It’s no secret that I love a cookie or two. Okay, so no big deal that I was in both Polka Dot and Suarez bakery this week. They both have yummy sugar cookies. Thank goodness my gestational diabetes test came back okay saying I was at the low end. Whew! So it’s a no brainer that the holidays are really tough for me to say no to sweets. It’s also not surprising that I think a cookie exchange party is one of the best ideas ever!!! I remember when I was young, that my aunt would always bring over a huge tin of cookies. She would bake dozens and dozens of cookies. She had peanut butter kiss cookies, sugar cookies, pecan tassies, snickerdoodles, gingerbread men, pizzelles and much more. This of course took quite some time. Unfortunately, that is one thing I seem to be short of these days. Nonetheless, I still have such fond memories of waiting for that Christmas tin to arrive and devouring what was inside.
Like I said, time is one thing we moms are short on these days. So what better way to reap the benefits of amazing holiday cookies than to host a cookie exchange party; everyone bakes a dozen or two of cookies and brings a container to bring them home in. Easy breezy. Of course, having some beverages on hand is always nice. I made homemade eggnog one year. It was delish but my goodness, I should have used more eggs and less alcohol. Our Mothers of Multiples group hosted a cookie exchange last year and it was a blast. It was actually an ornament and cookie exchange. It’s great to do both in the same holiday party if it works out!
I am short on my list of Christmas cookie recipes, so what better way to compile a list of fab cookies than to call on all you Smarties! Please share your favorite cookies and recipes. I personally love to make cut out sugar cookies and decorate them. Great fun for the kids but I end up eating more than anyone. Lucky me, my husband doesn’t really like sweets. So let’s make a list of Smarty cookies that will surely impress.
2 comments
Here's my secret smarty time-saving tip. I buy a couple of rolls of the pre-made sugar cookie dough, roll it out, and let my son go at it with some fun cookie cutters. We then frost them with a simple powdered sugar/milk frosting laced with food coloring and top them with sprinkles (Jake's favorite part). The turn out super cute and are fun to make with much less hassle than making a bowl of cookie dough from scratch! And it has become a family holiday tradition that we all look forward to.
I love to bake at Christmas, and unfortunately have become known as the "one who brings the cookies". Since I can't spend too much time on sugar cookies with all the other ones I have to make, I cheat and buy a big kit of Krusteez sugar cookies at BJs. It comes with everything, down to the frosting, sugars and cookie cutters. And it makes a ton! My kids love it and I can spend time on other favs, like Santa's Snicker Surprises: http://www.recipezaar.com/Santas-Snickers-Brand-Surprises-138413 (rolling in powdered sugar after baking is easier than drizzling with more chocolate!)and Sweetie Pies:http://recipes.stevex.net/recipe/mrs__fields_sweetie_piesMy pants are feeling tighter already! Happy Holidays!