Cookie Swap Testing: Reeses Piece's Cookies

My girlfriends and I every year organize a Cookie Swap where we each choose a festive cookie and then share them with each other at the cookie swap.  Instead of having someone host the cookie swap, we choose a restaurant that we can enjoy and bring the cookies already packaged for each other.  

I'm quite happy that this year I only have one cookie swap (last year I had two and I needed to enlist the help of my friend to get them all done).  Okay that means that last year I only decorated cookies for one of the swap.  

This year since I'm ahead of the game I decided to open up a Cookie Test Kitchen.  Or that's what I call it.  I'm going to bake different cookies to see which one I like the best for the cookie swap.

The first cookie I baked on the weekend was a Reeses Pieces Cookie.  They reeses pieces candies were on sale so I just used the recipe on the back of the bag.  

I reduced the amount of sugar as I don't have much of a sweet tooth.  I usually just omit the white sugar in recipes, or something like that, and used half a bag of candies instead of the full bag.  The cookie has a strong peanut butter flavour and surprised my husband that it didn't contain any peanut butter except the amount that was in the candies.  The Reeses Piece's cookie tastes good, but it doesn't really make the cut for a holiday cookie.  Next year it looks more like it would suit a spooky Halloween with the orange and brown colours.  

My Cookie Swap test kitchen continues....what cookie will be next......

2nd Cookie Swap - December 2014

Wow!  Originally when I organized my work cookie swap, I never thought much about the timing of the swap.  When the end result ended up with two cookie swaps in one week, I was happy that I only asked for 6 cookies per participant.

With the 2nd cookie swap with friends, the we decided on 12 cookies per participant.  I did cookie testing in the month of November and tried cookie recipes that took hours to make because the dough needed to be refrigerated overnight and then baked.  Those cookies were just eaten at home with friends. 

As the exchange date drew closer, I knew that I needed to make cookies that were small so I could make four dozen cookies easily.  I wanted to make a festive cookie as well so I decided on the "Chewy Peppermint Mocha Cookie."  I discovered this recipe by doing one of my multiple google searches and it has simple ingredients that I already had in my pantry or I could easily find.  It's from Eat, Live, Run website:  http://www.eatliverun.com/chewy-peppermint-mocha-cookies/

When I made the cookies, I used a cookie scoop so they were a bit rounder almost like a truffle shape.  The cookies were a success!  I managed to bake probably around 60 cookies because I dropped teaspoons of cookie dough instead of tablespoons.  

Cookies have inspired me to do more food photography because they are great still models.  Featured below are the other cookies in the cookie swap that included Chewy Peppermint Mocha Cookies, Lavender Shortbread, Christmas Sugar Cookies, and Holiday Cookie Bark.  Let's see if they can last until Christmas!

1st Cookie Swap Exchange - December 2014

Hello Vancity Girlfriends,

December is here and the holiday festivities are near!  I remember that years ago, I didn't know what a "Cookie Swap" was and now I'm the organizer for one at work and am a participant for one with friends.  

At least I now know what  "Cookie Swap" is!  So for those who don't know, a cookie swap or cookie exchange is a party where the participants bake cookies for everyone else.  Normally you would bake 1 dozen cookies per participant, of course, when I organized my work "cookie swap" I reduced it to 1/2 dozen per person.  

Some people have really big "Cookie Swap" or "Cookie Exchange" parties, but that's not me.  Mine is simple, let's trade cookies, and then go home.  Or you get the idea.  The one with friends is a let's have an excuse to eat out in a restaurant, swap cookies, and then go home.  That makes it manageable instead of someone hosting a cookie swap.  After all isn't baking 4-5 dozen cookies enough work?  

For my work cookie swap my friend volunteered to bake the gingerbread men for me and I spent a morning decorating them with simple store bought icing.  They have the scribblers icing packages that are perfect for the job.  The gingerbread men stayed together for the photo shoot!

Gingerbread Men

Devinely Delish who gave me tips on how to take pictures of your baking so they look fabulous!  I have to admit that after I used her tips, I fell in love with cookie photography.  I want to bake just so I can take pictures!  

With the cookie swap, I was able to have my cookies to feed my hobby of foodie photography.  We have star shaped shortbread, jam thumbprints, and peanut butter reindeer.  Come back again to see my 2nd cookie swap cookies.  

Star Shortbread

Jam Thumbprints

Peanut Butter Reindeer