My friends at Oriental Trading were gracious to send me my paper products for the event. I chose my all time favorite Christmas characters, The Peanuts Gang, to help me with the decorations. Cute napkins, plates, cookie containers and key chains for door prizes all set the tone for the fun afternoon.
Each guest brings one dozen cookies for each of the guests invited. Each dozen is packaged for easy trading. My cute little Snoopy boxes held one dozen Hugs and Kisses Christmas Cookies easily.
For drinks there was lemonade and water, and a vodka punch made with pineapple juice and citrus vodka. The punch is served over ice and is a light drink. These adorable glasses (check naughty or nice) hold a nice amount of drink.
I always serve a light lunch with our cookie exchange and this time I made a Pasta e Fagioli Soup and a Quick Italian Salad. With good bread and our cookies, we were set for food. There was a hot chocolate station for those who wanted it with peppermint spoons to stir with. Yum.
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| Chocolate Chip |
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| Smores Cookies |
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| Grandma's Monster Cookies |
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| No Bake Fudge and Coconut Cookies |
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| Fudge Drops |
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| Mini Chocolate Chip Snowballs |
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| Chocolate Caramel Blossoms |
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| Lace Cookies and Molasses Sugar Cookies |
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| And the darling sack they came in! |
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| Hugs and Kisses Christmas Cookies |
Here is the recipe for my Hugs and Kisses Christmas Cookies.
1 stick of butter, softened
1 c white granulated sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 c flour
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
2 T milk
24 Hershey's Hugs, unwrapped
24 Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
1/2 c colored sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment. Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla together until smooth and creamy. Stir flour, baking soda and salt together. Alternate scoops of flour and milk into the butter mixture until dough forms. Make 1 inch balls and roll in colored sugar, powdered sugar or granulated sugar. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until set with a light brown bottom. Remove from oven and let rest 2-3 minutes. Gently push a Hug or a Kiss into the center of the cookie. Remove from cookie sheet and completely cool. Chocolate kiss or hug should be firm.
Our Cookie Exchange was fantastic and so much fun! I can't wait to do it again next year!
All these cookies look so delicious!
ReplyDeleteWow! They look wonderful and delicious! Happy holidays to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteWhich one do I want to try? Can I just say, "all"? lol I think lace cookies and fudge drops are at the top of the list. I love the Charlie Brown theme. I never thought about getting Christmas party supplies from Oriental Trading Co.! I need to check out their themes.
ReplyDeleteThe hugs and kisses cookies our my favorites. Love all the packaging including the viking bag.
ReplyDeleteOk, so cookies are my total weakness for a dessert or treat. I am literally drooling looking at all these yummy cookies! Why wasnt I invited? lol - or, do you deliver? ;)
ReplyDeleteSo many good cookie choices! And that hot chocolate station is pretty neat too. It sounds like your cookie exchange was a blast!
ReplyDeleteOh a cookie exchange sounds like so much fun!! All the cookies sounds so delicious. I love the look of the smores!
ReplyDeleteThese are such cute cookies, I love cookie exchanges - they are so fun and really make me feel the fun of the season!
ReplyDeleteI use to host an exchange each year and it was a lot of fun. I may have to start the tradition again. love your cookies!
ReplyDeleteThat's an amazing idea, a great way to create memories and share moments with friends. I like all of the packaging.
ReplyDeletePlease invite me next time lol. I love the look of the peppermint spoons and hot choc combo and of course Xmas cookies are always appreciated.
ReplyDeleteOh Yum look at all those yummy cookies. The cookie exchange sounds like lots of fun, and good cookies. Lol
ReplyDeleteI have a sweet tooth and you made it worse by sharing all these wonderful recipes. Have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWow your cookie exchange looked like it was a big hit! So the real important question is.... which one was your favorite?! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe s'more cookies are amazing! Or maybe the chocolate chip snow balls. The molasses sugar cookies are wonderful!
DeleteI have always wanted to do a Christmas cookie exchange! These all look delicious! And now I'm hungry...
ReplyDeleteYou make this look easy and delicious! I love that hot cocoa station! What a fun intimate event with friends!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to do a cookie exchange, I really want to do one this year! I love baking but make (and eat) way too much! Your supplies from Oriental Trading are awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun get together with friends! I always love cookie exchanges and getting people's favorite recipes!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute cookie exchange! I need to plan one next year. All of these cookies look delicious!
ReplyDeleteI love molasses cookies! Our neighborhood does a cookie exchange and we each go around the table and tell why we picked the cookie we brought. It's a great way to learn about each other's family traditions...and there are always a few hilarious stories!
ReplyDeleteWow.. yum! The cookies are cute and delicious! Isn't it beautiful and fun to have friends of or family to come over and share the joy together?
ReplyDeleteI love cookie exchanges! And the little cookie boxes are just adorable!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like such a fun event! I love all the fun cookies you exchanged. They look like my favorite kind!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a great time was had by all! The cookies look incredible!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see people post about their cookie exchanges, it makes me want to host one! This all looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delicious recipe! they look absolutely delightful! I can't wait to make them for when my family comes into town. It will be so perfect and a great dessert for everyone to share!
ReplyDeleteThese all look so good! Now I want to get in the kitchen and start baking.
ReplyDeleteLooks so festive where you are - and the cookies sound so so delicious! Perfect for the holiday season!
ReplyDeleteOk so now I want to go bake cookies! What a fun way for friends to get together!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like so much fun! I love cookie exchanges. Your cookies look so festive & delicious!!
ReplyDeleteThis is genius. Not to mention, the cookies look delicious. I wish you all the best for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this idea! It would be so much fun to do a cookie swap like this with friends!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic idea. Great way to try a few cookies and just have fun with company. Cookies look super yummy
ReplyDeleteMaking cookies is one of my favorite things about the holiday season!!!!! My daughter and i are starting are nonstop baking this weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteI love Oriential Trading Company! They are supposed to be sending me some items for the holidays and I cant wait! Great cookie exchange event!
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