Recipes: The Christmas Cookie Exchange

With less than two weeks to go until the big day, the Christmas season is in full swing!

Christmas music is playing, stores are packed, wrapping paper is flying and a cookie exchange is on the calendar.

Just in case you don't know...

A cookie exchange is where you bake a dozen cookies and exchange them with X number of people. For an example, let's say 8 people are involved in the exchange. You take 7 dozen cookies. (It's 7 because, you don't need a bag of your own cookies) At the end of the party you come home with 7 dozen different cookies.  Pretty sweet, right?!?

To "exchange" your cookies, you can put them on a plate, in a baggie or buy a cookie box at the store.  If you want to do something different without breaking the bank.  You can wrap a pringles can in wrapping paper, add cookies, a bow and your recipe!  Simple, cute and cheap!

Each year, I make several different kinds of cookies. We have parties, parties and more parties. Cookies are what I take.

This is my holiday cookie rundown this year:

Sugar Cookies: This is my great-mothers recipe. It's by far the best sugar cookie I've ever tasted.

• 1c butter


• 1c sugar


• 1 egg


• 3c flour


• 1tsp baking soda


• 1/4tsp nutmeg

Combine ingredients.  Roll out with a rolling pin over a flour covered area.  Use cookie cutters. Bake at 425-degrees for 8-10 minutes.  (Some recipes require cookie dough to be chilled before rolling out, you don't need to do that with this one)

Snickerdoodles: I add these to my holiday cookie list because the kids LOVE them.  Of course, the adults do too.

• 1/2c butter or margarine


• 1c sugar


• 1/4tsp baking soda


• 1/4tsp cream of tartar


• 1 egg


• 1/2tsp vanilla


• 1 1/2 c flour

Cinnamon/Sugar Mixture

• 2 tbsp sugar


• 1 tsp cinnamon


• red & green sprinkles

Combine ingredients. Chill for 1-hour.  Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in Cinnamon/Sugar mixture. Place 2-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375-degrees for 10-11 minutes.

Magic Cookie Bars:  This is a family favorite.  These little devils are requested frequently by someone in the family.

• 1/2c margarine


• 1 1/2c granham cracker crumbs


• 1 can sweetened condensed milk


• 1/2 bag chocolate chips


• 1/2 bag butterscotch chips


• 1c flaked coconut


• 1c chopped walnuts

Chop butter up and put in 9x13 pan, melt in oven. sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter, pat down. Pour milk over crumbs and spread. Mix chips, then sprinkle over milk. top with coconut and walnuts.  bake at 350-degrees until coconut is toasted.

*the crust is an important step.  If you don't do this right, your bars won't be bars.  I've discovered through the years. Melt the butter, then pour in the graham cracker crumbs.  coat the crumbs in the butter, then spread them out evenly and push them down with a spatula.

Peanut Butter Blossoms: The only thing I can say: Yum-o!

• 1/2c shortening


• 1/2c peanut butter


• 1/2c sugar


• 1/4c packed brown sugar


• 1/4c packed light brown sugar


• 1tsp baking powder


• 1/8tsp baking soda


• 1 egg


• 2tbsp milk


• 1tsp vanilla


• 1 3/4c flour


• Hershey Kisses

Sugar Mixture:

• 1/4c sugar


• green & red sprinkes

Combine ingredients. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. roll in sugar mixture. Place 2-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350-degrees for 10-12 minutes. Immediately after pulling them from the oven stick a Hershey Kiss in the center.

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?  I'd love to hear from you.  Email me or follow me on Facebook.