Taste of Home Books. - Christmas cookies.

2021 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.

1610 N. 2nd St., Suite 102,

Milwaukee, WI 53212-3906

All rights reserved. Taste of Home is a registered trademark of RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.

Visit us at tasteofhome.com for other Taste of Home books and products.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-61765-948-5

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-6176-5949-2 (eBook)

LOCC: 2020936336

Executive Editor: Mark Hagen

Senior Art Director: Raeann Thompson

Editor: Hazel Wheaton

Assistant Art Director: Courtney Lovetere

Designer: Arielle Jardine

Senior Editor, Copy Desk: Dulcie Shoener

Cover

Photographer: Jim Wieland

Set Stylist: Stacey Genaw

Food Stylist: Sue Draheim

Pictured on front cover:

Pictured on title page:

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Whether laid on platters for parties or tucked into a tin for a friend, packed in a box shipped to faraway family or on a special plate set out for Santa, cookies are as much a part of the Christmas season as the tree!

This new book brings together a collection of cookies that will make any holiday dessert table a stunning success. With so much to choose from, you can create plates that will be certain to impress.

Christmas cookies are a holiday ritual for people all around the world. Traditional Old World recipes, like have become modern holiday classics.

In addition to over 100 recipes, this volume contains valuable tips and advice on hosting a holiday cookie exchange (opposite page), creative , so your cookies will always be a delight.

Christmas cookies range from the classically beautiful , so you can choose the recipes that fit your needs, from an elegant platter for a holiday house party to a fun and colorful selection for teachers and co-workers.

So dust off your baking sheets, put on some holiday music and get baking Taste of Home Christmas Cookies has everything you need to make your next holiday cookie plate the talk of the party!

Ask any home baker about their favorite Christmas traditions, and an annual cookie exchangeaka cookie swapjust may top the list. Hosting a cookie exchange is easier than you might think, thanks to these timely tips and handy timeline to keep party planning on the right track.

• Make it convenient. Weekday evenings or weekend afternoons work well because people may be less busy. Schedule the party to be a tight two to three hours longits the holiday season, after all!
• Remember: The more, the merrier and the more types of cookies youll get. Invite eight to 12 people. Encourage guests to bring an extra dozen for sampling at the party.
• Ask what each person is making to avoid duplicates. Theres no point to the exchange if everyone arrives with sugar cookies!
• Stock up on storage containers. You can ask guests to bring their own or have some readycontainers should be large enough for eight to 12 dozen cookies.
• Keep your menu to a minimum by focusing on the sweet treats. Simply serve a selection of beverages and the extra cookies and candies. Or offer a choice selection of hot and cold appetizers.
• Display the cookies on a long table or counter, leaving enough room for folks to walk around and inspect the goodies. Label the containers with the recipe name.
• For party favors, gather all the different recipe cards into bundles, tie with festive ribbons and hand them out as guests leave.

Timeline for Your Cookie Exchange

Four to Six Weeks Before:

• Send out invitations. Ask each person to bring eight to 10 dozen of the same cookie, copies of the recipe and a large container for taking cookies home.
• As guests RSVP, keep track of who is bringing what variety. Remind them to bring copies of the recipe!

Two to Three Weeks Before:

• Bake and freeze your cookies.
• Plan the menu.

The Day Before:

• Make the food youll be serving. Gather plates and napkins.
• Set up your cookie display table.
• Take your cookies out of the freezer to thaw.

The Day of the Party:

• Ask each guest to set their cookies and recipes on the display table.
• Serve food and beverages, and enjoy the company!
• Near the end of the party, have guests fill their containers with about a dozen of each kind of cookie, depending on the total number of cookies.

Youve already taken the time to bake a batch of beautiful Christmas cookies. They deserve to be wrapped in an equally beautiful package!

Fill a mug

Everyone loves to dunk their cookies! Give your friends their cookies in a perfect vessel for dipping with a festive holiday mug.

Dress up a Mason jar

Mason jars are ideal for food gifts. Decorate the outside as a snowman for confectioners sugar-coated cookies, or as a reindeer for chocolate cookies.

Make a decorating kit

If the recipient has kids, give them a cookie decorating kit. Pack up baked cutout cookies along with sprinkles, candies and a tub of frosting.

Stack your tins

Elevate plain tins by stacking them! Choose decorative foil tins from the craft store or traditional cookie tins. Make them a bit more special with paintsimple colors like white and gold are especially elegant.

Upcycle containers

An oatmeal or cornmeal container makes a handy gift box. Or, to present a neat row of cookies, use scissors or a utility knife to remove the teeth from an empty plastic wrap or aluminum foil box. Paint the container or dress it up with pretty paper. Line it with waxed paper, then fill it with cookies.

Decorate a plain box

A simple brown box lets beautiful cookies shine. Use cupcake liners to separate the cookies, and tie up the box with ribbon or bakers twine. To go further, place three boxes on a wooden tray and give the entire package as a gift.

Attach a cookie cutter

If youre making cutout cookies, add an extra gift! Place the cookies in a pretty container wrapped in cellophane. When you add the festive ribbon, tie on a cookie cutter!

Planning, timing, selection and careful packing are key to having your cookies arrive fresh and unbroken.

• Dense brownies, slightly soft and chewy cookies, and hard, crunchy cookies ship well. Save delicate cookies or ones that need refrigeration for a cookie plate.
• Moisture kills freshness, so make sure cookies are completely cool (if freshly baked) or completely thawed (if frozen) before packing them.
• Store cookies in airtight containers. For tins, lay plastic wrap over the cookies (overhanging the edge) before putting on the lid. If using a bakers box, wrap the treats inside in individual plastic or cellophane bags.
• Separate layers of frosted cookies with waxed paperfrosting can soften and stick to plastic wrap.