Christmas cookie exchange ideas
 

I volunteered to host this years' exchange. It is a small group of us. Any fun ideas for this? Favorite cookies to make? Thanks
sandy

I make only 3. Always a batch of cut outs, the other 2 are up for grabs every year. No help, was I?

I am in favor of cookies that keep well in the freezer and do not look overly handled.

Any family favorite recipes hanging around? Stuff the average person doesn't make? That would be my go-to.

Love easy!
sandy

I always have mine in the late morning and serve oj (both plain and fortified) and a quiche and sweet rolls and fruit. Then for cookies, I always make sure to have extras for the party, but also do at least one bar cookie--they seem to pack well and usually are freezable. We always bring 4-5 doz, at least 3 kinds. We don't do games, but instead just chat and relax before the crazy of Christmas.
Oh--one of my all time favs for cookies is gingerbread people! Go great with a cup of tea on those late nights when I'm finishing up presents! :thumbup:

Yes, definitely make them freezer-worthy, not fragile . Not powdered as it gets yucky when thawing.

I'd ask the group to see what they'd LIKE to make, and what they'd LIKE to receive. Keep in mind that some people will sign up to MAKE cheap and easy cookies but will be receiving cookies that cost a lot more in ingredients and time to make. I sure don't mean to be a Negative Nancy, but I stopped doing cookie exchanges after a few years of making "party pretty" cookies but getting plain Janes in exchange . It wasn't worth my effort.

What does "overly handled" mean?
Sandy

reminds me of quilt guild block exchanges.....but I dont intend to micromanage a cookie exchange. Thanks for your input. Sorry that others don't play well.... ;)

the ladies that are coming make exquisite cookies.... they set the bar high! we love the camaraderie of just getting together.

my "plain janes" are better than most!

sandy

Can't beat a good peanut butter cookie.

I have a friend who has hosted one for years. She provides coffee, hot tea and cocoa. Along with some sort or non sweet casserole or breakfast item. Just watching others, there are usually a lot of drop cookie styles. So any bar, cutout or round ball cookie look great in the variety. I make classic Wilton butter cutout cookies the recipe in a snowflake pattern with crystal sprinkles. It's the shapes on the plate that makes a pleasing set of cookies. She also has some simple kids crafts to make. The little foam Christmas ornaments or painted wooden items. They are fun and divert the group into different areas.

Spice cookies are my go to for Christmas Cookie Exchanges. Gingersnaps or Moravian Spice cookies are always good this time of year. I make my great grandmother's Pheffernusse, from her recipe. I do cheat though as I make them about the size of a quarter instead of the smaller less than a dime size. Don't hate me because I cheat.... but they are rather labor intensive. Rolling all those little cables to cut. etc. BUT still the folks love them. Put on on your tongue and let it melt. They are very hard cookies, which is why they got the name German Peppernuts. This is the one cookie I make every year. They ship very well too.

Overly handled - like when little kids decorate sugar cookies - and they look kind of grungy by the time they get baked.

Or "too much" decorating on them (which I now is subjective) -

My Danish Mom and Grandma made those and that's exactly what they called them. Germany and Denmark are neighbors so that would stand to reason. Never my favorite, I think you could not harm them if you ran over a batch with an army tank! Thanks for the memories !

This is my little invention aka: tweak. I named Christmas Eve Cookie

Christmas Eve Cookie
On the back of the Reese's Peanut Butter Chips pkg. is a recipe for chewy double chocolate chip cookie, the recipe on the right side of pkg.
Follow the batter recipe, swap the Peanut Butter chips for Andes Peppermint Crunch chips(Walmart) they are in a red package. I also use Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa. They are the new favorites in this household, pairs well with Coffee or Hot Cocoa. Definite ahhh factor, another that tastes the best on Christmas Eve when all is finished. Hope someone tries this recipe and lets me know how they liked it. We love 'em!!

I've never done a cookie exchange but I'd make Shortbread ... they freeze and handle well.
Or double chocolate chip - which in my house are Santa's favourite cookie.
I love baking cookies at Christmas - so I really don't need to do an exchange. But my neighbour and I each do a recipe the other likes to exchange. We need our treats!

i get it! Thanks for clarifyng.
sandy

Fruit and nut drop cookies- they are like an oatmeal cookie with walnuts or pecans and cut up dates instead of raisins
They are a chewy cookie
Mexican wedding cookies- they are kind of like a shortbread cookie with finely cut up pecans and then rolled in powered sugar. I add fine grated lemon zest to the powered sugar. These are my go to cookie with hot tea.

