A New Spin on the Annual Christmas Cookie Swap
Every year my girlfriends and I get together for a holiday cookie swap a few weeks before Christmas. We all love how the swap gives us an excuse to get together – plus we’re guaranteed to leave with several tins filled to the brim of different treats to munch throughout the holidays. But this year everyone is just too busy to bake in time for our usual party date. So for this go-round, I had a great idea – swapping festive jars of holiday cookie mixes and recipes instead of the baked-up goodies! While we won’t get the variety of years past, we will still get to try out few new recipes, and I can bake them when my schedule quiets down.
I put together the cute mix jars in the photo a few days ago. The cookie cutters and holiday ribbon are from my local craft store. I designed the recipe cards using a common word processing software, and printed them out on card stock at FedEx Office.
If you have the time to actually bake the cookies I’m just making mixes for, they’ll make great holiday gifts for friends and family who might be missing your world-famous shortbread or butterscotch blondies! And to ensure your cookie doesn’t crumble before arriving, I got a few tips from the Pack & Ship experts at FedEx.
- First, opt to send a sturdy cookie. Firm cookies like gingerbread, biscotti or shortbread travel better than softer choices such as lemon bars or cheesecake squares.
- Place baked goods in a sturdy container – like a metal or plastic tin – and layer wax paper between layers of baked goods, using crumpled wax paper to fill in any empty spaces.
- Secure the lid of the container to the body with tape to keep it from accidentally popping off during shipping.
- Place the container in a sturdy corrugated cardboard box and use a lot of cushioning (like bubble wrap, packing peanuts or even old wrapping paper!) to keep it tightly in place at the center of the box.
- Seal the box and shake it up – if you can feel or hear any movement, add more cushioning!
- Check out the FedEx Newsroom for more shipping tips and to find out the last days to ship this holiday season.
So there it is – my Busy Woman’s Guide to a holiday cookie swap and some shipping tips for all you superstars out there with the time to bake them up! And if you’ve got the time, leave your favorite holiday cookie recipe in the comments section. I’d love to see what you’re whipping up this season!
Related FedEx Office Solutions: FedEx Office Print Online
-
March 8, 2011
-
August 12, 2010
-
September 22, 2010
-
April 19, 2010
-
December 7, 2010
-
January 20, 2011
-
July 14, 2010
-
March 9, 2011
-
September 11, 2012
-
March 10, 2010
|
About FedEx
|
FedEx YouTube Channel
|
|
FedEx Blog
|
- December 2009 (18)
- January 2010 (15)
- February 2010 (12)
- March 2010 (13)
- April 2010 (10)
- May 2010 (15)
- June 2010 (14)
- July 2010 (11)
- August 2010 (12)
- September 2010 (13)
Comments
how cool!!
This is super cool!!!
What a great idea! I love
What a great idea! I love baking and giving cookies.
I'm so glad everyone likes
I'm so glad everyone likes the idea...enjoy!
I love the idea of cookie
I love the idea of cookie mixes in jars as gifts. At the holidays it seems everyone has alot of goodies. This would be great to pull out after the holidays goodies are gone and extend the holiday time a bit longer with freshly made cookies . I know I would greatly appreciate such a gift!
I love this idea for a Cookie
I love this idea for a Cookie Swap! They make great gifts!
Cookie swap is fun.
Cookie swap is fun. I agree the use of sturdy cookies. I personally like the chewy ones like oatmeal raisin. They are less likely to crumble during transportation when compared to the cruchier kind.
Why not a Plant Swap
Here's another tip: If you really want to free up your time in the Kitchen this holiday season---consider a Plant swap instead of a cookie swap! It's the gift that keeps on giving! Plus it's budget friendly for busy moms!
Cool idea!
Having a black thumb myself, I never would have thought of this! It's great idea. You could even give poinsettias for the holiday season.
Love this idea
I think the cookie mix swap is such a great idea! It also will give you time to actually enjoy the cookies your friends share with you instead of being overrun with cookies you have to eat up! I may try this next year!
Love all the great tips on the blog!
Cookie Swap
That is such a cute/fun Idea. I have always wanted to make a cookie mix in a jar like that to give as gifts, just have never actually done it yet! That recipe looks really yummy! Would love to try it out with that one!
Cookie Swap
I love the idea of a cookie swap, but it takes a lot of time to bake the cookies. I love the idea of the cookie mix in a jar because it is a homemade gift that is so delicious!
Love it!
Dropping by from MomCentral. We did a cookie swap last year in a moms group I was in. I love the cookie mix DIY gifts. So cute and it gives my oldest son the chance to spend time with mommy in the kitchen. I have given a few of these as gifts but never had to ship them anywhere. At least I know how to send them safely if I ever have to ship. Thanks!
