The season of holiday entertaining is upon us and boy can it be expensive. Between gifts, food, beverages, decorations, etc.. it can all add up to broke city. Looking for a way to tame the extravagance and preserve the bank account?
Why not try a simple cookie swap or exchange gathering for your holiday celebrations. All each attendee needs to do is make a batch or two of one cookie recipe and bundle the cookies up in groups of 3 or so (Saran Wrap with ribbons around or the holiday Ziploc bags make for great gift wrapping). Then each person brings his or her bundles to the party with some recipe cards attached.
The entertainment is built in as everybody enjoys sampling others’ cookies and checking out the recipes. The gifts keep on giving after the party as attendees can take home their remaining cookies to loved ones and save the new recipes to try out later. Hot chocolate goes great with these types of parties and I have just the recipe to satisfy. I have made it a number of times over the years. It is an alteration of a recipe submitted to Southern Living some time back by Karyn D. in Louisiana.
White Chocolate Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
2/3 cups white chocolate morsels
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine first four ingredients in pan over low heat until chocolate is melted. Stir in vanilla extract. Top with whip cream to taste. (Serves approx. 4).
Speaking of Southern Living, check out their recipes and others below for lots of cookie ideas.
Best Loved Cookie & Bar Recipes (Southern Living)
All Varieties of Cookie Recipes (Taste of Home)
I love cookie swaps! I usually do them around the office but have enver participated in one on a blog. I do love cookies though.
I love this idea. Actually, a non-profit summer camp I volunteer with is getting ready to put together care packages for the 12 leadership graduates currently in college or the military. I was thinking about doing a cookie party of some sort and you gave me an idea. I could ask everyone to bring 2 dozen cookies, 1 dozen for the camp and one to share. Then everyone gets to taste a cookie from each plate and then gather some up to take home.
Now you’ve got the wheels churning and I may just have to plan it!
Absolutely love this idea.
I love cookies. A cookie sway is a great idea. I do enjoy them. Thanks for sharing my SITS Day yesterday!
So glad that you had lots of visitors on your SITS day.
I would love to do a cookie swap! You can never have enough cookies! Found you at the link party!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
I was thinking of doing this myself. It sounds like it would be a nice tradition to start. A friend of mine started one and it has lasted 10 years! They even made their own cookbook! Rhonda (http://feetgroundedontheeath.blogspot.com)
I’m also doing holiday cookies on my blog on weekends to make it a family affaire. Love the cookies are your blog thanks for sharing have a great day
Thank you so much for taking the time during this busy season to share your wonderful post with Full Plate Thursday. Have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you again real soon!
Miz Helen
I love cookie exchanges! Thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat link party!
Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.
Great idea! I am a music teacher and I have been doing cookie swaps after concerts as a way for the parents to create a community but maybe I will extend it to my house this year! Thank you for posting.
Following from the Countdown with style blog hop!
Maria
http://www.musicteachingandparenting.com
Cookie swaps after concerts is a great idea.
You are so right about hot chocolate! It’s funny I recently tried an iced hot chocolate. I’m in Arizona and the weather is still a bit warm. Thanks for sharing this with us at Countdown in Style. Don’t forget to come back Friday to see if you are featured. 🙂
Iced hot chocolate. Very interesting idea.
I’ve seen a lot of cookie swap posts floating around- y’all are inspiring me to host my own! Thanks for joining us at the Foodies and Crafties Soiree!
Glad to be a part. Yes, cookie exchanges are much loved by many folks.
I love hosting cookie exchange parties every year…and this hot cocoa recipe is the perfect thing to serve! Thank you for sharing with us over at the Show Stopper Saturday party, Sarah!
You are so welcome. What is your favorite type of cookie?
Yum yum! I went to Mrs. Fields yesterday for cookies and they were SO expensive. I really need to learn how to bake.
Thanks for sharing and linking up with Countdown in Style! Don’t forget to come back on Friday to see if you were featured!
~~April~~
100lbCountdown.com
Glad to share! Look forward to returning to Countdown to Style many times.