A Not-So-Glamorous Cookie Exchange

For some reason in my head Christmas Cookie Exchanges are these high-falutin' ladies events. Mimosas and sweater sets. Super fancy cookies that super-moms make and still manage to look fabulous and have well behaved children. 

In reality (or at least my reality), cookie exchanges are just a good old female bonding time. Eating cookies and gabbing away while our children run around like hooligans destroying everything in their wake. 

This year I went to my sister-in-law's cookie exchange. I knew a few of the moms and didn't know a few more. The party was so laid back and chill. No one cared that my kid had mac and cheese sauce all over his face and clothes, or that he was drinking out of any sippy cup he could find. It was the perfect little holiday gathering of moms. 

We all ate mac and cheese and drank lemon aid, and then munched on cookies until it was nap time And let me tell you, the cookie selection was insane. Cookies I have never heard of, and some classics. Here is what I can remember:

• Unicorn Poop
• Gingerdoodles/Snickersnaps (see yesterdays post)
• Chocolate Chip (can't go wrong)
• Cake Mix Cookies 
• Hot Cocoa Cookies
• Chocolate Jam Thumbprints
• Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chip

I didn't get too many pictures because I totally forgot I even had my camera until everyone had already left. I do have some though, so here they are. I hope your mouth starts watering a little and you want to host your own Not-So-Glamorous Cookie Exchange.

me and jude eating a cookie (I think he was trying to smile.)

the cookie smorgasbord

unicorn poop

cake batter cookies and hot cocoa cookies

gingerdoodles/snickersnaps

chocolate and jam thumbprints

oatmeal cranberry white chocolate chip

 

chocolate face

dorthy and the princess (or is she a fairy?) enjoying their cookies

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Gingerdoodle/Snickersnaps - Christmas Cookie Bake

My sister-in-law is hosting a cookie swap tomorrow and I have decided to tackle the Gingerdoodle. It will be more work (due to the fact that I will have to make two separate doughs), but they just sound so fantastic! The idea is make a gingersnap and a snickerdoodle and smooch them together. They end up looking so lovely and marbled, and the taste is pure festive Christmas. Molasses and spices + cinnamon and sugar = awesome!

Here is the recipe (straight from Bakergirl):
The only thing I did differently is that I used butter rather than shortening. My version of the snickerdoodle dough was not crumbly at all. 

Gingerdoodles (or snickersnaps, if you will)

Snickerdoodle Dough

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 tablespoon cinnamon + 3 tablespoons granulated sugar for rolling cookies in

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add egg and vanilla and mix well, until creamy. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar and mix until combined. Dough will be a little of crumbly, but it'll come together when you roll it into balls.

Combine cinnamon and 3 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl and set aside for rolling dough in. 

Gingersnap Dough

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon ginger

1/4 cup granulated sugar for rolling cookies in

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add molasses and egg and continue beating. Add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger and mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Put 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl and set aside for rolling dough in.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease baking sheets with no-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Roll a small amount of gingersnap dough into a ball and toss in granulated sugar. Roll a small amount of snickerdoodle dough in a ball and toss in cinnamon-sugar.

Place both doughs together and gently roll or squeeze together (it worked best if I kneaded the snickerdoodle dough in my hand a few times before rolling both doughs together since it's a  thicker consistency).

Place on baking sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes before moving to cooling racks.

Source: A Year of Cookies. 

I just love how pretty they turn out.