Holiday Cookie Exchange 2014

Each year a group of us get together to exchange cookies. I like being able to focus on one or two specialty cookies I make myself, while benefitting from the wide variety of cookies traded in the exchange. This year I decorated chocolate and vanilla and shortbread-type cookies decorated with melting snowmen (marshmallows and melted candy wafers) and a marbleizing design (royal icing). I found both idea's on Pinterest. Yes....sometimes we actually DO make the stuff we pin on our boards! The recipes are the best I have found for DELICIOUS cookies that don't lose there shape during baking. The chocolate ones are not too sweet, which is just perfect for adding all that sugary melted candy wafer frosting.
Thanks to Lila Loa for sharing...
Chocolate
http://www.lilaloa.com/2011/03/end-all-for-chocolate-cookies-recipe.html
Vanilla
http://www.lilaloa.com/2012/04/vanilla-variation.html

 

ROYAL ICING RECIPE from http://MarthaStewart.com 

• 1 box confectioners' sugar (1 pound)
• 5 tablespoons meringue powder or 2 large egg whites

Directions

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine sugar and meringue powder. Mixing on low speed, add a scant 1/2 cup water. For a thinner consistency, usually used for flooding, add more water. A thicker consistency is generally used for outlining and adding details. Mix until icing holds a ribbonlike trail on the surface of the mixture for 5 seconds when you raise the paddle.

Here is a quick, ONE MINUTE video tutorial on how I made the marbleized design using royal icing.

 

 

 

A fun tradition during the cookie exchange is decorating an ugly sweater cookie.

Yep...those are definitely ugly. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.

 

 

 

Happy Holiday Baking!