Cookie Swap
I love cookies swaps, but they can be a lot of extra work at holiday time. I love your idea! Another idea is to consider a bread swap instead. Making quick breads is easier and you can make several loaves at once. They freeze nicely so the recipients can save them for after the holidays if they choose. My mom always made loaves of bread to give neighbors, teachers, the mailman, etc. at the holidays. It's what gave me the idea. Our favorites are zucchini bread, pumpkin bread and date nut bread.
Love the new blog!
Melissa Rich
I love the idea of swapping cookie mixes!
I love the idea of swapping cookie mixes! It puts a new twist on cookie swaps. I am going to host a cookie swap next year. I am going to encourage everyone to bring a few cookie mixes in jars to exchange along with their baked cookies. By the way, can you share your recipe with us?
Recipe
Sure, here's the recipe. Enjoy some for me!
I love this idea...
My friends and I also participate in a yearly cookie swap/get together but this year several people aren't able to be in attendance due to a hectic schedule and/or other obligations.
Using your suggestions will allow those of us who can get together do so and making the cute mix jars will allow us to share part of our experience with our friends!
Thank You!
Dena Campbell / MomCentral Member
I think that this is a great
I think that this is a great idea!! Another idea is to make soup mixes and dip mixes to put in jars. They are great as gifts or exchanges and perfect for the person who is not a fan of sweet:)
delish
Great idea, and stylishly executed! I accidentally slept through my friends' cookie swap this year (fell asleep tucking the kids in...shhhh!) but will hold this in mind for future gifts.
Cookies in a Jar
Your cookies in a jar look great! I've wanted to do this for a while, but not really sure how to start. Any tips?
Start with your favorite go
Start with your favorite go to cookie recipe. You layer all the dry ingr. in the jar and then on the card (or sticker lable) you put the other wet ingr. that need to added. With the baking instuctions. I do them up as gift alot.
You can do an internet search for recipes as well. There is 3 different printed Gifts in a Jar recipe books.
Cookies, Brownies & Bars
Muffins, Breads & Scones
Soups, Chilis, & More.
Not only do they look pretty and are personal they are realtively cheap. You can buy used jars at a local thrift store and sanitize them. Or check you local craigslist, I often see canning jars posted for free. You just need to buythe lids new.
I love this idea!!
I love this idea!! Too late now, but I'm definitely going to remember this for next year! Thanks for the tip!
I'm a MomCentral member
Deb Anderson
Another idea for homemade gifts
Love this idea of homemade gifts, I may try a cookie recipe too!
I found this recipe and will be giving out and mailing to family, friends, neighbors and my daughter's teachers for the holidays:
Homemade Hot Chocolate
2 cups dry milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup powdered cocoa (UNsweetened)
1/2 cup powdered coffee cream (like coffee mate)**
Mix all together and store in air tight container. To enjoy mix 1/4cup cocoa mix with 8oz hot water, add marshmallows if desired!
Too make flavored hot chocolate use the flavored coffee mate! This is the time of year that holiday flavors are out, peppermint and gingerbread.
Put in container with screw on lids from the dollar store. I typed up the directions on how to mix and tied to the jars with a ribbon.
I love this idea, too
I did this several years ago for people at the office and it was a hit! They were still talking about the hot chocolate in February.
Great idea
What a great idea. I've seen these jars as gifts, but never thought of using them for a cookie exchange.
Favorite Cookie Recipe/Shipping Tips
These are one of our favorite cookies...not too sure how they would hold up if they were being shipped. I don't think they are what you could call a sturdy cookie but they taste great! Thanks for the shipping tips!
Cherry Surprise Balls
INGREDIENTS*
1 cup butter, softened*
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar*
2 cups all-purpose flour *
1 jar (6 ounces) maraschino cherries without stems, drained and halved*
Additional confectioners' sugar
DIRECTIONS
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar; gradually add flour. Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each cherry, forming a ball. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 325° for 18-20 minutes or until the bottoms are browned. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire racks. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.
sending cookies
I am a holiday baker myself and all year long I put items off the to side just to use in shipping. I keep an eye out for the sales at the "marts" and when I see the cheaper pillows on sale for 2 or 3 bucks each I take advantage of it and buy a few. These pillows are a great way to protect your goodies and also make a neat gift as well when a themed pillowcase is enclosed. Take the cookies (whether they be in a tin or box or tupperware-like container and fold the pillow around the container and shove it in the box. The pillow takes away any shaking and bumping that may happen to the cookies in transit and can be used by the recipient as well. Happy Holidays!!
What a cute idea!
I love this idea, I enjoy cookie swaps- and this is a great way to extend the party to those living in other states, or too far away. I also like the idea of sending a mix, as depicted in the picture- what a great way to avoid cookies breaking, or not staying fresh!
Thanks for the super idea!
Shannon at: http://www.milkandcuddles.com/
Post new comment