I received compensation from Sweets and Treats for this post. The recipe and opinions are my own.
Chocolate Bonbon Cookies are an easy cookie with a simple decoration that can be adapted to any holiday or occasion. Change up the extract and decorations, add nuts or don't, leave them plain or decorate. So many options.
This post is part of Christmas Cookies Week 2020. Be sure to keep scrolling to see all of today’s fabulous recipes and to enter the giveaway thanks to our amazing sponsors: Adams Extract, Anolon Cookware, Millican Pecan Company, Sweets and Treats.
One Cookie Plenty of Variations
The recipe below uses chopped nuts in the cookie and almond extract in the cookie and the icing. But there are plenty of ways you can change up the recipe:
- Nuts or no nuts. Use chopped nuts or wrap the dough around a pecan or walnut half or maybe a whole macadamia.
- Change up the extract, use all vanilla or maybe a splash of peppermint or rum extract.
- Increase the amount of espresso powder to 1 - 1 ½ teaspoons for a more mocha flavored cookie.
- Use melted chocolate instead of the icing. Dark, semi sweet, milk, white or a combination drizzled on top would be lovely.
- Vary the sprinkles for the season. I used Sweets & Treats Reindeer Food Sprinkles for the photos, but these could be made for any holiday.
Homemade Cookie Mix
Have you ever noticed that many cookies use the same basic ingredients?
This recipe is one of four I am sharing this week that use my Homemade Cookie Mix. Each cookie recipe starts with the same basic mix but ends up completely different looking and tasting.
Make a batch of the cookie mix and keep it in the fridge or freezer so you can quickly whip up a batch of cookies when the urge strikes. Or make a double or triple batch to make Christmas cookie baking a little easier.
Chocolate Bonbon Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 cups Basic Cookie Mix (recipe below)
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
- ¼ cup butter (softened)
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (melted and cooled)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- scant ¼ teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional - see note below)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk (approximate)
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- sprinkles, colored sugar, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a mixing bowl combine Cookie Mix, nuts, chocolate, butter, chocolate, eggs and extracts to form a soft dough.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 375°F until cookies are set, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly before moving to a wire cooling rack.
- While cookies are cooling combine powdered sugar, almond extract and enough milk to make icing to your desired consistency.
- When cookies are cool, spread icing on top and decorate with sprinkles. Store in airtight container once icing is set.
Notes
Basic Cookie Mix
Ingredients
- 8 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ cups shortening or chilled coconut oil ((butter flavor coconut oil is amazing!))
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, salt and baking soda.
- Cut in shortening or coconut oil with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture looks like fine crumbs.
- Store mixture in zip-to-lock or other air tight containers in the refrigerator for up to 10 weeks.
- To use: Scoop out with a dry measuring cup and level with a knife or spatula.
Notes
Get More Christmas Cookie Recipes
Get even more Christmas Cookie recipes in our eBook Bake the Season Bright available on Kindle.
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Christmas Cookie Week Recipes & Giveaway
Welcome to #ChristmasCookies week where more than 25 bloggers are sharing cookie recipes perfect for your holiday celebrations. Hosted by Ellen from Family Around the Table, Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks, we invite you to not only check out the recipes but enter the amazing giveaway.
Don’t miss one delicious cookie recipe! Follow along on Pinterest.
Here are some of the cookies our blogging friends are sharing today:
Friday Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Chocolate Bonbon Cookies by That Recipe
- Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Cookies by West Via Midwest
- Chocolate Espresso Icebox Cookies by Leftovers Then Breakfast
- Chocolate-Dipped Orange Logs by Eat Move Make
- Christmas Magic Bars by Devour Dinner
- Christmas Monster Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies by Blogghetti
- Frosted Eggnog Cookie Bars by Family Around the Table
- Grinch Heart Thumbprint Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie
- Holiday Everything Cookies by Frugal & Fit
- Honey Walnut Cookies by Books n' Cooks
- Kahlua Mudslide Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
- Lavender Snickerdoodles by Palatable Pastime
- Linzer Cookies by Lemon Blossoms
- Little Monster Cookie Bites by Jersey Girl Cooks
- Maple Sugar Cookies by Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Mocha Chocolate Chunk Cookies by Making Miracles
- Mocha Sandies by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Pecan Pie Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Peppermint Bark Surprise Cookies by Our Sutton Place
- Pinwheel Cookies by Simply Inspired Meals
- Poppy Seed Shortbread by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Sadie's Double Pecan Butter Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Small Batch Pecan Fingers by Art of Natural Living
- Soft & Chewy Molasses Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
- Spiced Holiday Cutouts by Jolene's Recipe Journal
- Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookie Recipe by Swirls of Flavor
- White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Molasses Cookies by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
Such a pretty cookie and it sounds delicious! Love the sprinkles!
Christie
It's always good to have a versatile cookie! And I can't wait to try the basic cookie recipe for other variations. And love those sprinkles.