This is a sponsored post on behalf of MasterChef Junior on FOX.
Lately I have been feeling very self conscious about my cooking abilities. I am definitely not a chef, but I feel like I do okay most of the time. But lately, my kids have been complaining about everything I make. I try not to take it personally, but it’s hard. My sister in law recently suggested that if I included them in the cooking more, they would be less likely to complain. I know she is right. I know I should include them more. I want them to grow up and know how to cook and enjoy cooking. Not fear it like I do.
Recently we started watching Season 3 of MasterChef Junior on FOX.
Each week, the eight to 13 year-old contestants will be coached and encouraged by the celebrated food experts as they compete in exciting challenges. In the end, one talented kid will be named America’s newest MasterChef Junior, receiving a $100,00 prize and the coveted MasterChef Junior trophy.
We are hooked on the show. The kids are adorable and so sweet (most of the time). I will say it is a little heartbreaking that they have to send any of them home. They are amazing. They know cooking terms I have never heard of. They are cooking foods I have never heard of. They speak multiple languages and exude a confidence I dream about. I hope my kids can learn from it and be inspired to be confident in the kitchen.
MasterChef Junior sent me an amazing “warm winter” viewing kit to use and enjoy with my family as we watched the season premiere of MasterChef Junior. The kit included:
- (2) Branded MCJ Coffee Mugs
- (4) Branded MCJ ‘Hot Chocolates On A Stick’
- Cinnamon and Cayenne Milk Chocolate
- Hazelnut Milk Chocolate
- Dark Chocolate
- Vanilla White Chocolate
- (3) Branded MCJ Containers with Toppings
- Marshmallow bits
- Caramel bits
- Crushed peppermint
- (5) MCJ Branded Recipe Cards
- Snowball Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Carrotberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Hot Coco Milk Crumb Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Blank recipe card
I looked over the recipe cards and the Snowball Cookie recipe looked strangely familiar. I baked several cookies over the holiday season, but one I did not make is one of my husbands favorites which they call “Mexican Wedding Cakes”. I had looked up recipes for it, but didn’t end up making them for Christmas because it was something new and unfamiliar for me. Well, guess what? The recipe for the Snowball Cookies is a recipe very similar to all of the ones I saw for Mexican Wedding Cakes when I researched them. I decided to bite the bullet and try making them. I also decided to include my two oldest children Danica and Kurtis in the baking fun.
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp good quality vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup pecans, coarsely ground
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon, optional
- In a large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add ½ cup powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined
- Add flour and pecans, and mix until dough is well blended.
- Divide dough in half and roll each half into a ball. Wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate for 15-30 minutes until chilled.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 and stir together remaining 1½ cups sugar and cinnamon, if using.
- To form cookies, remove small chunks of dough, about 2 tsp each. Roll these into small balls. Bake on baking sheet about ½ inch apart until just pale and golden, about 14-18 minutes.
- Cook cookies until they are cool enough to handle, then gently roll them through powdered sugar and cinnamon mixture.
I love the simplicity of this recipe. It only involved 6 ingredients, all of which I had in the house. I also loved that it did not contain eggs. My son Kurtis has an egg sensitivity which seems to be worse if he consumes raw eggs such as in cookie dough. With this dough he could like the bowl clean. Hooray!
The cookies came out great. My husband did warn me that he remembers they burn easily, so I did watch them extremely closely. I can see how you would end up burning them because the tops looked very raw, but I noticed the bottoms starting to brown so I pulled them out. They were perfect. My kids loved helping.
While we were finishing the cookies we mixed up some of the fabulous hot chocolate on a stick we received in our viewing pack. They were fabulous. I think my favorite by far was the Vanilla White Chocolate. Yum. I will have to figure out how to make some of that on my own. With our bellies full of cookies and hot chocolate, we sat down to watch this weeks episode of MasterChef Junior.
To learn more visit MasterChef Junior of FOX homepage where you can watch full episodes and clips, follow them on Twitter, and like them on Facebook. Tune in Tuesdays at 8/7 c on FOX.
