Circus Animal Cookie Truffles
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These Circus Animal Cookie Truffles are one of those desserts that are just fun. The inside tastes exactly like you would expect from crushed frosted animal cookies mixed with cream cheese, and the bright pink and white coating makes them almost too cute to eat.
I really liked these. They are sweet, soft in the center, and you still get little bits of frosting and sprinkles throughout the truffle. Once they are dipped and drizzled, they look like a dressed-up version of the Circus Animal Cookies themselves.
If you like frosted animal cookies, I also have a Frosted Animal Cracker Dip that uses the same cookies.
Circus Animal Cookie Truffles Ingredients
- 1 bag (9 oz.) Circus Animal Cookies – Use the frosted pink and white animal cookies.
- 4 ounces cream cheese – Soften the cream cheese and cut it into cubes before adding it to the food processor.
- Pink candy melts
- White candy melts
- Rainbow nonpareils – For decorating the tops.
I used about half a bag each of bright pink and bright white candy melts for dipping. You may use a little more or less depending on how heavily you coat the truffles and how much is left in the bowl after dipping.
How to Make Circus Animal Cookie Truffles
Process the Cookies
Add the Circus Animal Cookies to a food processor and process for about 10 seconds, or until the cookies are fine crumbs.
Add the softened cream cheese and process for another 5-10 seconds, or until the mixture is combined and has a dough-like consistency.
Roll and Chill
Line a cutting board or baking sheet with wax paper.
Using a 1-tablespoon portion scoop, scoop out the cookie mixture and roll it into approximately 1-inch balls.
Place each truffle onto the prepared wax paper.
Once all of the truffles are shaped, refrigerate for 1 hour. Chilling firms up the centers and makes them much easier to dip. This recipe makes approximately 20-22 truffles.
Dip in Candy Melts
When ready to dip the truffles, add about half a bag of pink candy melts to a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave for 1 minute at 50% power. Stir well and return to the microwave in 10-second increments, stirring after each time, until smooth. Remove the truffles from the refrigerator and dip half into the pink candy melts.
Place the coated truffles back onto the wax paper.
Repeat with the white candy melts and remaining truffles.
Add the Drizzle and Sprinkles
Once the truffles are dipped, use some of the remaining candy melts to decorate the tops.
Spoon about a tablespoon of melted candy coating into a resealable plastic bag and seal it shut. Snip a very small piece from one corner of the bag. You don’t need much of an opening or the drizzle will come out too thick.
Drizzle the candy melts over a few truffles and immediately add rainbow nonpareils before the drizzle hardens. Continue until all of the truffles are decorated.
Let stand until the coating has completely hardened.
A Few Helpful Tips
Soften the cream cheese first. Cold cream cheese won’t blend into the cookie crumbs nearly as easily.
Use a tablespoon scoop. This keeps the truffles close to the same size and gives you about 20-22 from one 9-ounce bag of cookies.
Heat candy melts slowly. Candy melts do not need aggressive heat. Start at 50% power, stir, and then continue in short increments.
Decorate a few at a time. The drizzle can set pretty fast, so add the sprinkles while it is still wet instead of drizzling the entire tray first.
How to Store Circus Animal Cookie Truffles
Because these truffles are made with cream cheese, keep them refrigerated in a covered container. You can serve them cold straight from the refrigerator.
Let the candy coating completely harden before stacking or transferring the truffles so the drizzle and sprinkles stay intact.
More Truffle Ideas
If you are on a truffle-making kick, I have a few more fun ones to try. These Colorful Oreo Truffles are easy to dress up for just about any occasion, and my Golden Oreo Truffles are another simple no-bake favorite. And around Christmas, you have to try these Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Balls – they are made with those little Christmas tree cakes we all know and love and disappear fast at holiday parties.
Circus Animal Cookie Truffles
Ingredients
- 9 oz. Circus Animal Cookies
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened and cut into cubes
- Pink candy melts about ½ bag
- White candy melts about ½ bag
- Rainbow nonpareils
Instructions
Make the Truffle Filling
- Add Circus Animal Cookies to a food processor and process for about 10 seconds, or until they are fine crumbs. Add softened cream cheese and process for another 5–10 seconds, or until the mixture is combined and dough-like.
- Line a cutting board or baking sheet with wax paper. Using a 1-tablespoon portion scoop, scoop the mixture and roll into approximately 1-inch balls. Place on the prepared wax paper. This should make about 20–22 truffles.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour. Chilling firms up the centers and makes them much easier to dip.
Dip the Truffles
- Add about half a bag of pink candy melts to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute at 50% power and stir well. Continue microwaving in 10-second increments, stirring after each interval, until smooth.
- Remove truffles from the refrigerator and dip half into the pink candy melts. Place back onto the wax paper.
- Repeat with about half a bag of white candy melts and the remaining truffles. The exact amount of candy melts may vary slightly depending on how heavily each truffle is coated.
Decorate and Set
- Add about 1 tablespoon of the remaining melted candy coating to a resealable plastic bag. Seal and snip a very small corner from the bag.
- Drizzle over a few truffles at a time and immediately add rainbow nonpareils while the drizzle is still wet so the sprinkles stick.
- Let the truffles stand for about 10 minutes, or until the candy coating has completely hardened.
- Store finished truffles in a covered container in the refrigerator because the centers contain cream cheese.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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