Advent: Christmas Cookie

by | Dec 16, 2018 | Holidays, Recipes, Solutions

Advent: Christmas Cookie | Have you hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange? What about doing an edible cookie dough party or bringing cookie dough to bake later instead. Oh and 5 Christmas Cookie recipes you don't want to miss. #bigpittstopADVENT

Pie is my favorite dessert, but when it comes to this time of year, I LOVE a Christmas Cookie. I need to make enough friends in my town to host a cookie exchange. I’ve hosted one before and then when I worked at Fellowship, we hosted an exchange each year. I loved that there was such a variety of goodies that showed up. Some people showed up with their traditional piece they always make (and we were so grateful). Some used the opportunity to try out a new Pinterest experiment (sometimes we were grateful). And, then others showed up with something random. I’m never sure if that person ran out of time, didn’t cook, or wanted to be off the wall intentionally (mostly we were confused).

I thought as we explored this topic, I’d share with you my thoughts on a new twist on the old cookie exchange. 

Bring the dough and Bake it later Cookie Exchange.

I can’t be the only one who has thought this, but I’ll give Mama Sue, my mom, the credit for actually verbalizing the idea. Here’s what happens. You go to a said cookie exchange and depending on if you are fixing for 5 or 11, you come home with cookies from 5 or 11 people. Now, you may dig in immediately and hate the idea I’m about to present. You may love that you come home with that many cookies because you make a cookie plate out of it and take it to party the next night. But, think with me for a minute. How awesome would it be to come home with cookie dough to make those cookies as you need them?

So, I present the Bring the dough and Bake it later Cookie Exchange.

Everyone comes ready with however many partial servings of their favorite cookie dough. Provide the recipe card as you would in a normal exchange and then everyone goes home with dough and they get to make the cookies as they are needed. 

Now, maybe this changes up what you fancy people prep in your cookie exchange. I mean there are some people who roll and stuff and ice things that I would never attempt. But, that just makes you get more creative in what you provide.

Just think about it, I think it could be really fun.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share and point to some of my favorite all-time cookie recipes in case you are looking for something new this holiday season.

  • The BEST chocolate chip cookie you will ever eat – my Quest Cookie. If you were not around a few years ago when I set out to develop the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, you missed out (there was a lot of taste testing). But, I found it and I’ve shared it for all the world to experience.
  • Chocolate Crinkles – these are basically a fudgy brownie-like cookie that you roll in powdered sugar before you bake and then when it cooks the sugar cracks as the cookie expands.
  • Reese’s Rice Krispie Treats – my brother in law has put this in as his request for the year. Not really sure how any part of this could be bad.
  • Cake Mix Cookies – the only recipe I have memorized. 1/3 cup cooking oil and 2 eggs. You mix that with any cake mix and it makes cookies. This time of year red velvet with cream cheese icing is always nice. Pineapple cake mix with other things stirred in is festive like a fruitcake. Of course carrot or spice cake. And then funfetti make a great birthday party for Jesus flavor.
  • Cookies in Cream cookies – these are a result of the last cookie exchange I attended and we could not stay out of them. We didn’t get the recipe and hunted down the lady who made them to get us the recipe stat. They are so good. Make them when you can take them somewhere. You do not have enough elastic waist pants to keep these at home.

I think you can see from my choices here that my lazy cookie style carries over to my cookie preferences as well. Until its to make a memory with my kids, you won’t see me as a roll out the cookies and cut them and ice them kind of gal. That’s just too many steps. Many people also often make a rolled cookie or a pressed together sugar cookie that when cut makes a pretty design. Again, I like it, but they frankly don’t usually taste as good as they look. So I think that’s a lot of work for nothing!

Cookie making should be simple. Cookies were a thing my mom made all the time. As a matter of fact, she probably has dough in the refrigerator or freezer at any given time. I’ used to be that way, but I married a guy who prefers cookie dough over the baked cookies. And, even if I hide them, he somehow finds them. That turkey!

What about you? What are your favorite cookies? Do you have a co to recipe when you attend a cookie exchange? And, what do you think about the “bring the dough and bake it later” idea?

Advent: Christmas Cookie | Have you hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange? What about doing an edible cookie dough party or bringing cookie dough to bake later instead. Oh and 5 Christmas Cookie recipes you don't want to miss. #bigpittstopADVENT

Oh, and if you need an idea for how to layout a Cookie Exchange party, let me point you to Jennifer Maune, she has it all figured out! Oh and I totally think a charcuterie tray should be on the counter for your guests. Mix and Match Mama and Jennifer would agree! 

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