christmas cookie exchange 2010

Last night was my 15th annual Christmas Cookie Exchange and it was so much fun! There were so many yummy cookies, fudge and caramel to sample and exchange and wonderful family and friends to share the night with. Can't wait until next year!

This year I made my yummy Orange Cream Cheese Chocolate Chunk cookies...

1 c butter
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1 c sugar
2 tsp orange zest
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 c flour
1 tsp salt
12 oz pkg milk chocolate chips

Heat over to 350. Blend butter, cream cheese, sugar, egg, orange zest and vanilla on low speed until creamy. Mix together four and salt and add slowly to creamed mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop by tsp onto baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. edges won't brown but they are done. Let cool on cookie sheet for 4 minutes and more to cooling rack. Cool completely and ice with Orange butter cream frosting. Enjoy!!

Renee's Almond Orange Buttercream Icing

1/4 c saltedsweet cream butter, softened
2 c confectioners' sugar
2 tsp orange zest
3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

In a small bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, orange zest and vanilla. Add enough orange juice to achieve frosting consistency.

Merry Christmas~ Renee

 Renee's RULES OF THE COOKIE EXCHANGE

1. All cookies/candies should be homemade.

2. No plain chocolate chip cookies, rice crispy squares or cookie mixes.

3. Please bring 8 dozen total cookies.

4. The theme is "Holiday Cookies"

5. Arrange cookies in 8 1 dozen containers, plates or baskets.

6. Christmas attire is encouraged!

7. RSVP as soon as you can and let me know what type of cookies you are planning on baking - no duplicate recipes allowed

8. If you don't have time to bake, or have burnt your cookies, but still want to attend just go to a real bakery and buy 8 dozen yummy cookies.

Why 8 dozen... so you have more variety and more cookies to take home to enjoy and share

A great site for ideas is… http://www.christmas-cookies.com

pumpkin chococlate chip cookies

My favorite fall time cookie and it is so easy that you will be devouring them in not time!!

1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
1 (18 ounce) box spice cake mix
1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together pumpkin and spice cake until well blended. Add chocolate chips to mix. Drop cookies on greased baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes....ENJOY!

mexican double chocolate chip pepper cookies

These are irresistible!

We add extra pepper and chocolate chips in our cookies.

1 c. flour

½ c. cocoa powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1/4 pound coarsely chopped dark chocolate

½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 ½ c. sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Whisk together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, pepper, and set aside.

In a small bowl melt the chopped chocolate and the butter in a microwave or double boiler. Cool slightly. Mix together the melted chocolate with the sugar, eggs and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or grease pan. Drop scoops of cookie dough onto parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes, until they look flat and the surfaces crack, but they will still be soft in texture. Let the cookies cool on the parchment paper on wire cooling rack.

michelle's snickerdoodle cookies

Oh, so delish!

1 c. butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 c. flour

2 tsp. cream of tarter

11 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 tbsp of sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

In large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar and mix well. Add eggs and mix. Sift together, flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add dry and well sifted ingredients together and mix well. Refrigerate 1-2 hours. Roll into balls and dip into the remaining 2 tbsp. of sugar and 2 tsp. of cinnamon and bake at 350 F. for 10-12 minutes.

rosie posie cakies

Easy cake mix cookies.

1/2 c. canola oil

2 eggs

your favorite cake mix ( we love the strawberry mix)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix cake mix, oil and eggs in large mixing bowl for 2 minutes. Ball up and organize on cookie sheet. Bake for 4-6 minutes. Makes approx. 3 dozen cakies!