Y’all. I’m not doing a gift guide this year. There are enough people on the internet telling you to buy a lavender stand mixer or a set of rocks glasses for your father in law. Enough is enough. I’m taking it easy in the gifting department and leaning full body into cookies.
The Bakehouse is quiet this month. I decided not to hold any workshops and instead, take it a little slower this holiday season to leave room for reflection and ya know…. attending a holiday party or two on my own. Last year I found myself trying to recover from a doozy of a surgery, hold a holiday market at The Bakehouse, and travel to see my family in California, I kept repeating “I’ll be fine” to myself but I honestly wasn’t sure if I was telling the truth or not. I was fine. Obviously. But it was dicey there for a few weeks.
This year the only event at The Bakehouse is a good, old-fashioned cookie swap for friends.
Do you know the wonders of a cookie swap? The true joy of heading home with a tin of homemade cookies to maybe share or maybe eat straight off your chest while watching The Family Stone? It a pleasure reserved for exactly this time of year and I don’t think any of us should miss it. Large or small – get together and exchange cookies. It really is the sweetest.
Here’s what you’ll need for a cookie swap:
• Cookie tins – I like these plain white 7 3/4 in diameter medium cookie tins. They aren’t the cheapest option but they’re classy and looks so nice finished with a festive bow.
• Cookie boxes are a more affordable / fast shipping option that works really well if you’re expecting a lot of guests.
• Good wired holiday ribbons because we deserve a good bow.
• Large cupcake papers to hold each cookie type within the box or tin. Nothing is willy nilly.
Want some cookie ideas? OF COURSE YOU DO!
Confetti Holiday Shortbread – they’re like the popcorn of cookies. Buttery, crisp, festive, and you can totally eat them by the handful. One batch makes a hearty amount and four are very sweet piled into a cookie tin together.
Chewy Ginger Cookies – a classic holiday cookie that’s spiced and full of earthy molasses. It’s a must.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Kiss Cookies aka my reason for getting up in the morning every day of December. The best holiday cookie of all. A soft peanut butter cookie (this one rolled in vanilla bean sugar) topped, while warm, with a Hershey’s kiss. There is no more perfect cookie and that’s that.
Ginger Almond Dark Chocolate Bark – this is absolutely irresistible please believe me. It’s almonds so it’ basically health food.
Gingerbread Topped Marshmallows – using these gingerbread spiced marshmallows topped with a tiny gingerbread person cookies.
Brown Sugar Cookies simple, chewy and absolutely delicious. If you wanted to add some warming spices (like a hint of cinnamon) that would take them to a very festive place.
Blueberry Thumbprint Cookies would be a wonderful addition with cranberry sauce instead of blueberry jam.
Other cookies that would be absolutely wonderful:
Iced Oatmeal Cookies from A Cozy Kitchen!
Spumoni Cookies from The Candid Appetite!
Bakery-Style Butter Cookies from Smitten Kitchen!
Here are a few savory and drink options to round out your swap:
I love these Winter Gin and Tonics and Sharp Cheddar Cheese Crackers.
I hope this brings you some warm holiday inspiration this year. Be kind to yourself and the people around you. Let’s make it feel good this year.
My love to you!
Floranet
Your work gives immensely positive energy!! Good Job
Carly
That recipe for peanut butter kiss cookies is dynamite. I used dark chocolate kisses and made a few where I put the kiss in the middle instead of on top. (Sort of a fun surprise, but less pretty.)
Thanks for the constant inspiration! Very merry.
Meryl
AMEN to no gift guide—if one more person tells me to buy a $100 scarf for my second cousin, I swear ?
Mimi
Many thanks, Joy for your kindness and generosity.
Which recipe did you use for the gingerbread men?
Holiday cheer to you!
Mimi
Many thanks, Joy for your kindness and generosity. Which recipe did you use for the gingerbread men?
A very merry to you!
Liz
Are the little round ones in the pic just round versions of the confetti cookies or something else? Love the idea of the wrappers to keep things from falling into one another.
Lizzie
Eating a tin of cookies off my chest while watching The Family Stone is my exact definition of holiday joy.
Kenzie
Looooove that movie. And that mood.
Paige Cassandra Flamm
This is so fun! I totally want to do something like this with friends this year!
Paige
https://thehappyflammily.com
Briel K.
Great idea! I’m so tired of gift guides. They can be helpful at times but they can also make a person think she needs to buy more than she does (for presents or for herself).
Marsha
Thank you so much for these recipes. I’ve pinned several and will be making for sure. My granddaughter likes to help. She is 7 years old and I hope we are making some memories!!!
Sati
Cookies swaps are what I live for in the winter! We just attended a big one with one of our homeschool groups yesterday and it was amazing. Thanks for all these recipes, I’m looking forward to trying a few! (Also, there’s no link to the marshmallows and I bet that would be my favorite one…)
Zo
Omg I adore this idea! My friends and I sometimes do soup swap and this is such a festive version of that ?
Thanks for sharing the gift of time spent doing something you love, and sharing that with people you love. And remembering to show your self a bit of care along the way. To the truly sweet life!
joythebaker
I love the idea of a soup swap! I must do that this winter!
Annalissa
Doubling down on the soup swap love- cozy and warm and you get just enough of a mix that you’re not just having carrot-curry soup for two weeks straight!
Florence
A soup swap sounds awesome…
Chelsea Traina
Thank you for this! We Have been trying to do a bake-off in my family for a couple of Christmases. We aren’t exactly sure how to Execute so we usually just wing it. I think this year, we will just do a swap and call it a day. :) I have been inspired, once again, so thank you!!
Suellen
Those blueberry thumbprint cookies! All cookies are making me smack my lips. Excuse me, but I’ve got a milk run to do??
Happy holidays to you, Joy. Thank you for your wonderful recipes and blog.