Holiday Cookie Exchange

Love is in the air!
...Oh wait, that's just cookie dough.

There's nothing like an early snow to get you excited about turning on the oven and whipping together that family holiday cookie recipe (or maybe just popping apart some pre-made cookie dough!). In the spirit of our upcoming holiday cookie exchange, here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing if you're a kitchen master... and some easy but impressive ideas if you're not!
What are you making?

Decoration Dreams:
A cookie is just a cookie... or is it? If you are handy with icing, get inspired by these beauties from EAT Emily & Amy's Treats.

Too dainty? Grab some wavy cookie cutters, a corncob pipe, a button nose, two eyes made out of coal and your sense of humor to make some melty Frostys like these:

Photo from the decorated cookie

Quick and Easy:
Now Wednesday is right around the corner, so if you are running low on time, but still want something original, try one of these morsels. (Bonus: these ideas also work if you are a 'Betty Crocker'-type baker!)

How awesome are these little reindeer? So irresistible but also so simple to make. Check them out here: Bakergirl 








Let these guys inspire you to think of other create ways to create holiday cookies like marshmallows for Santa's beard, or circles cutters to make wreaths and Santa bellies!
Ho, ho ho!

With these cakepops, the proof is in the sprinkles (red and green sprinkles if we are getting specific) :)
Yummy and cheerful cookie bites from What Megan's Making.
(PS- there's no baking required!)

These have to be one of the simplest ideas yet- the recipe calls for Betty Crocker brownie mix! Sure they aren't technically 'cookies', but we doubt anyone will complain!

Holiday Bark:

Do you dream of antioxidants rather than visions of sugarplums? Maybe go a totally different route a make a holiday "bark". The great part about barks is that you can add any flavors, toppings and colors. No two barks are alike (just like snowflakes).
Ever heard of Hazelnut-Cranberry Chocolate Bark? Now you have, you're welcome.

 

From Delicious WordFlux

Hopefully this sugar rush has inspired if you hadn't yet decided what to make for the cookie exchange. If you already know what you're making, hopefully it has you excited to try creations by everyone else.


Until then, I leave you with these little guys, a perfect combination of the holidays and medical school, it's gingerbreads in white coats!

From Not So Humble Pie

Bonus points to anyone who makes these! See you Wednesday!