Okay so I'm going to my first cookie exchange next week, and yes I know that I am thinking WAY too much about this, but I'm kind of a cookie crazy person! Anyway, my question is if you were going or if you've been to a cookie exchange, would you rather get "holiday" type cookies or just any old cookie. I have a few holiday recipes in mind, but then I have this killer carrot cake cookie that is not holiday at all but really tasty and different. All the recipes I have in mind are fairly original, even the holiday ones, so I'm not too much worried about duplicating some one else's recipe, just more wondering what is the most wanted! Thanks!
Okay, gals, I bought the ingredients for the carrot cake cookies! I will be making a ton of holiday cookies again in a few weeks anway for neighbors and my husband's coworkers, so I guess I'll get my fix of traditional Christmas cookies then! ;) Oh and for the record, Anonymous, I love spritz cookies, especially with a candied cherry in the midddle! ;)
Carrot Cake Cookie Recipe
Makes 3 dozen
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) room temp
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for flattening
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmet
1/2 teaspoon ginger
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1.5 cups finely grated carrots (about 3 large carrots)
1 cup raisins
cream cheese frosting
1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla beat until well combined.
2. sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt , and spices, stir to combine. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; mix on low speed until just blended. Min in oats, carrots and raisins. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350. Shape tablespoons of dough into balls and place on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
4. Bake until browned and crisp, 12-15 minutes, rotating halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Using an offset spatula, spread about 2 teaspoons of frosting onto flat sides of half the cookies. Sandwich togther with reaining cookies. Cookies can be refrigerated in airtight containers up to 3 days.
Cream Cheese Frosting
8oz cream cheese, room temp
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Grdually add butter and continue beating until smooth. Sift in sugar and beat until smooth. Add vanilla and stir to combine.
yummy! I think as long as it is original, it is great! I usually gravitate to what my favorites are and what looks fun or tasty. My favorites are sugar with icing because that is what I make the least of at home but love the best :) (I can't get the icing to look pretty on mine and they take so much time to decorate)
I would go with your carrot cake cookie, yummy and original are what counts, no one else will bring it ; ) I think everyone will appreciate the uniqueness of your contribution.
I've been to a couple cookie parties. I prefer to make and to eat the all-year-long type of cookie as opposed to holiday cookie. My favorite one time was a coconut macaroon that someone else brought. I made my chocolate & peanutbutter no-bake-stovetop cookies (and when the husband walked into the kitchen to leave and tell his wife goodbye, he grabbed that 'plain-looking' chocolate cookie I made and not the pepperminty or 'cutsie' cookie others made). The way I see it, the party is a way to taste and sample all kinds of cookies and then get the recipe for the ones you loved most. Plain ol chocolate chip, boring! But something I may make all year long, great! My favorite part was filling up my tray with other people's cookies to take home to share with my husband.
So - if I were you, I'd make your carrot cake cookie recipe. And while you're typing it up to print for other cookie exchange goers, will you post it here or PM me with it? Sounds great. (I was so bummed when I went to the cookie party and people didn't print but one copy of their recipe - or none at all. PLEASE print extra copies of your recipe and include a picture even if they look memorable or unique).
I went to one yesterday and a few people did actual Christmas cookies and they are great, but I would have loved a cookie like you described.. If you are willing to share the recipe with them attach a copy to each bag.
I love holiday cookies. However I don't like fancy little cookies that crumble into nothing. So would much rather have a good cookie that will go in my lunchbox or on a plate and not just crumble.
I've done these "exchanges" before. I'm MORE than happy to get a cookie that didn't come out of a tube ESPECIALLY when I put thought, time, money and EFFORT into my baking. Those sound like they ROCK--go for it!
I've been to many of these! Make your specialty or your fave, for sure! That's the whole idea - people appreciate what you love, not just something from a book. Don't stress, have a blast! I, personally, would love to try your carrot cake cookies, if you weren't so far away!
I like holiday cookies, as long as they taste as good as they look. (Who actually likes those spritz cookies, anyway?)
Could you find a way to make the carrot cake cookies look festive? If they are frosted w/cream cheese frosting, just sprinkle some red or green sugar on top!
I am glad you are doing the carrot cake cookie... that would have been my vote. I always love to go for something a little different.
