Oh, the holidays! It always feels like magic is in the air, doesn’t it? And what’s better during this time than indulging in something truly special? I like to whip up these Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles because they’re just pure joy in every bite. You know, one chilly December evening, I had this idea to create a gluten-free version of my son’s absolute favorite treat – cookie dough! Rolling these tiny, decadent balls together, dusting them with a little cocoa, and seeing his face light up when he took that first bite… well, it made my heart just sing! From that night on, these little gems became a cherished family tradition, a bit of festive sparkle we could all share, no matter our dietary needs. As a Gluten-Free Chef and Latin Cuisine Innovation Specialist, I live for making delicious treats accessible to everyone, and these truffles are a perfect example of that passion!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles
Seriously, these little bites of heaven are a total win-win! Here’s why you’ll be making them again and again:
- Super Easy to Make: Even if you’re not a pro baker, you can whip these up in a flash! Way simpler than full batches of cookies.
- Festive Fun: They look absolutely adorable with sprinkles or a little dusting of cocoa, making them perfect for any holiday spread.
- Perfect for Gifting: Package them up in cute tins or boxes, and you’ve got instant homemade gifts that people will rave about.
- Gluten-Free Friendly: Yep, with a simple flour swap, everyone can get in on this cookie dough goodness!
Gather Your Ingredients for Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles
Alright, let’s get our festive ingredients all lined up! To make these delightful treats, you won’t need much, but the quality really makes a difference. Here’s what we’re working with:[/p>
For the Cookie Dough:
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1/3 cup of butter, softened (make sure it’s nice and creamy!)
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1/3 cup of light brown sugar, packed
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2-3 teaspoons of vanilla extract (don’t be shy with this one!)
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1/2 – 1 cup of all-purpose flour, heat-treated (we’ll talk about why this is SUPER important in a sec!)
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1/2 – 3/4 cup of milk chocolate chips (or your fave mini chocolate chips)
For Dipping and Topping:
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2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips (or melting wafers work like a charm too!)
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Optional toppings: A little sprinkle of sea salt, fun holiday sprinkles, or some chopped nuts would be lovely!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
So, about that flour! We absolutely need to heat-treat it. Raw flour can carry some yucky bacteria, and since we’re not baking these truffles, we gotta play it safe. You can totally do this by spreading it on a baking sheet and popping it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes until it reaches 165°F (74°C) – just let it cool completely before using. Or, you can zap it in the microwave until it hits that temp AND cools down. Easy peasy! If you’re going strictly gluten-free, most GF flour blends work wonders, just make sure they’ve been heat-treated too. For the chocolate chips, feel free to mix and match! Dark chocolate works great for dipping too, or white chocolate for an extra festive look. And those toppings? Go wild! Whatever makes your holiday heart sing.
Essential Equipment for Making Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles
Don’t worry, you won’t need a whole fancy kitchen setup for these! Just a few everyday tools will do the trick. You’ll want a good old baking sheet to get things chilly, lined with some wax paper so nothing sticks. Grab a couple of bowls for mixing up that yummy dough and melting your chocolate. And a trusty fork is key for dipping those gorgeous truffles!
Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles
Alright, chef, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of making these little holiday delights! It’s really pretty straightforward, but paying attention to a few small things makes all the difference. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out these chocolate chip cookie dough truffles for more ideas!
First things first, grab your baking sheet and line it with wax paper. This is going to be our holding station for the little dough balls before they take a chilly dip. Now, in a good-sized bowl, let’s get that softened butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract all mixed up. Give it a good stir until it’s creamy and dreamy.
Next, we add our heat-treated flour. Start with the lower amount, about 1/2 cup, and mix it in. If it feels too sticky, add a little more, spoonful by spoonful, until you get a consistency that feels just like perfect, scoopable cookie dough. You don’t want it too wet, or it’ll be a melty mess, but not too dry either! Finally, gently fold in those yummy milk chocolate chips. Oh, this is already smelling amazing making these Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles!
Now, the fun part: rolling! Take about a tablespoon of the dough and roll it into a nice, even 1-inch ball. Place each little ball onto your wax paper-lined baking sheet. Try to make them all roughly the same size so they freeze evenly. Once you’ve rolled them all, pop that whole sheet into the freezer for about 15 to 30 minutes. We want them firm so they hold their shape when we dip them.
While they’re getting nice and cold, let’s melt our dipping chocolate. Pop those semi-sweet chips into a microwave-safe bowl and heat them in 30-second bursts at 50% power, stirring in between. Keep going until it’s smooth and gorgeous – be patient, we don’t want to scorch it! Now, take your firm dough balls out of the freezer. Using a fork, gently dip each one into the melted chocolate. Let any excess drip off by tapping the fork on the side of the bowl. Carefully place the chocolate-covered truffle back onto the wax paper. If you’re adding any toppings like sea salt or sprinkles, do it right away while the chocolate is still wet!
