Oh hello, sweet ones! Before I go on, let me just say another big fat thank you for all of the congratulatory comments and emails on my 500th post. You just proved how phenom I knew you already were! LOVE.
girl meets: dessert duty.
Today is our office Christmas party, and naturally I volunteered to take care of most of the desserts. I chose to make what I knew would be crowd-pleasers, which just happen to be my favorite treats as well. What a coincidence 
I must admit that after a long day, the last thing I felt like doing last night was spend 2+ hours in the kitchen. Cleaning up was no walk in the park either.
But - 4 sticks of butter and 2 containers of sprinkles later – I knew it was all worth it.
First up was Mama Pea’s Christmas Cookie Dough Balls.
You may be thinking to yourself, but those aren’t balls! While this is true, I’m happy to announce that there is still plenty of doughy goodness going on here. Think: the softest, most moist sugar cookie you’ve ever had.
The result must be because I used regular butter (although, that seemed to work fine the last time I made dough balls), but oh well.
Speaking of butter, next on the agenda was Butter Cake. But not just any butter cake…Paula Deen’s Gooey Butter Cake.
This cake is seriously unreal. (Here’s a play-by-play from last time I made it, if you’re interested.)
Lastly I made a big batch of chocolate covered pretzels.
Unlike last time, I used a special hardening chocolate, which I do recommend if you’re thinking about making these. I’d also be prepared that things can get quite messy…
…but what fun would it be if you weren’t left with a few ounces of chocolate under your fingernails?
After all that hard work, I had to make sure that no one would eat the goods before tomorrow.
I don’t mess around.
And now…I can honestly say that I’ve never been more happy to say…off to work! 
xoxo G
- Have you done any holiday baking yet?
- What food duty do you usually volunteer for?
I never comment on your blog (always read it though
, but just wanted to tell you how impressed by all this baking! After reading your post, maybe I’ll try to bake something for my coworkers too (I always volunteer to bring the forks and plates 
. Thanks for the ideas (and the inspiration).
Hey Genevieve!! Thanks for the comment! Glad I impressed you with my baking, muaha
I’m starting my holiday baking this weekend
It’s one of my favorite things to do right before Christmas! Congrats on your 500th post!
I made a GF version of Mama Peas dough balls and they weren’t balls either! I thought it was just because I made them GF, but they were sooo soft and chewy just like you mentioned.. I think it’s still a complete success!
I want to come to your office party.
Last weekend my sisters, mom and sister-in-law and me baked close to 20 different kinds of cookies. It was crazy!
I usually volunteer to bring something healthy like fruits and veggies to potlucks or parties because there is usually a shortage of them!
I could eat that entire plate of chocolate-covered pretzels. Seriously, they are MY FAV!!
I have to make TWO different large batches of cookies to take to my in-laws after Christmas. I’m thinking Pillsbury ready-to-bake cookies. Yeah, not very “festive” on my part, but I hate spending more than 10 minutes in the kitchen. I’d rather just buy yummy cookies than make them. Just sayin’. Plus, I hate the clean-up. It’s never worth it to me. I’m lazy, I know HA!
Your co-workers are pretty, pretty lucky to have your yummy cookies/cakes comin’ their way! Color me jealous!
Ready-to-bake is delicious!!! Especially when you skip the baking and just eat the dough…ahem
Those signs are hilarious. We made cakeball pops last week that were PHENOM. I had to distribute as many as possible at church because of their addictiveness. Christmas baking is dangerous.
Oh my goodness GraceNut… Those twistie hair pins are a life saver!!!! No matter what my hair looks like, I can just throw it up and it always looks good! The last thing I feel like doing at 5:00am is my hair haha
Soooo excited to be the kittens new momma!! Meow!
Nicole*
yessss YOU FOUND THEM!!! Say hi to Silas and Lucy/Sophie for me…say “Auntie Gracie misses you (meow)”
Cute apron!
I always volunteer desserts..baking is my lurve!
I think next time I make goodies I’ll make TOUCH and DON’T TOUCH signs!! Good idea! My family always eats EVERYTHING if I don’t hide it!!
ahaha dang! baking can wear you out- that takes some serious stamina!
You look adorable and so does that BUTTER CAKE. OMG.
I am in love with your apron! It is so adorable
I also made dough balls with real organic butter and they came out perfectly. AKA in ball form. Did you chill them in the fridge before baking? I think that makes a difference. Anyway, it doesn’t matter, as long as your cookies are still delicious!
I did not chill the dough…that was probably the culprit!!!
I LOVE butter cake !! I’m sure Paula Deen’s is AMAZING. I usually volunteer for an appetizer or bottle of wine
I always volunteer for dessert duty, too. Baking is definitely more fun!
ughhh I want sugar cookies! I want to make those balls but knowing me they wouldn’t last a day and thats not fair.
xoxo,
Lo
Those cookies are so festive! I can’t wait to get home and make Christmas cookies of all kind.
Everything you made looks delicious! I usually volunteer to bring an appetizer or a dessert.
It’s the taste, not the shape, that counts. Those flat dough balls look great!
We lead double lives. Tonight/tomorrow I’m starting the baking extravaganza for a huge Christmas bash I’m going to. Because nothing pairs with $400 of liquor like chocolate covered pretzel rods and dough balls.
And I vote we actually have a baking celebration when I get home!!
uhhhh that sounds like my kind of bash!! And I am ALL ABOUT a baking celebration. When will you be home??
I’m making the snicker doodle dough balls tomorrow and can’t wait. I’m going to be using regular butter too. As long as they taste good is all that matters though, right?
I made Paula’s Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cake for Thanksgiving and girl you are right - UN. REAL.
Thanks for the info about using butter in the Dough Balls. I was thinking of making them this weekend, but I guess I’ll run out and get some vegan margarine.
Butter cake??? YUM!!! those pretzels look delicious too! you’re quite the (beautiful) baker
I always hate cleaning up the mess left from baking too. Somehow my kitchen always turns into a disaster zone when I bake!
I haven’t done any baking yet, but I’ll be doing plenty once my exams are over!
Your hair just looks so perfect in that photo! And I love your apron!
heheh why thank you - it’s only because I literally had just gotten home from the salon
Yum! I did baking for thanksgiving, got some cookie practice in then! I will be baking cookies for my sons school for next week and then we are baking cookies at home the week of xmas : )
I always sign up for dessert duty too! I remember doing trash can brownies for my last job, the cranberry bars for T-giving here, and I’m sure I’ll be doing a chocolate peppermint cookie for Christmas
Love the touch and don’t touch signs! Hope they were more efficient than they probably would have been at my house, haha
LOL you are so freaking cute. all i gotta say is one day your hubby will be REALLLYYYYY lucky- hope he has a SWEET TOOTH!
Gah! How do you have such perfect hair while baking? lol I always put mine up!
I haven’t done ANY baking yet but it’s all I wanna do! Will happen next week! I miss having dough balls after every meal.
Also, sorry I’m lame and didn’t congratulate you on your 500th post! CONGRATS!!!
Much love! <3
THANKS BOO!!
And yes my hair is usually in a messy bun on the top of my head but I had literally just gotten home from the salon…didn’t want to mess up the perfection that only comes once every few months!! hahah
xoxoxo
I actually just posted my family’s holiday Pumpkin Roll recipe on my blog. It’s by far one of my favorite desserts, hope you get a chance to try it out!