One of the easiest ways of laying in a good variety of cookies for the holidays is to plan a cookie swap. Just bake up a batch or two of your favourite cookies, and invite your friends to do the same. Then, each one can bring a dozen or half-dozen cookies for each person attending. With a little advance planning, eight swappers can take home eight different varieties of cookies to put into the freezer until needed.
Advance planning is crucial. Nothing more than a good laugh can be gained if eight people decided to make shortbreads.
The cookies can arrive already packaged by the dozen or half-dozen. Otherwise, everyone should bring their own containers so they can pack each variety separately.
A cookie swap is a great way to get the holiday spirit going. And the socializing is even more fun than the baking, especially if each person is asked to bring a few extra cookies to munch on with tea or coffee around the kitchen table.
Cookie Baking Tips:
Cookie dough should be mixed quickly without too much beating. Overbeaten dough may inflate and then collapse while baking.
A shiny baking sheet is best for cookie making. If sheets are too dark, cover with a piece of foil. Dark pans can cause cookies to over-brown.
When rolling out cookie dough, work with small portions, keeping remaining dough in refrigerator until needed.
You'll get more cookies from the rolled dough if you start from the outside edge and work toward the centre.
Too much re-rolling causes cookies to become tough. To prevent this, re-roll just once, trim the edges, then use a knife to cut into squares or rectangles.
Ovens can vary. So check cookies often while baking. If they're browning too quickly, reduce heat and cooking time.
Recipes featured in this article:
- Dawn's Icebox Cookies
- Gumdrop Cookies
- Sheila's Cocoa Shortbread Cookies
- Acadian Molasses Cookies
- Fruitcake Cookies
- Cherry Winks