Holiday Cookie Party Hosting Tips

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For several years now, I’ve been attending an annual cookie party with the girls. It's always a lot of fun! 

THE BASICS:

Ask each guest to bring a big batch of cookies. As you can see above, one year I made chocolate chunk cookies.

Another year I made my grandmother's sugar cookies.

Many times guests will want to bring a seasonal cookie, like sugar cookies, but you might want to keep it open to all kinds of cookies or even fudge!



Years ago, I found two amazing fudge recipes, one I had made last year (so I knew it was good). The peanut butter one on left is Alton Brown's recipe. This is the best peanut butter fudge I have ever had and very easy to make. On right, is Carnation Famous Fudge w/o the nuts.




Last year I made No Bake Oreo Truffles. These were extremely popular with the girls and easy to make!

You’ll need to estimate 1 dozen multiplied by the total number of guests. We typically have 8 people at our cookie exchange, so that would be 96 cookies.


You may want to provide guidelines to each baker so that you get a good cookie assortment: rolled cookies, bar cookies, drop cookies, decorated cookies. Your friends may have family recipes they wish to share.

Packaging the Treats:
Each guest should also bring copies of their cookie recipe and containers to take cookies home. Heavy-duty plastic freezer bags will work for sturdy cookies, but decorated cookies and more delicate shapes should be packaged in tins or sealable plastic containers. Provide waxed paper or parchment for separating layers of cookies.

Last year, I picked up a few inexpensive bakery boxes to package the cookies. You can find bakery boxes and more cute containers on ebay. And to add extra style to your cookies with these adorable gift tags.

INCLUDE EXTRAS:

Buy reusable tote bags and include Yankee candles, along with the cookies. When I did this last year, everyone loved getting a little something extra. You could also include an assortment of candy, stickers or another small treat.

TIPS FOR THE HOSTESS:

Before the guests arrive, put on some holiday music and light a seasonal scented candle or spray a little holiday room. This will put guests in a holiday mood!

Besides snacking on cookies, set out big bowls of popcorn and chips, the veggies and dip and an insulated server of hot chocolate and a pitcher of cider for all the cookie bakers to help themselves.

Or make a cheese quiche, with different mix-ins in each quiche!

COOKIE RECIPE BOOKLETS:

Ask your guests to mail (or e-mail) their cookie recipes to you, or collect the recipes on the day of the party. Compile the recipes into a booklet for everyone to take home! Recipe booklets can be made in Microsoft Word or if you want to do something fancier, you can create a cookbook online. Or they can write them out on recipe cards.

Or guests can create their own recipe cards by downloading a fill-in-the-blank card from Etsy. They have so many cute options!

HELP OTHERS:

Have guests bring an unopened package of store-bought cookies or canned food. You can then collect the packaged food and bring them to a homeless shelter or food pantry. We also like to make extra plates of cookies for elderly relatives who couldn’t be at the party and we drop them off later.

Pottery Barn Disney Holiday Collection

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STONEWARE SALAD PLATES

These stoneware plates are the perfect way to serve up your homemade cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. They're dishwasher and microwave safe and match the brand's Mickey-inspired drinking glasses ($49) so you can leave him a cold glass of milk to go with the cookies.

STONEWARE MUG SET

Hot cocoa is the perfect accompaniment to a holiday movie night, and we imagine it tastes even sweeter out of the Mickey-printed mugs. The set of two is dishwasher and microwave safe (score!) for easy clean-up and re-heating.

HOLIDAY CORK PLACEMATS

After all the time you spend making Christmas dinner, the last thing you want to do is spend more hours decorating the table. These cork placemats make creating gorgeous place settings a breeze—and they're so easy to clean, too! Plus, they're sustainably sourced and made from recycled materials.

HOLIDAY GUEST TOWELS

Welcome holiday guests with a fresh set of Mickey-inspired hand towels. Whether you hang them in the powder room or the guest bath (or grab a set for both!), they're an easy way to spread Christmas cheer all over the house. The set comes with two towels that are made from sustainably-sourced materials.

HOLIDAY COTTON TABLECLOTH

If you're looking for a splurge-worthy item, consider saving up for this gorgeous holiday tablecloth. Made from 100% cotton, the 70 x 108-inch tablecloth features a sweet winter scene of Mickey and friends all the way around. Plus, you can machine wash it after the big meal.

New LEGO Holiday Sets

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Whether you love adorable polar bears or whimsical penguins, you’ll have a hard time choosing between these cute new kits. The Polar Bear & Gift Pack ($9.99) is great for kids seven and up and comes with 142 pieces.

The LEGO Christmas Penguin ($14.99) is also bringing whimsy, with the ability to rotate, move its wings and stand next to a Christmas tree and three presents.

The penguin set is perfect for kids eight and older and comes with 244 pieces. Both sets will launch on Oct. 1 at LEGO.com and at LEGO stores.

 

All photos: Courtesy of LEGO

Starbucks Holiday Cups

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Photo credit: Starbucks

Photo credit: Starbucks

Starbucks' reusable tumblers for the holidays are the cutest cups of the bunch. First up is a swirly, sparkly cup with dashes of red, green, and pink with a pink lid and straw. Think holidays, but make it glam and all for $18.95! You can definitely use this through Valentine's Day with no one batting an eyelash. Next up, Starbucks is staying on the shimmering train it's been on the last few seasons with this shiny pink grid cold cup. This is truly an evergreen purchase you'll be carrying around through next summer and beyond and it'll run you $19.95.

Photo credit: Suzi Pratt

Photo credit: Suzi Pratt

The brand's Christmas Blend this year is inspired by the original 1984 recipe, which has all the cozy notes of herbs, baking spices, and a chocolate finish. This coffee will be available alongside bags of Holiday Blend and Christmas Blend Espresso Roast. 

Starbucks Holiday Treats

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Photo credit: Connor Surdi

Photo credit: Connor Surdi

This year, enjoy the Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte, and Eggnog Latte at U.S. stores starting tomorrow, Friday November 6.

Second only to the cozy and festive coffee drinks are the cups that house them, and this year, we have possibly the most adorable ones in recent memory. The designs, seen in the photo above, are called Ribbon, Dot, Sparkle and Brand Wrap in case you want to sound very knowledgeable to your barista.

PLUS, Starbucks is indeed giving away a free collectible red holiday cup (shown above!) to customers who order a handcrafted holiday beverage (AKA all of the ones we just mentioned) on November 6 at participating stores in the U.S. Look at its cute little pattern! That's one holiday gift we can get behind. Just be quick if you can because these are only available while supplies last.

Photo credit: Starbucks

Photo credit: Starbucks

Finally, we're on to the food, and this year Starbucks will offer a new Cranberry Orange Scone in its bakery case that is sure to pair perfectly with any of its holiday drinks. You'll also see the return of the Sugar Plum Danish, Cranberry Bliss Bar, Snowman Cookie, and Snowman Cake Pop.

Tips For An Affordable Holiday Party

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Holiday parties are a fun part of the season, and hosting one can be a blast. The trick is to throw a fun party without spending your gift shopping budget to make it happen. Luckily, there are some easy ways to make your party fun without breaking the bank. (See also: 7 Budget Gifts You Can Bring to a Holiday Party)

PARE DOWN THE GUEST LIST

The more the merrier, right? It's not quite that simple if you're the host (AKA the treasurer). Consider whittling down your guest list for the party and you'll save a good chunk of change while providing a more intimate gathering. If you still want to invite that old co-worker, fitness instructor, and the mailman, then go for a potluck or BYOB (more on that in a moment).

GET THE TIMING RIGHT

If you don't want to serve a full meal and deal with all of the requirements it brings, try having your party at a non-eating time. Eight at night or later is acceptable for not providing dinner unless you state otherwise. Plus, many people will go out to eat just before, and therefore won't need a snack until later. If you'd like to have a less boozy gathering that won't last until the wee hours, a Sunday evening party is perfect. For a (nearly) booze-less gathering, host a cookie or tree-trimming party in the afternoon, and you can squeeze by with warm cider and cookies.

DECORATE RESOURCEFULLY

There's no need to blow your budget on party decorations. For lighting, simply gather all of the candles you own and cluster them on a main table before lighting them. Or buy a couple of strings of cheap holiday lights and stick them in jars. Instead of buying expensive flowers, take trimmings from an evergreen tree, branches with berries, and pine cones and make a seasonal arrangement.

One of the easiest ways to decorate for a party is to use food. Put those pretty cookies you made (or your nice friend brought over) on a platter. Put pretty citrus on plates and in bowls for decoration, and then use them for cocktails or snacking. Fill bowls with candy that guests can snack on and take home.

You can even make decorating the central theme. Have a tree-trimming party and either have everyone make decorations as an activity when they arrive or bring an ornament with them as their contribution to the party.

BYO ALL SORTS OF THINGS

Don't be afraid to ask guests to bring key items with them to your party. The most common example is to have people bring their own drinks, such as wine. This tried-and-true method can majorly cut down on a big party budget eater: alcohol. You can get more creative with BYOB and have people bring a mixer and you supply the liquor for a nice cocktail bar (or reverse it and have your guests bring the booze). Or have a holiday wine tasting, and have everyone bring a bottle to share.

Throw a cookie party this year — ask guests to bring cookies to share and create a sweet display. Supply a salty snack or two and something to drink and you're done! If you're having a smaller gathering, have guests specifically bring cookies for decorating andprovide the icing and sprinkles for a fun afternoon.

FEED YOUR GUESTS (WITHOUT GOING BROKE)

Food can be a major expense for holiday parties, but you don't have to spend big to have a great time. A potluck is a classic way to nearly eliminate this expense, and it's a fun way to socialize and sample new dishes. Try basing your potluck party around a theme, even if that's just "holiday meal," and let everyone know what you're making as the main course so they can plan accordingly.

It's no secret that when it comes to food, it's almost always cheaper to do it yourself. So forget catering, and get thee to the kitchen! Even if you're not a cook, you can whip up some easy but satisfying snacks. Try swapping a pricey cheese platter for a homemade cheese ball with crackers and crudites (slice the veggies yourself — it's much cheaper than buying them cut up at the grocery). Bread fills people up, so put out a variety of crostini to nibble on. And a bowl of homemade popcorn is super cheap and always a hit.

If you can stand the clean up, use your own "real" dishes, utensils and glasses. If your crowd is too big or the lack of a dishwasher makes it all feel impossible, head to your local dollar store for disposables.

FESTIVE DRINKING THE CHEAP WAY

If you're offering up drinks as part of your party deal, a great way to please a crowd is with punch. It frees you up to use cheaper booze without anyone being the wiser, and you can stretch the alcohol with mixers. An apple cider punch or mulled wine are great for a winter party and can go a long way.

If you want to serve a proper cocktail, consider using prosecco. It tastes and looks festive, but for the taste and the bubbles, it costs much less than it's counterparts.

FREE ENTERTAINMENT

No party is complete without a soundtrack. Find holiday playlists on an online streaming or radio service and just press play. Put Christmas movies that you own or are streaming for free on your TV in the background (or perhaps a crackling fireplace). Mix things up by playing games like Celebrity, Who Am I? and Mafia, all of which are totally free and great fun with a group.

AFFORDABLE GIFTING

If you'd like to include a gifting element, an always fun and budget-friendly game of Secret Santa is an easy solution. Set a spending limit as low as you like and let people get creative. That way, everyone (including you) only has to buy one gift instead of 15, and it's a fun party game. You can also send your guests home with gifts, but make them dual purpose: gift your party decorations (such as ornaments), or pack everyone little gift bags with an assortment of the cookies they brought.

Source: Wisebread.com

Baby Yoda Cookies

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Just use an angel cookie cutter, trim off the top and there it is- Baby Yoda! Use brown and green icing to decorate.
Here's the sugar cookie recipe: 

    1 1/2 cups butter, softened 

    2 cups white sugar 

    4 eggs 

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

    5 cups all-purpose flour 

    2 teaspoons baking powder 

    1 teaspoon salt 


In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.    Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely. 


Icing Recipe: 
In a medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and butter with spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Stir in vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the milk. Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. If frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time.


First, I doubled the recipe and mixed everything in my Kitchen Aid mixer. My grandma mixed most of her cookies with a spoon, the old-school way. 

Then I wrapped everything in wax paper to chill for a few hours. Then get out your angel cookie cutters and start cutting out.

Photo Source Unknown

20+ Crayola Holiday Printables

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Cookie Cutter Fudge

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This wonderful idea is from Craftymorning. All you need are plastic cookie cutters, Target regularly has these on sale or clearance, especially around Thanksgiving. Here is how to make this fun gift idea from Bettycrocker.com:

Ingredients

1 1/2
 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1
 cup peanut butter chips
1
 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
2
 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened SAVE $
1
 teaspoon vanilla
Betty Crocker™ white or red decorator icing (in 4.25-ounce tube), if desired
Candies, if desired

Steps

  • 1
    Place each of six 3x1/2-inch mitten-shaped cookie cutters, or other cookie cutters in a simple shape, on 5-inch square of foil. Seal foil tightly around outside of each cookie cutter. Place on cookie sheet. Lightly spray cookie cutters with cooking spray.
  • 2
    In 4-cup microwavable measuring cup, mix chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, milk and butter. Microwave uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until chips are almost melted. Stir in vanilla.
  • 3
    Pour mixture into cookie cutter molds, filling to tops of molds. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until firm. Decorate with icing and candies.
  • 4
    Carefully remove foil. Gently press fudge out of molds to serve.

