Indeed, according to the party’s top tweeters, cookie exchanges are a  popular way of sharing recipes and building or cementing friendships. Many, many fabulous tips were shared on the how-to’s of hosting, tasteful or unique recipes, and where to find them. These are the top tips:

5 Tips for Hosting Cookie Exchanges

1. Ask guests to RSVP and let you know what cookies they’ll be bringing, then convey to everyone just before the party how many guests will be coming and how many cookies per guest each person needs to bring. If two or more guests indicate they’ll bring the same kind of cookie, ask one of them to pick a different kind. @IHeartNaptime provides a comprehensive list of guidelines and printables.
2. Consider turning your cookie exchange into a cookie gifting party, says @CedarHillMom. You can provide tags, bags and ribbon for guests to make sweet neighbor gifts with some of the exchanged cookies.  Consider taking them to neighbors or raising money for CookiesForKidsCancer. This can be a great option for guests looking to keep their calorie counts down or their contributions to charity up.
3. Remind guests to bring a large container to take their exchanged cookies home, says @HowToSimplify. Consider having on hand extra containers and packing materials.
4. Plan a hot chocolate bar to accompany the cookies, suggests @LaCasadeSweets.
5. Plan some activities to maybe burn off calories after cookies (RockBand!), suggests @ThisEnvy.

5 Unique Recipes for a Holiday Cookie Exchange

While the classic chocolate chip cookies were *salivated* over, some tweeters shared recipes for cookies that will be sure to draw “oohs” and “aahs” and “yums.” Check these out:

1. Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies from too many tweeters to mention.
2. Nutella Pinwheel Cookies from @FujiMama.
3. Mini Cherry Cheesecakes from @HowToSimplify.
4. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies from @Kimberaka and @HersheysKisses.
5. Roshk Slovak Cookies from @BHaley9962.

If those recipes don’t suit you and you’re looking for some good sites to find you’re own or even list your own, check out these recommendations:

3 Cookie Recipe Websites

1. Pinterest Recipes raved about by @MimiBakerMN, @EveryDayMom23, and many others who used words like “amazing” and “favorite” to describe it.
2. Family Fun magazine because it has good recipes for families with kids. Recommended by @EarthAngel2B.
3. AllRecipes.com because you can read reviews of recipes before you try them, says @DidYouYarnThat.

Let us know how your cookie exchanges go, or if you have some favorite cookie recipes that are always a hit!

What are your cookie exchange tips? What cookies do you love to bake for a cookie exchange?

Photos courtesy of A-Baking We Will Go and HowTo: Simplify.

How To Bake Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

Peanut butter reindeer cookies are the kind of dessert that look difficult, but are super simple. Check out the ingredients and follow the instructions below.

Ingredients

My favorite peanut butter cookie recipe is from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

The most important part of baking reindeer cookies is to be sure you have all of the ingredients. Tonight, we were lacking an electric mixer and flour. Good things for awesome neighbors!

Here’s what you’ll need to get baking:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar or 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• Small pretzels
• Candy chocolates (I prefer plain M&Ms.)

Instructions

Step 1. In a large mixing bowl beat the butter or margarine and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat till combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla till combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. If necessary, cover and chill dough til easy to handle.

Step 2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, perfectly round, with a 1/4-inch oval-shaped ball placed right on top and extending vertical just below the circle.

Step 3. If baking with children, have them sort the chocolate candies into different bowls while you are placing the dough onto greased cookie sheets. I started doing this years ago as a way to help my kids learn their colors and to sort. Now, it is their favorite part of our tradition.

Step 4. Add pretzels for antlers and colored chocolate candies for eyes and a nose and then bake for 5-7 minutes in the oven. As you can see, our kids love to get creative with eye color!

Step 5. After baking the cookies, place them on holiday plates. We chose a plain red variety.

Step 6. Wrap the plates in clear cellophane, tie a big bow around them, place a sticker with to and from information (if you are leaving on doorsteps),  and let the giving begin!

Fun tip! We let our kids go up to all the doors and take turns handing out the gifts. Then, we talk aboutthe giving spirit and why it is better to give than receive.

What cookie recipes do you love to bake over the holiday season?

However, what happens when you go to all the trouble of baking cookies but find that you can’t eat them fast enough?

