Soiree Spot: Cookie Exchange
This post is further proof that I am becoming my mother. For as long as I can remember, my mom went to a cookie exchange around Christmas every year. She would come home with a tray full of different (and delicious!) cookies, but she only had to bake one kind!
I like that math.
So, this year, I invited all of the women at the office to my home for a cookie exchange.
Not only is a cookie exchange a great way to try all kinds of Christmas treats, but it's a nice excuse to go all out on your Christmas decor without having to host a full-on holiday party.
The party began at 11:00 am, so it wasn't quite a brunch, but not quite a lunch. I also didn't want to have too much food on top of all the cookies people were bringing.
On the menu:
Chicken Alfredo Dip with Pita Chips and Pretzels
Fiesta Dip with Tortilla Chips
Stuffed Celery (yum!)
and a Poppyseed Cranberry Salad brought by a friend.
I also made some simple cranberry lemonade, and some more of that margarita punch (sans tequila, this time).
Cranberries and sliced lemons make any drink look fancy.
We had plenty of cookies to go around. Red velvet cheesecake and Neiman Marcus Oatmeal Chip.
Peanut Brittle.
Chocolate Crinkle, Chocolate Crinkle with Mint, and Christmas "Crack" (I must get the recipe for this!)
...and I brought these Peanut Butter Rudolphs.
Next year, I plan to do some voting and have prizes, but this was sort of a trial run. So, we just ate lots of cookies and socialized!
At the end of the party, we all took a few of each kind of cookie and filled a platter. Each tray was wrapped in these cute cookie bags from Dollar Tree for the trip home.
And on her way out the door, each guest got a Christmas cookie cutter as a small favor.
This was a fun way to try a whole bunch of new and different cookies...without having to spend all weekend in the kitchen!
