How far ahead do you make no-bake Christmas cookies?

[eleny]

I plan to give some goodies to my neighbors and wondered how far in advance I can make the no-bake ball style cookies.

I plan on making most from vanilla wafers - some with orange juice & rolled in coconut, also the date nut ones and the Kahlua cocoa balls.

Some will have butter but most will not. Should they all be refrigerated even if they don't have butter or shortening?

I like to make any kind of baked bars or squares the morning of delivery so they're very moist. But the rolled no-bake ones seem like they keep for days in plastic bags and in the fridge.

[Lucinda]

1. Sorry...I've got no experience..but I'm bumping so I can watch for ideas too

Also...some of the recipes here may have storage tips?

http://allrecipes.com/Search/Recipes.aspx?WithTerm=no+bake+cookie&SearchIn=All

[The empressof all]

2. The no bake ones IMO get better with a little age

It gives them time for the flavors to mingle and mellow....especially the ones using the booze. Yum Rum Balls!

I'd keep them cool but they don't really need to be in the fridge unless you don't have a cool spot to store them.

[eleny]

5. Thanks, I'll start making them this weekend and keep them in the fridge

That'll give them 4 or 5 days to mellow.

[The empressof all]

6. Just make sure you take them out well before you serve them

I keep mine in a small cooler with a blue ice pack in it. I think the flavors mellow better out of the fridge buy YMMV and I know although it's safe to keep butter out of the fridge it's not my habit to do it either so I lean towards the cooler the better standpoint with the butter.

[Lucinda]

7. I use a French butter keeper for table butter

But as a rule I store mine in the fridge too.

[The empressof all]

8. Those are great....

It's nice to be able to keep the butter at a softer consistency. I love those butter keepers...but I always forget to change the water. :rofl: I'm off the butter now so I just keep it in the fridge and let the SO do as he will with it.

[Lucinda]

9. I'm fine when i bake bread often...but if I don't, I forget too

Off butter!!! :wow:
:rofl:
I only do butter, olive oil and coconut oil...though Bill uses canola for things he fries that i don't eat...

[The empressof all]

10. I went Vegan in July...

My cholesterol has dropped 40 points since then. I'm doing ok with it for the most part but had my first "food" dream last night. I ate some freshly made mozzarella in my dream. The only real animal protein/fat that I have really craved though has been eggs. When that happens I eat some avocado and it passes. I can't say I'll never eat a burger again sometime in my life but I've made the leap and I'm ok with it. The SO misses having me cook his meals...but as I explained to him he's welcome to share what I make for myself but I'm not cooking twice. He's eating a lot of frozen pizza and sandwiches :rofl:

[Lucinda]

11. I'm glad that it is working for you!

I'm trying to pay more attention to my body and less to what numbers are on tests...I seem to feel better managing my health that way. I am really simplifying my food preparation in general, and eating more whole, less processed foods. (except for the odd roasted marshmallow and meatloaf) :)

You'd think your SO would learn to cook in self defense. :P Bill is a great cook, but if left to his own devices, I doubt he would do much more than your SO. Silly wabbits.

[The empressof all]

12. I'm a total believer that you need to do what feels best for you,

Rich is actually a pretty decent cook. He's just lazy. He just wants to do what's quick and easy or have it done for him. I also think he rather enjoys huffing and puffing around the full fridge claiming there's nothing to eat.

I've actually become less fussy about food and am leaning to just making whats easy. Thank goodness the rice cooker makes great quinoa and I really don't mind canned beans so it's really pretty easy to throw together something nutritious.

[grasswire]

3. I only make one kind of no-bake cooky

....and that's the chocolate covered peanut butter balls. Rolled no-bake cookies? I don't think I've ever seen those.

[eleny]

4. Sorry - I meant rolled as rolling them in the palms to make them round

:blush: