Holiday Party - Cookie Exchange

I just got back from my friend's 3rd Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. It's a great way to get friends together for the holiday - and knock out gifts for neighbors in one event!

Brooke invites two dozen guests to attend and bring a fun holiday cookie. We RSVP-ed through Evite, and everyone got to post which type of cookie they planned to bring so we didn't have any repeats. Once we confirmed how many guests were coming (in our case 19), Brooke told us to make and wrap 18 packages of 4 cookies each. We came armed with our recipes to trade, plus a tray of our delicious treats to sample.

We snacked on all sorts of yummy appetizers, and then one-by-one passed out our cookies and told about why we love the recipe. After the presentations, we voted on the Most Creative cookie, Best Presentation, Most Gourmet and prizes were awarded. In the end, each guest left with 6 dozen cookies, and 18 new recipes to try! I'm taking my cookies and dividing them up on fun trays and platters to give to neighbors, home teachers, and friends at work!

This party is a fun idea for any time of year, but especially great at Christmas!

I took our favorite Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie recipe (which Heather posted about a few months ago), because these cookies are so so yummy and simple!

Favorite Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 1/4 cups flour
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 (11 1/2 oz) package of chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and eggs, mix well. Add salt, soda, powder and flour and mix just until combined. Stir in oats and chocolate chips. Roll into balls with a cookie scoop and bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven when the tops begin to ever-so-slightly turn golden brown.