Chinese New Year Cookies

These Chinese New Year Cookies are a family tradition and favorite, and the best part is…only 4 ingredients needed!

My favorite time of year has arrived.  Not only do the holidays mean spending more time with family, but also an excuse to make lots and lots of goodies!

I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time baking cookies/sweets/etc. that I don’t like.  It’s just hard to do. 

Of course, if I know someone loves a specific kind of treat (like my husband), I will bake the treat even if I don’t enjoy it.  But thankfully we like a lot of the same desserts! 

Regardless, I still try to sample them, and then get them out of the house before we eat too many.

My grandmother (Mimi) made Chinese New Year Cookies for as long as I can remember.  And I have been making them for about the last 6 years and I always receive several compliments on the cookies.  

This year, a friend is hosting a cookie exchange party three days after my son’s first birthday party (I love these get-togethers!). 

Needless to say, I didn’t have much time to bake cookies, so these were the perfect solution!  They’re no-bake, and the finished product has a complex appearance which makes it appear that they are complicated to make.

If you’re looking for another unique festive cookie, check out these Pignoli cookies that I recently discovered. They only contain 5 ingredients!

How to Make These Simple Chinese New Year Cookies

All you need is four ingredients (M&Ms optional):

• Chow mein noodles
• Peanuts
• Chocolate chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Red & green M&Ms (optional)

First, find a double boiler or a heavy saucepan like the one I use (shown below — thanks, Mimi).

Melt the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips over low heat.  Continue to stir the mixture until the chips are melted. 

Be cautious since it can burn quickly (which leads to starting over). 

I heat the chips on the lowest setting on my stove, and then turn it off a few times to prevent burning.

Once the chocolate and butterscotch chips are melted, remove them from the heat. Then add the peanuts and chow mein noodles. Stir slowly with a spoon until the noodles and peanuts are coated.

Using two small spoons, scoop tablespoon size amounts of the mixture onto a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.  Top cookies with Christmas M&Ms for a festive look.

Chill the cookies in the refrigerator for about an hour or until hardened.

Once cooled, I like to store the cookies in plastic containers in the refrigerator or basement (if you want them out of sight). This way, you’ll have some left when you are ready to give them away as gifts or a cookie exchange. 

And, if your family enjoys them as much as mine, make sure to label (or hide) the cookies that are to be given away or they will disappear before you know it!

Tips on How to Enjoy the Holidays and NOT Stress About Food Choices

• Don’t have an all or nothing mentality.
  • Allow yourself to enjoy a small dessert or two at family gatherings or other parties, but focus a balance of food including vegetables, fruit and protein. And even better, focus on conversations with the family and friends.
• Do make it a priority to fit in exercise regularly.
  • This doesn’t mean you need to spend hours at the gym. Simply taking a daily walk, no matter the distance, can help your fitness throughout the holidays.
• Don’t forget to include veggies throughout your day.
  • It doesn’t need to be complicated. Keep raw, cut-up vegetables such as carrots, celery, cucumbers and bell peppers in the refrigerator.
• Do make sleep a priority.
  • Aim for a consistent sleep schedule and between seven and nine hours each night.
• Do be mindful of your eating habits and portion sizes.
  • Never eat from a bag or box, and turn off distractions like your television or phone while eating.
• Do aim for a total of at least five servings of fruits and/or vegetables every day.
  • One serving equals: a medium apple, 1 cup of grapes, 2 clementines, 1/2 large banana, 1 cup leaf lettuce salad and 1/2 cup cooked vegetables.

Other Favorite Chocolate Slopes Holiday Sweets

No-Bake Peanut Butter Corn Flake Cookies (Christmas)

Christmas Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

Spiral Christmas Sugar Cookies

Candy Coated Christmas Pretzels

Here are a few more holiday favorites:

This Chinese New Year Cookies post first appeared on Chocolate Slopes.

© 2014 Kristy Hegner  Disclaimer