How To Make Cookies Last Longer

If you ever get the urge to bake cookies but worry about preserving them in order to last longer than just a few days, be sure to follow the steps below:

• Make the cookie dough, shape the dough into tablespoon-sized balls, bake what you know you’ll eat within the next three days and store what you won’t eat into air-tight containers in the freezer. The next time you have a cookie craving, simply preheat the oven, prepare the baking sheet with parchment paper, place the frozen dough balls on the baking sheet and bake until the cookies are done. Note: Avoid freezing cookie dough that has a cake-like or liquid-based batter.
• Allow the baked cookies to completely cool before stacking or storing. Warm cookies, when stored, will stick together and create a mess when you try to eat them later.
• Store cookies in an airtight container or on the baking sheet tightly covered with plastic wrap or foil. Place a slice of bread in the container to help the cookies maintain their moisture.
• Store cookies that have a cream cheese or yogurt frosting in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
• Place baked cookies in the freezer for up to three weeks. Simply pop them in the microwave or oven to warm them up and return them to their soft state.

What is your favorite type of cookie? How do you store cookies after baking them? What are some of your tried and true ways to get cookies to last longer?

Jen Tilley has an insatiable appetite for all things related to baking and cooking. She is the author, photographer and recipe developer on How To: Simplify, a blog that shares tips, tricks and recipes to simplify life in the kitchen. She enjoys sharing recipes that require very few ingredients and only a small amount of prep and cook time, all of which make time spent in the kitchen simple and enjoyable. Find her online at How To: Simplify, @HowToSimplify, and Jen Tilley Photography.

One of my fondest memories of holiday baking was many years ago when my Mom and I spent an entire day in the kitchen baking up a storm. We basically baked from sunrise to sunset and continued on until the wee hours of the night preparing, baking and decorating one festive treat after another. By the time our baking extravaganza was complete, the kitchen table, both of the refrigerators and all of the countertops were piled high with platter after platter of holiday treats. That was one of my favorite moments spent in the kitchen with my Mom…and to think, she hates baking!

When it’s cold outside, there’s just something about the simple act of baking a sheet of cookies that warms the house and fills the air with such a wonderful aroma. Even though there’s only one day left until Christmas (can you believe that it’s tomorrow?!), this shortbread cookie recipe is a simple one to whip together in a matter of minutes. If you’re in a bind and need to fill the dessert table with one more holiday treat or if you’re just looking for a simple yet delicious cookie recipe, this is one that won’t disappoint. Simple and delicious…and perfect for the holidays!

Shortbread Cookies Dipped in Chocolate

Ingredients

• 3 sticks of unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6-7 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together butter and sugar in a large bowl until just combined. Add the vanilla, flour and salt and mix on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated.
3. Dump onto a floured surfaced and shape into a flat circle. Wrap in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
4. Remove from the refrigerator and roll the dough 1/2-inch thick. Cut with a cookie cutter.
5. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. When cookies cool, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Dip half of each cookie into the melted chocolate and place on the baking sheet to allow the chocolate to dry (For tips on how to melt chocolate, be sure to stop by this helpful tutorial).

Many of us have holiday traditions when it comes to baking. What are some of your baking traditions? Do you have a favorite holiday cookie recipe?

*Recipe adapted from Ina Garten

Jen Tilley has an insatiable appetite for all things related to baking and cooking. She is the author, photographer and recipe developer on How To: Simplify, a blog that shares tips, tricks and recipes to simplify life in the kitchen. She enjoys sharing recipes that require very few ingredients and only a small amount of prep and cook time, all of which make time spent in the kitchen simple and enjoyable. Find her online at How To: Simplify and @HowToSimplify.

My parents were like these organizations. They provided ample ways for our family to help others while at the same time helping us fall in love with the act of giving. So, as the holiday season gets under way, I want to share a few ways you can teach your children to fall in love with the act of giving as well.

Service and giving can have many different recipients: self, family, friends, pets, neighbors, community, the world, etc. Part 1 of my “Teaching Children to Give” series focuses on those right around you—your neighbors.

Neighbors are a vital part of the community in which you live. They often are the people you see at common places in your life—at the grocery store, at church service, at your kids’ school, at volunteer activities, at community events, and more. Showing appreciation for them and teaching your children the importance of valuing them is not only important, but can be fun!

Baking reindeer cookies is a tradition I started with my two boys several years ago. My mother in law shared the recipe with me and helped us bake our first batch. Now, my family bakes these every Thanksgiving holiday weekend and takes them around to our neighbors to kick off the holiday season with a bang!

Check out this Whrrl story for more pictures and detailed steps on how to make them!

If you join or log in to Whrrl, please comment and share your fun holiday giving traditions too!