Cookie Roundup (My Favorites!)
(click cookie name for recipe)
I’ve had a lot of folks ask what my favorite cookie recipes are for Christmas cookie exchanges so I’m putting them together in one handy, dandy list to help you with your holiday get togethers. My favorite thing to do is have other families each make one type of cookie and then get together for a big cookie exchange. By making a few dozen of one type and exchanging them like this, we can all end up with a big holiday cookie variety without the mess and also get to enjoy the delicious baking skills of our friends!
For more Christmas treats that are a must have in my family, check out Grandma Lucy’s Coffee Can Bon Bons (p.160), Creole Candy (our version of a praline p.159), Microwave Peanut Brittle (p.162), and Sugared Pecans (p.143) in the Southern Plate cookbook!
Fruitcake Bar Cookies
Candied and Dried fruit layered with cinnamon, brown sugar, and just enough flour and butter to hold it all together until it reaches your mouth!
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are the cookies that, according to both of my children, make me the absolute best mother in the entire universe.
Chocolate…chocolate…enough said. 🙂
My nephew took one bite of these cookies years ago and declared them to taste just like clouds! Crisp and delicate meringue wrapped around chocolate chips – it’s all good here!
Nothing like a good old fashioned peanut butter cookie and a big glass of milk!
If you make these, my mailing address is P.O. Box 2308….
and I love you.
~wink~
Mama’s Milk Dunkin M&M Cookies
Mama always made these growing up and let us decorate the tops with M&M’s before putting them in the oven. We got to use exactly three M&M’s per cookie…
Santa loves ’em
I love baking from scratch, but I also love being able to turn out cookies as wonderful as this using boxed white cake mix!
This is one of my personal all time favorites. I like to make ’em really big and put each one in it’s own little bag with curling ribbon at top to give out as treats.
This is my go to bar cookie recipe, with the addition of butterscotch chips and raisins to make a cookie that is a favorite of my husband.
Oh. My. Goodness. So. Good. Please don’t leave me alone in the house with them! ~whimper~
Always a classic!
Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.
My tip it to always keep foods on hand that you can use to quickly whip up a delicious snack tray just in case someone drops by unexpectedly. You’ll still be able to be the perfect hostess.
Start out with playing Christmas music! nothing makes it feel like Christmas like the Messiah or the Nutcracker or Christmas carols. Also, go simple! You can find lovely paper products that can help you spend much less time in the kitchen cleaning up (especially if you’re like me and don’t have a dishwasher!).
My tip is to take some time for yourself. Don’t get in such a hurried schedule that you don’t enjoy making the cookies and candy with your kids or grandkids. Set aside time to rest – sit in your favorite spot, listen to music or just be quiet for awhile. Think on Jesus and Him being our most Precious gift to us. After our Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – family is the next most important. Enjoying time with them is better, if you are not exhausted, on edge, etc. A relationship with us is what our Heavenly Father wants, and what our family wants. It’s spelled T-I-M-E and is seasoned with L-O-V-E.
I have learned over the years that I tend to overdo for holiday meals. I have made a concerted effort to reduce the number of side dishes and to cook as much as possible before the big day.
I make a printout of all the recipes that I plan to use (even the ones I know by heart) I note on the list in big print how log each dish needs to bake and at what temp. It really puts you on pace to get everything on the table piping hot.
I like to keep fancy crackers, a block of cream cheese, and a jar of red pepper jelly handy during the holidays. It makes a quick festive appetizer or snack when you pour the jelly over the cream cheese and serve it with crackers.
Love all these recipes & ideas you are sharing. You are so sweet to do that for all of us. My holiday tip is to try to do as much ahead so you do not miss any time with family & friends. We try to make up time we missed with our son for a few years. We cherish our time with our children & other family members.
The cookies look great. Its a good idea to choose recipes that are easy and take less time.