Cookie Exchange Will Save Time at Christmas

!±8± Cookie Exchange Will Save Time at Christmas

The weeks before Christmas are very busy for all of us. We want a variety of Christmas cookies and goodies, but where can we find the time? Trying to balance shopping, cleaning, wrapping and baking can cause a lot of stress. Some baking stress can be eliminated by organizing a cookie exchange with some friends.

A Christmas cookie exchange allows us to have a variety of Christmas treats while only baking a few kinds of cookies. It works by finding 4 to 6 friends who are willing to bake 2 large batches of cookies. If we get 5 friends to do the cookie exchange, and each baked a large batch of 2 recipes to share, then each of us will end up with up with a variety of 10 different holiday cookies for family and friends. The exchange works best if you triple the batch so each person can get 2 dozen cookies from the bakers.

Two large batch recipes, perfect for sharing with members of your Christmas cookie exchange group, are favorites with my family and are listed below. In my family, one recipe is made only at Christmas, which is listed first, called DIVINITY. Another favorite Christmas cookie, Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies, is listed second.

DIVINITY

8 cups sugar, 2 cups light corn syrup, 1 & ½ cup water, 6 egg whites, 3 teaspoons vanilla & 2 cups broken nuts. Stir first 3 ingredients in a large saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Cook, without stirring, until a bead forms when small amount is dropped in cold water. Remove from heat.

In large bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; slowly add the hot syrup, thin stream. Add vanilla, beat until mixture holds its shape, fold in nuts. Drop by buttered spoon onto waxed paper. Recipe makes 12 dozen candies.

Note: Use 3 tablespoons less water on humid days.

TOLL HOUSE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

6 & ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 3 tsp. baking soda, 3 tsp. salt, 3 cups (6 sticks, softened) butter, 2 & ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 & ½ cup packed brown sugar, 3 tsp. vanilla extract, 6 large eggs, 3 (10 oz) bags of NESTLE TOLL HOUSE morsels, 3 cups nuts.

PREHEAT oven 350'. COMBINE flour, baking soda & salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar & vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. BAKE for 11 to 13 minutes, until edges are golden. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet then remove to cooling racks. Recipe makes 12 & ½ dozen cookies.

Note: If omitting nuts, add 5 tablespoons of flour.

Keeping with the Christmas spirit, it's fun to make the exchange an "affair to remember". Have a little party for fellow bakers with drinks and snacks.