100+ Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas

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Here are 133 fun and affordable stocking stuffer ideas for everyone!

 

For the Little Kids: 

1. Playdoh
2. Bubble bath
3. Bathtub crayons
4. Pacifier
5. Cute socks
6. Baby/Tot photo book 
7. Dum Dum lollipops (not for the youngest kids!)
8. Bubbles
9. Character band-aids
10. Board book 
11. Character spoon and fork set
12. Character kids cup (Target “dollar spot” often has these)

For the Older Kids:

13. Noise maker (shakers, tambourine, maracas, whistle)
14. Mini box of sugar cereal
15. Stickers – especially scratch n’ sniff stickers 
16. Pez
17. Tape 
18. Chinese paper yo-yo 
19. Candy necklace
20. Stretchy bugs/critters 
21. Silly straws
22. Glow sticks
23. Astronaut Ice cream 
24. Lip gloss/lipstick
25. Mini nail polish 
26. Fruit snacks
27. McDonald’s gift card 
28. Matchbox cars
29. Slap bracelets
30. Kazoo
31. Crayola Model Magic packs
32. Lego or Playmobil mini figures
33. Food shaped erasers 
34. Glow in the dark stars and planets
35. Heat bags 
36. Dress up jewelry
37. Earrings
38. Travel game
39. Webkinz or other small stuffed animal
40. Fancy scissors
41. Silly socks
42. Box of crayons
43. Coloring Book
44. Silly putty
45. Can of silly string
46. Animal sponge capsules
47. Expandable t-shirt, towel or washcloth
48. Glue sticks
49. Markers
50. Watercolor paints
51. Origami paper
52. Disposable camera
53. Rearview spy glasses
54. Smencils-scented pencils

Teen Gifts:

55. Earbuds
56. USB Flash drive
57. iTunes gift card
58. Stretchy book covers
59. Diary with invisible ink pen
60. Cell phone cover
61. Embroidery thread for friendship bracelets
62. Beef jerky
63. Gift card to bowling alley or skating rink
64. Makeup
65. Funky pens
66. Gel pens and black paper
67. Perfume
68. Nail polish in funky colors
69. Manicure pen
70. Lanyard for keys
71. Keychain
72. Wallet

Mom Gifts:

73. Coffee shop gift card
74. Nail polish
75. Scented hand lotion
76. Scented hand sanitizer 
77. Camera memory card 
78. Costume jewelry (earrings)
79. Gift card for a pedicure 
80. Keychain charms of kids with initials 
81. Package of decorative buttons (for crafting)
82. Knitting needles or crochet hooks
83. Crochet or knitting pattern book
84. Fancy hand soaps (particularly from Bath & Body Works!)
85. Seeds
86. Scrapbooking ribbons, tags, embellishments, etc.
87. Fancy cupcake liners
88. Beaded bookmark
89. Fancy scissors
90. Scrapbook paper 
91. Gourmet coffee
92. Specialty tea
93. Ped Egg or pumice stone
94. Votive candles
95. Icing tips/bags
96. Mascara
97. Box of dollar store note cards
98. Chocolates

Dad Gifts:

99. Coffee shop gift card
100. Drill bits
101. Tool keyring 
102. Mini flashlight
103. Gift card to bowling alley
104. Wallet
105. Tape measure
106. USB flash drive
107. Picture hanging hardware 
108. Nails & screws
109. 3M hooks
110. Car charger for cell phone
111. Beef jerky
112. Car wash gift card
113. Golf tees
114. Golf balls
115. Pocket Farkle

Practical Gifts:

116. Barrettes / pony tail holders
117. Comb
118. Calculator
119. Book light
120. Pencil sharpener
121. Deodorant
122. Toothbrush
123. Kids toothpaste
124. Dental floss

For Anyone:

125. Favorite candy bar
126. Snack packages (cheese crackers, cookies, etc.)
127. Hand Sanitizer
128. Gum
129. Sudoku book
130. Christmas ornament 
131. Hand and foot warming packs 
132. Slipper socks
133. Hot chocolate packets

15+ Gift Ideas For Grandparents

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Here are some fun and thoughtful ideas for gifts for grandma, grandpa, or other senior relative. Many of these ideas I have given to my mom, dad and mother in law!

