After all of the tree trimming and gift gathering you deserve a cookie (or two). This year, plan a casual Christmas cookie swap with family, friends, and neighbors. Research even shows when people feel a sense of belonging, they feel better and are healthier! (You’ve gotta love that oxytocin). Stay healthy, and happy, this holiday season with one of our sweet recipe ideas found below (pun intended) then brush up on a few tips for hosting a Christmas cookie exchange.
Simple Mills Christmas Cookie Recipes
Here are some of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes, perfect for your upcoming holiday cookie exchange.
-
Nothing says the holidays more than homemade gingerbread cookies. Check out our recipe for these cute and delicious Gingerbread People.
-
A perfect blank canvas for your sweet tooth, make our Simple Sugar Cookies and use your favorite cookie cutters and toppings to decorate
-
Add a festive flare to your S’mores Cookies by simply topping them with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint sticks. Ho-ho-ho!
-
Raspberries and chocolate come together to make a sweet, but healthy holiday treat in these Raspberry Chocolate Chip Stuffed Cookies.
-
Chocolate lovers everywhere will rejoice when they taste these
Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies. -
If coffee is your beverage of choice then you will enjoy these Night Owl Cookies, subtly flavored with a splash of coffee.
-
Can’t decide between sweet or salty? Why not have both with these Salted Butter Pecan Cookies.
-
If you can’t get enough pumpkin then you will love these easy to bake On-the-Go Pumpkin Cookies.
Check out all of our baking mixes for your Christmas cookie recipes!
New to Hosting? Follow these Simple Steps
Create a Guest List.
It’s a busy time! Once you choose your guests, try to send out invitations at least one month in advance. This will give your guests an ample amount of time to plan their cookie creations. To avoid duplicate recipes, be sure each guest shares what cookie recipe they will be making ahead of time to avoid any duplicates. Finally, alert everyone of any allergens (i.e. nuts) and make sure these cookie batches are clearly labeled.
Set the Rules.When sending out your invitations, include a clear set of instructions so guests know how many cookies to bake, when to submit their recipes by, and any other rules such as:
-
Cookies should be homemade
-
Cookies should be seasonally appropriate
-
No burnt cookies!
Keep It Fresh.
Whether you are hosting a cookie swap or attending one, try these kitchen hacks to keep your cookies fresh:
-
Cool cookies completely before packing up into bags, containers, or holiday tins
-
Separate crunchy cookie varieties from chewy cookies
-
Add one apple slice to soft, chewy treats. This will help keep them fresher longer, just be sure to replace the apple slice every other day!
-
Use muffin/cupcake liners to transport tiny bite sized treats
-
Avoid baking cookies that cannot sit out for long periods of time after baking (i.e. cookies that need to be refrigerated).
Don’t forget to take pictures of your Christmas cookie creations and tag Simple Mills on social media using #SimpleGiftOfHealth
Happy baking everyone!
Leave a comment