Sunday, December 11, 2016

How-to: Christmas Cookie Bake


Ok, so there's not a whole lot to it but over the years we've learned several way to "perfect" the process. Ps. If you aren't interested in hosting a cookie bake, at least scroll to the bottom for a famous family recipe!!

First of all, pick a weekend day to host/have the party. After you've picked your date, send out formal/casual invitations. I love Evites for the fact that the majority of us are checking emails/social media at some point every day. At this time of the year you'r receiving millions of sales ads and Christmas cards in the mail...so go paperless for this invitation.

Second, figure out how many cookies you'd like to make and divide the recipes up between your guests. For our cookie bake we have everyone make 4 different types of cookie dough because our goal was to have 12 different types of cookies.

Third, have your guests make the cookie dough prior to the party. This is different from a "cookie exchange" because you want your guests to bake them together. At my house we'll make the dough the week before and freeze them until the cookie bake....you could always do it the night before, whatever is easier on your part.

Fourth....buy an assortment of donuts from your local donut store in the morning...provide coffee and call in some pizza for lunch...this is not supposed to be a stressful event!!!

Fifth, make sure you find your most organized guest and let them guide the event....seriously....take turns...have someone keep a timer...while one is rolling the dough, the other is taking the dough in and out of the oven.

Lastly, if you take anything away from this, take this, DO NOT EAT ALL YOUR PRODUCT...save that for Christmas night when you have your stretchy pants on.




Ideas for Cookies: 
-Buckeyes
-Nutty Almond Delights
-Crinkle Cookies
-Fudgies
-Chocolate Chips (it's ok to be basic) 
-Oatmeal Cookies
-Thumbprints
-Butter Spritz
-Peanut Butter Blossoms 
-Christmas Crack 
-Snickerdoodles
-Lemon Drops 
-Slice n' Bake Cookies
-Peppermint Sugar Cookies 
-Shortbread Cookies 
-Melt-away Cookies 
-Haystacks 
-White Trash Mix (doesn't have to be "cookies")
-Puppy Chow Mix 
-Gingerbread Cookies 
-Hot Chocolate Cookies 


I'd thought I'd share one of my favorite family recipes, Nutty Cracker Delights. This is one of my moms recipes she found in a Taste of Home magazine when we were little. This is one of those, "you can't come to the party unless you bring that" kind of desserts. It's simple but you have to have a couple of hands...grab your husband, uncle, cousins sisters for this one. 

Ingredients:
-42 Club Crackers
-1/2 c. Butter
-1/2 c. Sugar 
-1/2 t. Vanilla Extract
-1/2 t. Almond Extract 
-1 c. Sliced Almonds 

Directions:
Place crackers in a single layer on a foil lined baking pan
In a sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter, add sugar and bring to a boil, stirring constantly
Boil for 2 minutes 
Remove from heat and add extracts
Pour evenly over crackers, sprinkle with nuts
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Immediately remove from pan and cool on wire racks 


Thanks for stopping by!! 
xx Lex

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