Comments on: Cookie Exchange

By: eileen

eileen — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:28:43 +0000

My newish (to me) favorite and very easy holiday cookie is from the smittenkitchen blog; its called nutmeg maple cookie or something like that. You can roll out the dough and cut out cookies or make logs to slice and bake. The cookies have the nicest maple flavor (which I associate with the holidays) with a hint of salt underneath. They can be rolled in decorative sugar or sprinkled on top to look festive. Check them out, I do not think anyone will be disappointed. Also, the dough can be made in advance; I have kept some of it in my freezer for months and after defrosting, they bake well with no loss of flavor. Seriously, a good cookie!

By: Holiday Preparation Edition of the Talk of the Parent Blogosphere

Holiday Preparation Edition of the Talk of the Parent Blogosphere — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 02:50:16 +0000

[...] idea? How about a cookie exchange? Or maybe a food exchange? I really enjoyed reading Design Mom’s reminiscent cookie exchange post (with links to recipes) and am actually thinking of having one myself before the season is [...]

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:44:12 +0000

Yay! Another cathedral cookie fan!!! I’m thinking of making them with homemade marshmallows this year… have you ever tried that?

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:43:34 +0000

Right? It’s a LOT of cookies when you start thinking about it! And as another commenter said – the cost can really add up!

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:42:58 +0000

Jillian, those cookies look divine! I’m going to make some here, so thank you for spreading the love to this side of the pond! And at lots of panettone for me – it’s one of my favorite treats, too!

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:41:54 +0000

What a heartwarming story. I have never heard of the Biggest Morning Tea, but now I’m reading about and it sounds just great! I love how the whole nation comes together on it, too! I’m so happy your coworker is doing well now!

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:39:40 +0000

Susie – I think that’s actually a winning idea. Plus, it’ll keep moms like mine from scoffing at the idea of suddenly having the time to bake six or twelve dozen cookies. Maybe a dozen cookies, everyone gets to taste the ones they want, simple as that? Provide a recipe to take home at the most? I wonder what other people think about this idea!

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:38:14 +0000

Thanks, Lori! Hopefully it will be a hit! I think people will be happy for savory in the midst of all the sweet, at the very least.

By: Theresa DePaepe aka Mama

Theresa DePaepe aka Mama — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:35:36 +0000

Thank you so much for mentioning the Cathedral Cookies in your post! They are easy, fun, and also good to eat. They have been on our list for many years (decades really). I have several other fun Christmas cookies and treats on my site, too. Enjoyed your post!

Mama

By: julia [life on churchill]

julia [life on churchill] — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:41:41 +0000

The women from my small group are getting together to bake cookies for a few elderly people in our church. I was invited to a traditional cookie exchange and to be honest 6 dozen cookies is a bit intimidating!

By: Jillian in Italy

Jillian in Italy — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:57:36 +0000

There’s no “Christmas cookie culture” here in Italy. It’s all about the Panettone! I did do a cookie evening once for my local friends and neighbours where I made 8 different kinds of cookies for them to try and take home (we decorated some sugar cookies as well when they were here). They loved it! It’s really nice showing other cultures special parts of your culture and traditions.

These were their favorite cookies… http://jillianinitaly.com/2012/05/17/chocolate-shortbread-with-minty-ganache-filling/

By: Jess

Jess — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:23:25 +0000

Hi there, how do you go about sending cookies to troops overseas? Can people who live outside of America do it too?

By: Amy Hackworth

Amy Hackworth — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:01:51 +0000

Loved this, Raleigh Elizabeth!

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:54:12 +0000

Thank you for this lovely dose of realism, yours and the stories from your commenters that it inspired. We don’t have a tradition of cookie exchanges in Australia as far as I know (they would be called biscuit exchanges anyway!) but we had a vaguely similar event at my last workplace when we all took part in Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, a fundraiser for cancer research. We weren’t really a baking kind of workplace but it was personal for us that year as our colleague was in hospital being treated for breast cancer (successfully :-)). Ironically she was also the best baker so the rest of us did our best, or did what we could, to live up to her, with a lovely array of dishes of various degrees of skill. In the case of one young man that meant bringing in a sliced Mar Bar. Hmm.
Happy Christmas and very best wishes to your husband for a safe return from Afghanistan.

By: Jillian l

Jillian l — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:59:50 +0000

That was a wonderful little essay. Thank you! :)

By: Susie B

Susie B — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:59:42 +0000

Thank you for bringing up this cookie exchange issue. I am a baking snob- and am invited to a cookie exchange every year. I don’t think it’s very fair to bake your heart out and come home with 120 cookies made from store-bought dough or bought from Costco. Last year I had the “stomach flu”, but I can’t go that route twice. It is a big chunk of money to go out and buy ingredients for 12 dozen cookies, and I really don’t want someone else’s 12 dozen (yes, that’s how many we have to bake and receive). I don’t understand why we can’t just bring a dozen or two to share at the party, and then head home?

By: Lori H

Lori H — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:01:01 +0000

I love the idea of a food exchange instead of a cookie exchange. Every cookie exchange I have been to, there are a few people who just buy some cookies. Then, by the time I get home, confectionary sugar and sprinkles have migrated from some cookies to the others, so they all look alike. Not my favorite event, especially with a diabetic husband and I don’t need the calories, nor my kids the sugar. I would love to see and hear how your event goes!

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:15:35 +0000

Amy, I am sure your cookie party doesn’t feature Peg Smith’s Grocery Store Cookies That Were Probably Already Stale, like mine did. And I think the idea of adding a lunch to it – instead of just a cookie soiree – makes it a really festive, fantastic event. Let us know how it goes! But I’m sure it’s going to be a hit! I, for one, would happily come and eat your cookies… and I’d even promise to make my three dozen myself, too.

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:14:01 +0000

I am going to make your shortbread recipe this weekend, Grace. It looks just perfect. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

By: raleigh-elizabeth

raleigh-elizabeth — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:12:53 +0000

Jenny, I think that sounds like so much fun! What kids wouldn’t want that kind of celebration with their piano teacher! (Our piano teacher had a strict no-fun rule, I’m afraid.) I hope it goes great and that the recital is a huge success!