General Gift Ideas:

  1. Flowers – Especially in the middle of winter, flowers are a nice surprise.
  2. Homemade Cards – Drawings, cards, art projects are always a welcome gift for the grandparents. It is a creative way for kids to keep in touch with grandma and grandpa!
  3. iPad or Laptop - Speaking of keeping in touch, I find being able to contact far away family and friends with an iPad is amazing! We can Skype or Facetime on the iPad, along with email and chatting. These are two great options to help everyone stay in touch.
  4. Homemade Meal or Dessert – OR If you aren't up to cooking (or baking), consider sending Mrs. Field's cookies or Cheryl's. I've ordered from both for my family and they loved them!
  5. Gift Baskets- Put together a basket of your loved ones favorite treats. Whether it is beauty products, food, books or more, the ideas are endless!
  6. Dinner out – Enjoying a meal out is one of the most fun gifts you can give. Especially when someone is in a nursing home, getting out for a few hours is a nice treat.
  7. Thank You’s on Facebook – My son likes to send Nana little notes on Facebook, it's a nice way for them to keep in touch.
  8. Art Projects – Consider framing art work or making a scrapbook of your child's artwork.
  9. A Kindle-  Kindles can store so many books. This would be a perfect solution for a grandparent who wants all their books in one place, likes to travel or who would like the convenience of instant book delivery!
  10. Gift Cards – Gift cards are always appreciated, especially if they are a surprise! Ask what their favorite stores are, think Amazon, Target and more!
  11. Magazine Subscription – Just like me, Janet loves to read magazines. It's always fun to get a surprise magazine subscription in the mail. My mom loves magazines too.
  12. A Party – Don't forget all the milestone events coming up in your loved ones life, like birthdays and anniversaries. 
  13. CD’s or MP3 Player- Many of my elderly relatives love listening to music. An iPod would make a nice gift!
  14. Books- My Mom loves to read and sending her a few books is always a treat for her.
  15. Photo Collages – I've made several photo collages with a mix of old photos and newer ones. Photo books are also a nice gift. Two of my favorite sites include Shutterfly . 
  16. Eddie Bauer blanket. Cozy and soft, my mom loves fleece blankets. 

 

 

Hobbies and Fun:

Gift ideas can be personalized to focus on the person’s personal interests and hobbies such as:

  1. Stationery and stamp- My grandmother Esther loved to collect stamps. When she passed away 10 years ago, I inherited her stamp collection . I like going through it and remembering all the fun we had looking at the stamps.
  2. Supplies for knitting or crocheting- My mom loves knitting and sending her yarn and other supplies is always appreciated.
  3. Pet care supplies- Does your loved one love pets? Put together a box of pet care supplies, toys and more.
  4. Plants, herbs, or flowers- Last year for Mother’s Day, I sent my mom a rose bush. It was one of her favorite gifts because it will bloom every year!
  5. Bird feeders and food- My mom loves feeding the birds and sending her a birdwatcher’s book or bird seed is something she enjoys.

20+ Holiday Gifts for Teachers

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  1. Target Gift Card
  2. Amazon.com Gift Card
  3. Barnes and Noble Gift Card
  4. class gift
  5. spa gift card
  6. Christmas ornament (Hallmark is a good source)
  7. homemade card or craft made by the student
  8. baked goods – (May want to skip if you aren't aware of their tastes, food allergies, etc.)
  9. basket of gourmet coffees or gourmet teas
  10. note pads or thank you cards
  11. Decorate a 6 pack of root beer with brown pipe cleaners, craft eyes, and craft poms. Then print and attach this cute coordinating “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Root Beer” FREE gift tag.
  12. bouquet of flowers
  13. bottle of wine or eggnog
  14. Williams Sonoma dish towel wrapped around their Winter Forest dish soap
  15. gift basket with bag of coffee, travel mug and a magazine 
  16. Gumball Tubes. Fill plastic tubes with colorful gumballs and other sweet treats as a afternoon pick me up. 
  17. Get a box of brownie mix along with an oven mitt and kitchen tools and attach all the items with a holiday bow and then print out and attach this Have a Sweet Holiday Gift Tag!
  18. Clay Heart Necklace. Spread the love by forming small hearts out of clay
  19. Teacher Supplies
  20. Teacup Candles
  21. Get a package of gingerbread cookie mix, white icing, and a gingerbread man cookie cutter and attach all the items with a holiday bow and then pair with this cute “Merry Christmas” gingerbread man gift tag.
  22. Chocolate Chip Cookies
  23. For the tea lover, place tea packets, honey, and a fresh lemon inside a large mug. For the coffee lover, place K-cups and mini flavored syrups in a large mug. For chocolate lovers, place hot chocolate, marshmallows, and chocolate candy inside the mug. Then attach this coordinating “Warmest Holiday Wishes” FREE gift tag.
  24. Festive Socks
  25. Heart Themed Jar
  26. Bucket of Sunshine