Cookie Exchange Will Save Time at
Christmas
The weeks before Christmas are
very busy for all of us. We want a
variety of Christmas cookies and
goodies, but where can we find the
time? Trying to balance shopping,
cleaning, wrapping and baking can
cause a lot of stress. Some baking
stress can be eliminated by
organizing a cookie exchange with
some friends.
A Christmas cookie exchange allows
us to have a variety of Christmas
treats while only baking a few
kinds of cookies. It works by
finding 4 to 6 friends who are
willing to bake 2 large batches of
cookies. If we get 5 friends to do
the cookie exchange, and each
baked a large batch of 2 recipes
to share, then each of us will end
up with up with a variety of 10
different holiday cookies for
family and friends. The exchange
works best if you triple the batch
so each person can get 2 dozen
cookies from the bakers.
Two large batch recipes, perfect
for sharing with members of your
Christmas cookie exchange group,
are favorites with my family and
are listed below. In my family,
one recipe is made only at
Christmas, which is listed first,
called DIVINITY. Another favorite
Christmas cookie, Toll House
Chocolate Chip Cookies, is listed
second. DIVINITY 8 cups sugar, 2
cups light corn syrup, 1 & ½ cup
water, 6 egg whites, 3 teaspoons
vanilla & 2 cups broken nuts. Stir
first 3 ingredients in a large
saucepan over low heat, stirring
constantly until sugar is
dissolved. Cook, without stirring,
until a bead forms when small
amount is dropped in cold water.
Remove from heat.
In large bowl, beat egg whites
until stiff peaks form; slowly add
the hot syrup, thin stream. Add
vanilla, beat until mixture holds
its shape, fold in nuts. Drop by
buttered spoon onto waxed paper.
Recipe makes 12 dozen candies.
Note: Use 3 tablespoons less water
on humid days.
TOLL HOUSE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
6 & ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 3
tsp. baking soda, 3 tsp. salt, 3
cups (6 sticks, softened) butter,
2 & ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 & ½
cup packed brown sugar, 3 tsp.
vanilla extract, 6 large eggs, 3
(10 oz) bags of NESTLE TOLL HOUSE
morsels, 3 cups nuts.
PREHEAT oven 350'. COMBINE flour,
baking soda & salt in small bowl.
Beat butter, granulated sugar,
brown sugar & vanilla extract in
large mixer bowl until creamy. Add
eggs, one at a time, beating well
after each addition. Gradually
beat in flour mixture. Stir in
morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded
tablespoon onto ungreased cookie
sheet. BAKE for 11 to 13 minutes,
until edges are golden. Cool 2
minutes on cookie sheet then
remove to cooling racks. Recipe
makes 12 & ½ dozen cookies.
Note: If omitting nuts, add 5
tablespoons of flour.
Keeping with the Christmas spirit,
it's fun to make the exchange an
"affair to remember". Have a
little party for fellow bakers
with drinks and snacks.
About the Author - CDMohata
writes for
Myspace Comments.
By CDMohatta
Published: 10/30/2007
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