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ColleenMarie says
January 16, 2015 at 9:14 amMy whole family likes watching Master Chef Junior, that is one of the reasons I like it.
ColleenMarie says
January 16, 2015 at 9:14 amMy whole family likes watching Master Chef Junior, that is one of the reasons I like it.
Terri S. says
January 16, 2015 at 11:14 amI want to try the Snowball Cookies Recipe. It looks just like a recipe I lost for what was called Mexican Wedding Cookies.
Holly Kennedy says
January 16, 2015 at 11:18 amThe kids are amazing! They make we want to step up my game. The whole family loves the show.
Vicki Wurgler says
January 16, 2015 at 11:26 amI want to try the Caramel bits toppings
Samantha C. says
January 16, 2015 at 11:44 amI just really like how it is centered towards kids!
AShley says
January 16, 2015 at 11:49 amWe love watching this show, it brings us together when we watch it
D Schmidt says
January 16, 2015 at 11:56 amMy favorite thing about the show is the positive attitude and motivation of the kids! Its a lot of work and they do it so well.
Kim Henrichs says
January 16, 2015 at 12:09 pmThe show is so cute! I have been cooking since I was little and it would have been amazing to have been on a show with this opportunity. Love it!
Christa Bengtsson says
January 16, 2015 at 12:23 pmWhat I like best about this kit is my kids would love it and it would keep them busy 🙂
Anastasia Falling says
January 16, 2015 at 12:33 pmI love watching little kids make things I’d never be able to in a million years! They’re so cute and clever 🙂
Lauren says
January 16, 2015 at 1:08 pmI like how the kids are amazingly talented, but still act like down to earth kids.
Kris I. says
January 16, 2015 at 1:14 pmI love watching it because these young chefs amaze me!! I cannot believe how great they can cook at such a young age!
jacqueline says
January 16, 2015 at 1:22 pmi want to try the hot chocolates on a stick
Nancy says
January 16, 2015 at 1:25 pmMy children would love this!
JLin says
January 16, 2015 at 1:28 pmVanilla White Chocolate
Terra Heck says
January 16, 2015 at 1:28 pmI like seeing the cooking creativity that the kids come up with. They have a passion for food and come up with some wonderful dishes. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Becca says
January 16, 2015 at 1:43 pmI like seeing the judges actually being nice and helping the kids out. If they treated the adults the same way, they might make better food instead of being terrified LOL
sandra says
January 16, 2015 at 2:04 pmI want to try the hot chocolates on a stick
Nancy says
January 16, 2015 at 2:54 pmI like the kindness and encouragement the young chefs show to each other.
harolde says
January 16, 2015 at 8:25 pmWhat I like most about Masterchef junior is that it’s a fun show my Granddaughter and I can watch together!
Dana Rodriguez says
January 16, 2015 at 8:42 pmI love the show.These cookies look so good!
jennifer says
January 16, 2015 at 10:08 pmwe are huge fans of this show and are all amazed by how incredible these kids can cook! I love that this kit is geared towards kids!
Brittney House says
January 16, 2015 at 10:10 pmIts refreshing and a nice change of pace. You always see adults on these types of shows.
Seyma Shabbir says
January 16, 2015 at 10:14 pmMy 7 year old loves to help me in the kitchen and comes up with his own cooking ideas. he would love to try this!
Amanda Alvarado says
January 16, 2015 at 11:51 pmI want to try the Hot Chocolate on a stick especially the Dark Chocolate one! BTW I saw the cookies before reading the post and thought hey those look like the cookies my dad baked over Christmas! His is an old Hungarian recipe that is like the Mexican Wedding cookies too! LOL It’s funny how many variations of them there are!
joanne major says
January 17, 2015 at 12:24 amI love watching these kids amaze me how well they do
Shannon Baas says
January 17, 2015 at 1:40 amI love the competitiveness.
Jenn Short says
January 17, 2015 at 2:04 amI want to try the Cinnamon and Cayenne Milk Chocolate hot chocolate on a stick. Sounds wonderful!
