First time cookie exchange goer!

[Janaki]

Hello Everyone,

First and foremost, I love this site! It is absolutely wonderful.

I was wondering if anyone can help me. I am going to my first cookie exchange party and I can not decide on any recipes.

I wanted to do a cookie that was easy yet it is new. I looked at fruit cake cookie recipe and has anyone done this? If yes, was it easy?

Any other recipe suggestions welcomed!

Thank you so much for your help.

Janaki

[Susan]

I've never made a fruit cake cookie, so can't comment on that. There are 1000s of recipes on the web to choose from.

Try www.FoodTV.com or www.Epicurious.com, or check out www.christmas-cookies.com.

If you're not sure, go with a simple tried and true recipe like sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, or butter cookies. They're easy and have a short list of ingredients.

My best advice for a first time guest would be to choose a recipe and make a practice batch before the exchange. Sometimes recipes look great on paper and don't turn out so well when you make them. Do it early enough to allow you time to make something else if you decide the cookie is not what you want.

Two weeks ago I made 4 new recipes on a Sunday afternoon and it only took a few hours. It was practice for my cookie exchange coming up Dec 11. Of the 4 cookies, 3 were good; the 4th I wouldn't make again. One of them I'll probably make for my own exchange.

Practice is good insurance that you'll have a great cookie to trade. ;D

[Bonnie]

I would stick with something tried and true if this is your first exchange or don't bake a lot of different cookies for the holidays.

I have found that the Peanut Butter Blossoms are a favorite even though they are not uncommon. They are easy to make and look great on a platter.

[Janaki Mehta]

Thank you guys so much for all of your help. You are right - I am going to keep it simple. I am going to try something simple and take them. Maybe next year!

Thanks again guys.

[Sharon]

what i told everyone. (most are not experienced baker's) how to pick a cookie you would like to bake for the event. think of your top 10 favorite and list them in order of most favorite to least. then think about the type of people who will be attending. family, church, coworkers, fellow workers/students. are they laid back casual types or are they formal trying to out do the jones's type? if they are the casual type they will not mind a first time try new cookie they are more understanding. but if they are more formal tit for tat out do the jonses's type then you look at your list for the wow effect cookie. wow does not mean complicated. always have a plan b cookie (for back up)

we try out a small sample batch of our top 3 choices 2 weeks before the event to see how much of a good choice they are. there is plenty of time enough to get another choice and more supplies. we try to bake the final cookies 3-5 days before the exchange.

this is your chance to overcome a challenge and let your wings spread and fly try something new. if it does not turn out to meet your expectations then again there is always next year to plan for. plus who is going to know of your failure unless you tell them? who knows you may event a new cookie. my dd invented one last year that was a huge hit all from a small mistake.