The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2012

I first learned about The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap from my friend Abi just after their first one wrapped up.  We promptly signed up to receive more information come the end of 2012.

Here's how it works: you sign up, make a small donation to Cookies for Kid's Cancer, OXO matches your donation and sends you a super cool cookie spatula.  Then you get the names and address of 3 food bloggers to send your cookies.

I was set on sending out Turtle Cookies, but after I made them I was underwhelmed.  I decided to try a recipe I saw in Everyday Food - Peppermint Chocolate Sugar Cookies.  Much better!

Ingredients

2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 c unsalted butter, softened
2 c sugar
1/4-1/2 t peppermint extract
1 large egg
1/2 c mini chocolate chips
1 c confectioners' sugar
3-5 T heavy cream (I used whole milk)
4-5 candy canes, crushed for decorating

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and 1/4t peppermint extract on medium-high until pale and fluffy, 3 minutes.  Beat in egg, then flour mixture on low.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.

Bake until edges are lightly golden, about 12 minutes.  Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to racks and let cool completely.

Stir together confectioners' sugar and enough milk/cream to make a spreadable glaze (add more extract if desired).  Spread a thin layer of glaze on top of each cookie and sprinkle with candies.  Let dry completely on racks.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies, but I got 3 dozen + 3 decent-sized cookies.

The hardest part was finding the perfect container/shipping box combination.  I tried to fit them into the small flat rate box but it wasn't happening.  So I used regular shipping boxes from Target.

I got lots of questions at the Post Office since I had the Cookie Swap Logo all over them.  The Post Office lady was very impressed and wished she was in on all the fun.


I received my first batch from Jenna at Little Kitchen, Big Flavors.  I believe they are called "Snickers Surprise"? It doesn't really matter what they were called - they were good.  I think they lasted a day and a half (since I live with the cookie monster).

Then I got a package from Abbey at Munchin' Mel.  They were a minty chocolate chip cookie, not too sweet.  These were good as well!

And lastly, some lemony glazed cookies from Jackie at La Casa de Sweets - YUM!

This was a great experience and I'll be looking forward to it again next next! Thank you Love and Olive Oil!

Tuesdays with Dorie: Rugelach

This week's recipe was Rugelach.  Living in the Northeast, I've had them on numerous occasions and like all different kinds.  A few years back I attempted to make them around the holidays, and they were just okay - so I hadn't made them since.  But I was super stoked to give it another whirl.

Wax paper made it easy to roll out and measure

I already had planned on making two different kinds - Apricot (for me) and Cinnamon/Sugar (for my Critic), but then I went to Trader Joe's and saw dried figs and Fig Butter.  From the jar, "Fig Butter? Don't be confused...there is no butter in it!  To be a butter, a spread must contain more fruit than sugar...which results in the very concentrated fig flavor you find in this wonderful spread."  And it's very tasty.

For the apricot I used Apricot Preserves.  I just didn't feel like making the Levkar.

Ready to roll...I did half nuts, half without.

And because I was feeling even more ambitious, I did the cinnamon/sugar version as well as a Nutella one!  So, in all I ended up with 4 different kinds - each with and without nuts for the nut-free friends, but I can't promise a nut crumb didn't sneak in.  There's my disclaimer.  Just saying...

After they were all baked and cooled (thank you, double oven), I tried one of each.  For testing purposes, of course.  I have to say the Apricot are my fav, then Nutella, and tied for third are the Fig and Cinnamon/Sugar.  Nutella would have been first, but I'm still on chocolate overload after the tartlets.

And My Critic says: Why do they look different? (Not rolled in the traditional crescent-shape).  Two thumbs up!  (He originally only wanted the Cinnamon/Sugar ones, but I convinced him to try the Apricot.  I mean, they're rolled in so much sugar you can't even taste the fruit!)


If you'd like to try making them for yourself, check out fellow TWD members Jessica of My Baking Heart and Margaret of The Urban Baker.  Up next = Irish Soda Bread