Heather D says
January 17, 2015 at 6:37 amI enjoying seeing young people gives things they are passionate about “a go”. This show is a lot of fun and I watch it weekly with my mom.
Amy Pratt says
January 17, 2015 at 6:37 amI want to try the snowball cookies the most.
Kristi C says
January 17, 2015 at 7:57 amI want to try the Vanilla White Chocolate “hot chocolate on a stick.”
Don D says
January 17, 2015 at 8:18 amI enjoy watching MasterChef Jr. as I am amazed at what those kids come up with.
Debbi Wellenstein says
January 17, 2015 at 8:25 amHot chocolate on a Stick is what I want to try most/first.
jen l says
January 17, 2015 at 9:18 amThe hot chocolate on a stick looks good.
nickie says
January 17, 2015 at 12:32 pmI’d like to try the Caramel bits toppings
michelle r says
January 17, 2015 at 2:47 pmI like watching the kids come up with the cooking receipes
Ellie Wright says
January 17, 2015 at 3:09 pmMy husband and I enjoy the show. We always marvel at what the kids can cook. They are super talented.
Kimberly says
January 17, 2015 at 3:54 pmI’m looking forward to trying the Crushed peppermint topping.
Ani says
January 17, 2015 at 4:33 pmI just love how innovative and creative the kids on Master Chef Junior are! We love watching the show together as a family, it is really neat to see what they come up with.
Debra Hall says
January 17, 2015 at 8:44 pmi like the young kids are so interested in cooking
Mary Cloud says
January 17, 2015 at 8:49 pmI haven’t seen the show yet – the hot chocolates on a stick sound fun
Leigh Anne Borders says
January 17, 2015 at 11:52 pmI have some little ones that feel like they are tiny chefs! They love this show and would be delighted to get the package!
Aaron says
January 18, 2015 at 3:30 amI’d most like to try the Vanilla White Chocolate on a stick =)
Patti Hess says
January 18, 2015 at 12:15 pmI would like to try the Cinnamon and Cayenne Milk Chocolate
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
Lindsay N. says
January 18, 2015 at 12:27 pmI love MasterChef Junior because the majority of the kids are very sweet and helpful towards each other. It is so refreshing to see a television show where the contestants aren’t always trying to undermine one another (though some of those kiddos can be pretty sly!).
Virginia Rowell says
January 18, 2015 at 3:47 pmI want to try the Hot Coco Milk Crumb Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
latanya says
January 18, 2015 at 5:22 pmI like the kids creativity
Trisha Burgess says
January 18, 2015 at 10:12 pmI love that I wat the show with my daughter and it inspires her to want to cook more!
Jane Thomas says
January 19, 2015 at 12:53 amI want to trythe Marshmallow bits most.
deana c says
January 19, 2015 at 7:17 amIn this kit I would most like to try the Hot Chocolates On A Stick.
Ann Fantom says
January 19, 2015 at 7:30 amI would love to try the Crushed peppermint in our hot chocolate
Monique Rizzo says
January 19, 2015 at 11:20 amI like the Hot Chocolate sticks.
Marci Wright says
January 19, 2015 at 3:28 pmI want to try hot chocolate on a stick!
Jennifer A. says
January 19, 2015 at 10:13 pmHot chocolate on a stick
beth says
January 20, 2015 at 10:26 amI like that the show gets kids into cooking.
sonya genobles says
January 20, 2015 at 11:29 amlove that it encourages kids to be in the kitchen
Susan Smith says
January 20, 2015 at 7:16 pmI want to try hot chocolate on a stick
Jessamine D. says
January 20, 2015 at 8:22 pmMy daughters would love the hot chocolates on a stick. 🙂
Nannypanpan says
January 21, 2015 at 9:04 amMy son will love the marshmallow bits
Su N says
January 21, 2015 at 9:13 amI am just so amazed at how talented and knowledgeable these young kids are!
