This year we decided to host a cookie exchange. Instead of throwing a huge soiree, we thought that a laid-back cookie swap would be a great way to get together with a small group of friends and a very convenient excuse for us girls to get our chocolate fix.  And it would be a super sweet way to wish them Merry Christmas.  And let me just tell you, I have no idea why we don’t do this every month.  It is that awesome.

I made the cookies the night before so that they would be ready to go the next day.

I chose macaroons with dark chocolate drizzle & macadamia nuts.  I call them Damon-Matt-aroons.

And chocolate bliss cookies.  I named them Chunky Monkeys….because if you eat too many, well, you get the point.

Last but certainly not least, I made shortbread cookies with cranberries and white chocolate.  These I like to call these, well, simply delicious.       

I also made some easy chocolate fudge and some buckeye bars.  So obviously, there was a lot of this melting all over my hands:

I set up the dining room table for the cookies and as each couple arrived, the various cookies were placed on display.   

Little ornament name tags allowed each girl to write the type of cookie on that particular plate.  I had purchased some festive treat boxes so we had a good ole time picking out our favorites and filling our box to take home.   

And as us girls were happily skipping around the table of goodies, the boys were oh-so-patiently waiting.  Ok, ok.  They were playing video games.  But nothing says merry christmas to males like the sound of gunfire as they blow up their friends.   We quickly forgave them…and prayed for salvation of their souls….and then invited them to gobble up the leftover cookies and wash it down with a drink from our beverage station.  That thumb-workout can really dehydrate a guy 🙂

We spent the rest of the evening just chilling out in our sugar-induced comas. 

We all loved it.  And the best part is that we had a whole variety box of yummy goodies to take home & eat throughout the holidays.  or just eat in the car while riding to the next Christmas party 🙂  Either way, it was a very sweet way to celebrate with a little laidback holiday cheer. 

Have you guys ever participated in a cookie exchange?  Most of my friends had not…which surprised me.  I like the fact that you can just double a recipe and only have to worry about burning one type of cookie rather than fretting over burning one sheet of several different types.  Plus you don’t have to buy a million different ingredients for all the different tastebuds in your family.  So tell me what is your favorite type of holiday cookie?  Or maybe it is more like a cookie bar or truffle or a cupcake?  Whatever your holiday treat – please let me know…always gotta prepare for next year!