Had to laugh bearisgray, all my cookies are "Overly handled". My last name is Overly.

toverly, what a fun name. Does that mean you do everything to excess?!? hahahahahahah

Especially around Thanksgiving NoraB. Time to break out the salad fixins till Christmas.

I'm a cookie exchange drop out. We welcomed younger women,but the cookies just weren't worth trading for.
Not that mine were perfect,but several brought store bought cookies.They can be great,but never made it to the exchange.Anyway,I like making cookies for family & friends.Just ran out of interest.

It is just 3 of us. We tried to get others to join us but so far no takers. We still enjoy our time together.

Sandy

I still see 4 members of ours,but 2 more dropped out of the exchange,including younger women.
Can be expensive & too much time if you're working.Now I make 3 types of same ole....

A favorite cookie of mine at Christmas is Tingalings. Super easy to make, although you need some space in the frig to chill them. Here's the recipe.

Melt 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups or small package). I do this in the microwave a minute or two at a time. Note that it's important to take out and stir, as the top can look as if they are not melted when they actually are, and you do *not* want to burn the chocolate! Using a very big bowl because it gets messy, stir in 4 cups of Wheaties. Drop by the tablespoonful onto waxed-paper lined cookie sheets. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours or in freezer for less time. You can substitute other types of chips and other types of wheat flakes, but this is my personal favorite.

These are delicious, look good, last a long time in tins, and are fun for kids to make.

thanks! Sounds yummy

sandy

This is really easy and yummy.

2- 6 oz pkg. butterscotch chips
1 cup salted peanuts
2 cups Chinese noodles (10 oz can)
Melt butterscotch chips. Stir in peanuts and noodles until coated. Use a spoon to plop on wax paper. Let cool and set up. Voila a tasty treat.

Ladies, check out this recipe..i tasted these yesterday..OMG! Msking these for the exchange!
sandy

http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/an...7-188f335995eb

Thanks for the memory! My mom used to make these for us as a treat

I was about to suggest these! They are always a hit. And easy to make. And kids love to break the mints and put them on the cookies and stir them a bit. (Well, I just read this recipe. I make a basic chocolate cookie from scratch. Still very easy to do)

I love to make baklava in a 13x9 pan, cut it into diamond shapes and place each piece in Christmas cupcake holders. They are considered by some to be labor intensive but I enjoy the process. I can place them in their cupcake holders in a sealed container and freeze them. Tasty.

love cookie exchanges, use to do these a lot when i was younger

I just got this recipe this year, but they are extra good, and extra quick and easy. Here goes:
3-ingredient cookies
1 cake mix--any flavor; don't use one that says it is extra moist.
2 eggs
1/2 cup liquid oil
Mix together with the mixer; add vanilla. Drop onto non-greased cookie sheets. Bake 14-5min. Take out and let stand until the are partially cooled
Frost or not.
Makes about2-2/12 dozen.
They are delicious and take maybe 5 min. to make.
Enjoy
Mariah

3 ingredient cookies

1 cake mix--any flavor ; don't use one pudding added
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil
Mariah
Mix together with mixer. Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 350--12-14 minutes.
Take off when slightly warm.
Frost or no frost Enjoy!
Mariah

Just printed and shared the recipe, they sure do sound quick and easy to make. Cake mixes are always on sale for $1.00, can't go wrong making these.
Thank you for posting the link

Eat them in by the next day or two. They get very hard after a few days. I decided after two batches that I won't make them again. Delisious but I make cookies ahead of time and then store them

sandy

Google "Swedish Thumbprint Cookies" for a super easy delicious cookie. 3 ingredients plus jam!
At the cookie exchange in my neighborhood, everyone brings a wrapped ornament for an exchange game. This site has game rules. http://creative-party-themes.com/orn...nge-party.html
I would probably suggest a range of cost for the ornaments. Otherwise people may end up taking a $15 or $20 ornament and getting one from the dollar store.

A family tradition for me has always been Snickerdoodles.

https://www.reference.com/food/easy-...qo=cdpArticles

Have fun!!