Hollie Jahnke says
January 21, 2015 at 11:33 amI like the interesting recipes they create. They are really good!
lisa says
January 21, 2015 at 6:14 pmI love that it is getting kids in the kitchen!
Becky Moore says
January 22, 2015 at 11:42 amI love some MCJr. Those kids are sooo good…..I would love to win this because hello hot chocolate on a spoon…..
Penny Snyder says
January 22, 2015 at 7:35 pmWould love to try the •Cinnamon and Cayenne Milk Chocolate on a stick!!~
Sue says
January 22, 2015 at 8:48 pmThis is so cute! I’d love to try the hot chocolate on a stick!
Lisa V. says
January 23, 2015 at 7:36 amI like that it encourages kids to succeed in what they do.
Rachel C says
January 23, 2015 at 1:19 pmMy girls like to watch cooking shows and I think Chef Ramsey is entertaining so we will be watching this show.
Tiffany Schmidt says
January 23, 2015 at 1:43 pmMy daughter and I love watching this show together. It positively enforces the children’s work. They have so much passion for cooking. I like that the judges are friendlier with the kiddos than on the adult version.
tina d reynolds says
January 23, 2015 at 2:18 pmSo cute love the hot chocolate on a stick would love to share with my seven year old daughter she loves cooking
Jill Myrick says
January 23, 2015 at 8:19 pmI would love to try the Hot Chocolates on a Stick. I know my kids would love these.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Christie says
January 23, 2015 at 8:55 pmWhat I like most is that its something me and my daughter can work on together.
joe gersch says
January 24, 2015 at 3:47 ami want to try the Hot Chocolate sticks.
Lori Walker says
January 24, 2015 at 9:19 amI love watching the kids complete the baking challenges on the show.
Erica B. says
January 24, 2015 at 12:29 pmHot chocolate on a stick would be good.
paige jagan says
January 24, 2015 at 5:50 pmI am such a kid! I really want to try the Hot Chocolate on a Stick!
Lisa says
January 24, 2015 at 7:18 pmI want to try the hot chocolate.
laurie murley says
January 24, 2015 at 7:24 pmi would like to try the snowball cookies those look good
Valeen N says
January 24, 2015 at 8:04 pmThe hot chocolate sticks sound amazing!
Candie L says
January 24, 2015 at 8:06 pmI like seeing the judges get on the kids level and just have fun. thank you
joni says
January 24, 2015 at 9:43 pmI love this show. I like when the kids act and speak so maturely.
amy rouse says
January 25, 2015 at 10:04 amHot chocolate on a stick sounds so fun and this would be a great kit for my grandson, a budding chef
Barbara R. says
January 25, 2015 at 11:19 amI just heard about the show over Christmas from a little girl who is learning to cook. I think it is a fabulous idea to inspire kids to learn and cook. I would love to try, Marshmallow bits.
Amanda Whitley says
January 25, 2015 at 1:08 pmi like thats something for me and my kids can do together.
Jessica To says
January 25, 2015 at 1:59 pmI really want to try the caramel bits. Yum!
Laurie Emerson says
January 25, 2015 at 6:29 pmI like how the show encourages children to cook and be creative. I watch it with my daughter who loves it as much as I do.
trixx says
January 25, 2015 at 7:47 pmOooh, I’d like to try the MCJ Containers with Toppings!
Lisa L says
January 25, 2015 at 8:23 pmI watch the show with my son who wants to be a chef. I love how it encourages him to be creative.
Rosey says
January 25, 2015 at 9:32 pmI most want to try the crushed peppermint.
Vikki Billings says
January 25, 2015 at 10:17 pmI love the kids on the show, they are so talented and grown-up, they make me laugh and cry too.
Trisha McKee says
January 25, 2015 at 11:06 pmI most want to try the hot chocolate on a stick!
Sand says
January 25, 2015 at 11:22 pmI would love to win this because I love hot chocolate!
Bryan E. says
January 25, 2015 at 11:33 pmThank You for the giveaway… we want to try the included “Carrotberry Oatmeal Cookies” recipe !