2012 Christmas Cookie Exchange

In catching up on all the recent events that have taken place over the last month or so, one of the more fun events that I attended was Michele's annual Christmas Cookie exchange. I went to my first one last year and it was so much fun. Michele is such an incredible host, she really goes all out. I think Michele has to be the best hostess, she leaves no stone unturned and thinks of everything. From the amazing food that she prepares, her menu is always absolutely delicious. Forget about even the logistics of organizing the cookie exchange part itself, she also puts together festive Holiday games to play and even has prizes for them, and gives her guests a little something to take home as well. I really don't know how she does it.

I only wish I had brought my camera again and taken pictures of all the incredible food she made for us. This year she made an incredible chicken salad, egg muffins, the french toast was amazing, buffalo chicken meatballs, and so much more, I can't even remember it all right now. And she also puts together a binder for everyone every year of her recipes that she makes for the brunch and prints out copies of everyone's cookie recipes as well!

This year for my cookies I made Jelly Thumbprint Cookies. When I went out with Michele, Gina and Janet to go see The Sound of Music play at the Papermill Playhouse recently we were discussing the exchange and what to make. Gina suggested that she had a great recipe I could make so I said why not. Boy was I happy I made these cookies they got RAVE reviews.

I ended up having to make them 3 separate times over the course of 3 days but it was so worth it. I made the first batch on Thursday night as sort of a trial run, I thought I could make them prettier, but also dropped some on the floor, which I gave to Mike to eat, haha, it was only for a few seconds, 5 second rule. He certainly didn't mind. He called me up on Friday night to tell me and I quote these were the "best ever cookies I had made." He LOVED them. I think he ate about a dozen or more himself. I brought the rest of the batch (that didn't fall on the floor) and they loved them too! The whole thing went and they got rave reviews. My new teammate swears she ate about 15 cookies herself.

These cookies were so easy to make. I have the recipe memorized by the 3rd time I had to make them, that's how easy it was. Making the dough part could not have been any simpler  The most time consuming part was rolling the dough into balls and then filling them with jelly. The first batch I didn't put enough jelly, the second batch I put too much but I got it slightly better by the 3rd batch. The recipe makes 24 cookies exactly and easily doubles. It also uses about a jar of the jelly for each double batch. I was too lazy to sprinkle the powdered sugar on top, but I don't think it missed it. These cookies were so good, this is absolutely a recipe I intend to make part my Christmas tradition and keep for years to come!

Jelly Thumbprint Cookies

Source: Gina's Husband Valerio's Grandmother's recipe!!! :-)

½ c. butter, softened to room temperature 

½ c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg yolk 

1 c. flour

pinch of salt

Polaner Red Raspberry Preserves (about 1/2 jar) 

Beat butter, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla together.  Combine flour and salt and gradually add to mixture until dough is formed.  Shape dough into small pieces approximately the size of a large marble.  Dough will expand when cooking.  Place formed balls on cookie sheet and use your thumb to make a thumbprint in each – fill with jelly. Bake @ 350 for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cooled.