I give it to. One of the newest recipes I have tried is from my Nana, which is why I am calling this treat Nana's Bourbon Balls. I don't remember her making these growing up, but that could be that my parents never let me try one because it had bourbon in it. I suppose since these little delights are not cooked the alcohol would still be in it; good call mom and dad, but there's not enough to get anyone tipsy off a cookie (wouldn't that be funny!)

 Me prior to baking... I realize I am not in very many pictures so the self-portrait off the bathroom mirror will do. I did not intend for my shirt and apron to match, haha!

 ::Nana's Bourbon Balls::
Easy peasy recipe and if you use a bourbon like Crown Royal it smells amazing!

2 Cups powdered sugar
2½ Cups crushed vanilla wafers
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Cup chopped pecans
3 Tbsp corn syrup
¼ Cup Bourbon

Spread 1Cup sugar on square pieces of waxed paper. Combine remaining sugar, wafer crumbs, cocoa, pecans in a small bowl. It's okay if you have some medium wafer chunks as you may get bored of hitting with a kitchen hammer like I did.

Stir in corn syrup and bourbon. Knead until holds together. (may be a little sticky, but it's okay)

Roll 1Tbsp at a time into balls. Roll into sugar on waxed paper to coat and dry.

Refrigerate several days to mellow flavor of bourbon (or do like I do and wait an hour because you have zero self control when it comes to sweets and dive right on in). Reroll (or sift) in sugar before serving if desired. Makes 2 pounds. Sorry there's no "after" picture. I had to place them in a sealed container quickly and hide because of exhibit 1...

And exhibit 2...

Two of my three brothers came to stay with me this weekend. I know they love hanging out with me because I am loads of fun (insert laugh here), but I have a hunch it's because they knew I was baking, offered to take them to dinner, and they love our dog. I will mention that they are more eager to try anything I offer than the hubs. I say this because their metabolism still works and they have not learned what happens to sweets and fast food when you are out of college. (Just saying, enjoy it while you can boys!)