Pop them back onto the wax paper, and then straight back into the freezer until that chocolate coating is completely hardened. It usually takes about another 10-15 minutes. And there you have it – your very own Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles!
Tips for Perfectly Rolled and Dipped Truffles
Rolling the dough balls can seem tricky, but here’s a little secret: if the dough is too sticky, just pop the bowl back in the fridge for 10 minutes! For that super smooth chocolate shell, make sure your melted chocolate isn’t too thick; a little bit of shortening or even a tiny dab of coconut oil can help thin it out if needed. And when you dip, don’t let them sit too long on the fork, or the chocolate will start to set too quickly. A quick dip, a gentle tap, and slide them off!
Making Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles Ahead and Freezing
Planning ahead is a holiday baker’s best friend, right? The great news is that these Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles are total champs when it comes to making them ahead of time. You can totally make the cookie dough balls (step 1 and 2 in our guide!) a day or two before you plan to dip them. Just keep those little frozen dough balls in an airtight container. Once they’re fully dipped and frozen hard, you can store them in the freezer for up to a month. Just make sure they’re in a container that won’t let any weird freezer smells sneak in!
Serving and Storing Your Festive Sweets
Now that you’ve got these gorgeous Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles all made, let’s talk about how to enjoy them! They’re best served a little chilled, so keep them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to surprise your guests or sneak one (or two!) yourself. They’ll stay perfectly fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week. If you need them to last longer, freeze them! Just make sure that chocolate coating is totally firm, then pop them into a freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag. They’ll be delicious for up to a month!
Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles
Got a question about these little festive wonders? I’ve got you covered! Here are some things folks often ask about making these Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles:
Can I make these Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles without gluten?
Absolutely! That’s one of my favorite parts about this recipe. Just make sure you use a good quality all-purpose gluten-free flour blend that has been heat-treated, just like we discussed. You can find instructions on how to heat-treat it in the ingredients section. They turn out just as delicious!
How long do these festive sweets last?
These little gems are pretty sturdy! They’ll last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week. If you need them to stick around longer, you can totally freeze them for up to a month. Just make sure they’re completely frozen solid before you pack them away.
What’s the best kind of chocolate for dipping?
For the best coating, I really love using semi-sweet chocolate chips or melting wafers. They melt down so smoothly and set up nicely. You can also use dark chocolate, or even white chocolate for a different look! Just avoid regular baking chocolate bars, as they can sometimes be a bit trickier to work with and might not give you that smooth finish.
Can I skip the heat-treating step for the flour?
Oh, please don’t! I know it sounds like an extra step, but it’s super important for safety. Since we’re not actually baking the cookie dough truffle mixture, heat-treating the flour kills any potential bacteria. It’s a small step that makes a big difference in keeping these homemade candy treats safe for everyone to enjoy!
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just a heads-up, these numbers are estimates because, you know, recipes can be a little flexible! Depending on the exact brands of chocolate and butter you use, and how big you roll your little Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles, your results might vary a bit. But generally, you’re looking at about 150-200 calories per truffle, with around 9-13 grams of fat, 2-3 grams of protein, and 15-20 grams of carbohydrates. Enjoy them guilt-free!
Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper. In a bowl, mix together butter, sugar, and vanilla. Slowly mix in flour until just combined. Start with 1/2 cup of flour and add more until the mixture reaches a cookie dough consistency. Stir in the milk chocolate chips.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 15 to 30 minutes until firm.
- When the dough balls are firm, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave at 50% power. Dip each cookie dough ball into the melted chocolate using a fork. Tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Place the dipped truffle back on the wax paper.
- Immediately add your desired toppings, such as sea salt, nuts, or sprinkles, to the wet chocolate. Place the truffles back in the freezer until the chocolate has hardened.
- Store the finished truffles in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve them.
Notes
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Gluten-Free Chef & Latin Cuisine Innovation Specialist
My youngest son’s celiac diagnosis at four changed everything. Suddenly, all those traditional Brazilian and Portuguese recipes from my avó needed to be completely reimagined without losing their soul.
After graduating from Johnson & Wales and working Miami’s Latin fusion scene, my son’s diagnosis became my calling. How do you make gluten-free empanadas that taste like childhood? Over eight years, I’ve developed 320+ gluten-free recipes celebrating authentic Latin flavors using cassava flour and plantain alternatives.
My gluten-free empanada recipe won “Best Appetizer” at the 2023 Miami Gluten-Free Food Festival. I ran “Sabores Sin Gluten,” a catering business serving Miami’s Latino community—quinceañeras, family gatherings, all the celebrations that matter.
Food is culture, and everyone deserves to experience the joy of sharing traditional family meals, regardless of dietary restrictions.