I can still remember the moment I found out about a cookie swap that was being organized by two amazing gals, Lindsay from Love and Olive Oil and Julie from The Little Kitchen. Not just a cookie swap but,  The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2011. After minutes of jumping with joy I started brainstorming with recipe and packaging ideas! So much fun!

 

Even before deciding which recipe I was going to go with I went shopping for the perfect packaging. This is what I came up with. Tall boxes that simulated buildings, we have a Bakery, a Candy Shop and a Flower Shop. Cute, right? Then I got a fun tissue paper to cover my cookies and still look pretty. Finally I bought some Martha Stewart gift tags and included a big card with my info in it!

First impressions last forever and I’m a very girly girl, I love pretty details. Hope you like it as much as I do!

The recipe I chose was Cinnamon Caramel Cookies, I got this recipe from a book a friend gifted me like a week before the cookie swap. That was a great go to book for me. Will post about it some time!

Cinnamon Caramel Cookie

(recipe from: Cookies 200 inspirational cookies recipes)

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract (I used Madagascar vanilla paste)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
pinch of salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy.

Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract (or paste).

Sift together the flour, cinnamon, allspice, and salt into a medium bowl.

Now, for the fun part! Scoop up tablespoons of the dough, shape into balls (kids can help with this step), and place them on the baking sheet, spaced well apart.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Place a caramel on top of each cookie and bake for an additional 6-7 minutes.

Let cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Eat, share and enjoy!!!

Now, for the cookies I received! The first to arrive was Cinnamon and Chocolate Rugelach Cookies (my husband devoured them) from Michelle Lacayo of Red Pepper, Green Pepper, then came Chocolate Mint Kiss Crinkles (my favorite, I’m a sucker for chocolate) from Dorothy Kern of Crazy for Crust, last but not least I got Oatmeal White Chocolate Butterscotch Pretzel cookies right at my door from Tiffini Kilgore of House of Belonging. For me this last cookie to arrive spells; everything but the kitchen sink and I loved them, actually everyone I gave some of my cookies raved about this one! It’s sweet and salty, the best of both worlds.

Thanks to:!
I was so happy with my cookies and want to thank the gals that send them to me. They did an awesome job. Thanks girls!!! Plus I have to thank Julie and Lindsay for coming up with this amazing idea to organize a cookie swap amongst us food blogger not only to share cookies but to meet. Can you believe that around 22,000 cookies were being shipped all over during the same week? So exciting! It was an experience I’ll cherish for ever and hope to be a part of in more cookie swaps in years to come.

Important info!
Don’t worry if you feel you missed out this year and wasn’t part of the cookie swap for whatever reason, you can go on here “cookie swap notifications” to get notifications from the girls, because, YEAH! there’s a 99% possibility that we are joining for a next year cookie by mail madness! Aren’t you excited yet? You should be, this is awesome!!!

Inspire others!
Be inspired by this great act and spread the sweet cookie love with your neighbors, family members and friends. Remember that a cookie is a great way to make new friends. Enjoy!!!