I have to make 6 dozen (yes, DOZEN!) cookies for a Christmas cookie exchange next month. I am completely stressing about having to make so many. Baking is so not my thing, but I really want to go!
The catch is that they have to be homemade, so no cheating by going to the store and getting a log of cookie dough! LOL Good thing I saw that rule or I woulda totally done that! 🙂
I’m keeping things simple this year and sticking to the easiest recipes I can find. Since I’m bringing 6 dozen, I’m going to bring a variety so we’ll have different options to choose from, so I need to make 2 or three different kinds.
I went on a hunt for simple recipes that make impressive looking Christmas cookies…
These 7 Christmas cookies made the final cut! They are all easy recipes that don’t take tons of steps to prepare. Overall, they take less than 30 minutes each, which is perfect when you’re short on time. I hope you like these ideas as much as I do!
Jingle Bell Bites – These adorable bite-sized shortbread cookies that only have 6 common ingredients and take 20 minutes or less of active prep time. My kind of cookie!
Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms – So you know how I said all the cookies have to be homemade? Well, I think there are ways around rules like these. Enter the cutest little Hershey kiss cookies! Even if you did make the base cookie from scratch, the directions state it should only take you about 15 minutes, so I guess they’re easy no matter what!
Gooey Red Velvet Cookies – Ten ingredients, one bowl, lots of color! Perfect for a Christmas cookie exchange.
Perfect Sugar Cookiesin Festive Shapes– I normally don’t think of sugar cookies as being impressive, but something about this frosting makes these stand out. I like that you can make the cookies and frosting separately, which helps if you’re busy on and off all day every day like me! I would use these snowflake cookie cutters – I am so obsessed with snowflakes right now!
Frosted Peppermint Brownie Cookies – These look sooooo delicious! They are slightly more difficult that the previous two, but infinitely more impressive, so that outweighs the difficulty in my book. J Just like the sugar cookies, the frosting and cookies can be done in two different cooking sessions. So key.
Spritz Butter Cookies– These only have a handful of ingredients and look simply amazing!! They almost look like little buttery meringues with sprinkles.
I'm a CPA turned SAHM of 3 little ones ages 4, 6, and 9. I'm a mommy by day, blogger by night. Join me as I write about fun kids activities, family finances, and losing 50 lbs after baby #3.
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The idea is simple: Everyone brings a big batch of (hopefully homemade) cookies and distributes roughly 6 - 12 cookies each to the other attendees. So at the end of the event, you and your guests will each have your own delectable assortment.
Keep it as simple as you'd like. All cookies should be homemade. Please bring at least 2 dozen cookies (or more if you'd like!). Print out copies of the recipe to share.
Cookie exchanges are a century-old tradition in which participants bake dozens of their favorite cookie, then take them to a party where guests trade their cache and wind up with a variety of cookies from everybody else.
2 dozen per guest is a good minimum so everyone has a few to bring home. 6 dozen is a good maximum if everyone wants lots of cookies to take home. Ask ahead for any allergies among your guests so you can make accommodations.
You want guests to take some cookies home, not eat them all during the party, so you'll want to offer other snacks for your loved ones to graze on. Set out some savory appetizers, curate a cheese board, offer finger sandwiches, put out a festive party mix, or create a veggie and dip station.
Decorations can be as simple as a table runner and some ornaments. Use cake stands, tiered trays, and festive platters to display the cookies appealingly. Height and levels add visual interest to your table setup.
While cookie exchanges typically involve batches of homemade cookies, you can incorporate other delicious treats into your evening. Consider making peppermint brownies, reindeer brownies, or chocolate peppermint bark. You can also include pecan date bars or peanut butter chocolate bars to mix things up.
Experienced cookie swap hosts generally cap their guest list at around eight people. That's enough for a satisfying variety of treats to enjoy at the party as well as a manageable amount for everyone to take home at the end of the night.
Sampling: Provide a large platter or basket and ask each guest to place 12 cookies in/on it for sharing. Give it a Name: Ask guests to label the outside of their disposable containers for easy identification. Refreshments: Let the party take over while your friends sample the treats.
Make sure you have containers, cookie tins, boxes, or bags readily available, or you can request that your party guests bring their own. Have plenty of Reynolds Kitchens® parchment paper or wax paper on hand to line the containers, separate layers of cookies, and keep the cookies from sticking to each other.
Decide how many cookies or pieces of fudge will make up a gift. Four is a good number to start with for an individual. Many cookie recipes, including my Hershey Kiss Cookie recipe, make 48 cookies. That's 12 potential gifts right there!
When pricing homemade cookies to sell, you should look at local sellers and see how much they ask for. Many simple cookies sell for between $2.00 and $5.00 each, but it's not uncommon to see a dozen cookies cost $55 or more depending on the time and ingredients that went into making them.
A great cookie plate should have at least three types of cookies. Or, for the ambitious baker, even more! Plan to include at least 3-5 cookies of each variety, so whoever gets to enjoy your creations can reach back for a second (or third!) of their favorites.
In Christmas Cookie Challenge, five confident and daring bakers compete to prove their holiday cookie-making skills. Tough-love judges are on hand to crown the holiday cookie master, who will go home with a $10,000 prize!
Introduction: My name is Domingo Moore, I am a attractive, gorgeous, funny, jolly, spotless, nice, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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