cdkitchen > cooking experts > amy powell
In case you haven’t noticed, this is the most wonderful time of the year. Whether you are party hopping or happily hostessing, the coming month promises a dizzying amount of revelries. In fact, December is often so full of dressing up, passed canapés, mistletoe, puff pastry and phyllo, many of us are ready to cry mercy by January 1st. For all these reasons and more, I think there are nothing quite like Christmas cookies to cut through the glitz and tinsel bringing all the craziness of the season back down to earth.
It is not Christmas cookies per se, but the opportunity they offer for everything from a heartfelt gift to a quickly thrown together treat when a friend stops by for a visit to the entire basis for a casual holiday party.
Many people specialize in Christmas cookies, sending boxes to family members with an assortment of 20 different kinds. That's wonderful that industrious and crazy aunts have the time to make 20 different batches of cookies, but I am not one of those people. But just because my cookies and cookie parties are on the simpler side, doesn’t make the sentiment behind them any different.
The cookie itself can be a great gift. And this year, when money might be a little tight, a homemade gift is a great way of showing you care without breaking the bank. Making your favorite cookies and packing them in a unique way, say in decorated Chinese takeout boxes, makes a nice twist on an always welcome gift.
Then of course, there is the classic “cookie jar.” In a clear glass jar, layer the ingredients for your favorite cookie recipe into an attractive striped pattern. Attach a card with directions for making the cookies. It is a gift that takes about 5 minutes to assemble will result in endless gratitude in return.
Having a good 30 minute cookie recipe on hand made with ingredients that you usually have around the house is great for surprise visitors. Bar cookie recipes that have sugar, some flour, eggs, and a nut of some sort are made with ingredients you probably already have in the pantry and refrigerator. Once the ingredients are assembled, the dough couldn’t be easier to throw together by hand or even in a food processor. Once mixed, press the dough into a pan and then into the oven for about 15 minutes. While the cookies are in the oven, put the kettle on and get out the teapot. Fresh cookies and a cup of tea couldn’t be a better way to spend an impromptu holiday afternoon visiting with a good friend.
Cookie exchanges are one of the oldest parties in the holiday season repertoire. I like to throw a version of that old standby as a kind of antidote to the typical flash and stress of the party season. In fact, my cookie party is so casual I do little more than bake one or two batches of cookies, buy some Prosecco, and put a kettle on to boil for tea. My friends come by, each with a batch of cookies in hand and maybe a gift for an exchange.
In addition to a quick bar cookie recipe, I also make either gingerbread or sugar cookies, put out bowls of frosting and sprinkles and let my guests decorate themselves. This is such a DIY party that I even have colored paper bags, markers, and stickers so that my friends can decorate their own bags to take home their cookie bounty. We sit, we eat, we decorate. The cookie party is stress free and both friend- and fun-filled, the way the holiday season should always be.
Whether for a gift, a friend, or a party, if you are feeling motivated to spice up the standard bar cookie recipes there are easy additions that can add a lot of pizazz. In addition to or in place of the nuts, try mixing in chopped candies such as mint after-dinner chocolates for a luxurious chocolate flavor with minty twist for the holidays. Chopped candied cherries in red and green give the perfect festive look for almost no extra work. And when all else fails, holiday colored frosting and sprinkles never fail to give a plain cookie some festive spirit.
In this most wondrous time of the year, it is easy to bounce from office party, to house party, to luncheon and happy hours without taking a breath for the simpler things that the season offers. A cookie for a friend, a party, or even Santa--all are a sweet reminder of wonderful and simpler things the season has to offer.
©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/amy-powell/806-christmas-cookie-gifts/
Holiday Time Is Cookie Time
In case you haven’t noticed, this is the most wonderful time of the year. Whether you are party hopping or happily hostessing, the coming month promises a dizzying amount of revelries. In fact, December is often so full of dressing up, passed canapés, mistletoe, puff pastry and phyllo, many of us are ready to cry mercy by January 1st. For all these reasons and more, I think there are nothing quite like Christmas cookies to cut through the glitz and tinsel bringing all the craziness of the season back down to earth.
It is not Christmas cookies per se, but the opportunity they offer for everything from a heartfelt gift to a quickly thrown together treat when a friend stops by for a visit to the entire basis for a casual holiday party.
Many people specialize in Christmas cookies, sending boxes to family members with an assortment of 20 different kinds. That's wonderful that industrious and crazy aunts have the time to make 20 different batches of cookies, but I am not one of those people. But just because my cookies and cookie parties are on the simpler side, doesn’t make the sentiment behind them any different.
The cookie itself can be a great gift. And this year, when money might be a little tight, a homemade gift is a great way of showing you care without breaking the bank. Making your favorite cookies and packing them in a unique way, say in decorated Chinese takeout boxes, makes a nice twist on an always welcome gift.
Then of course, there is the classic “cookie jar.” In a clear glass jar, layer the ingredients for your favorite cookie recipe into an attractive striped pattern. Attach a card with directions for making the cookies. It is a gift that takes about 5 minutes to assemble will result in endless gratitude in return.
Having a good 30 minute cookie recipe on hand made with ingredients that you usually have around the house is great for surprise visitors. Bar cookie recipes that have sugar, some flour, eggs, and a nut of some sort are made with ingredients you probably already have in the pantry and refrigerator. Once the ingredients are assembled, the dough couldn’t be easier to throw together by hand or even in a food processor. Once mixed, press the dough into a pan and then into the oven for about 15 minutes. While the cookies are in the oven, put the kettle on and get out the teapot. Fresh cookies and a cup of tea couldn’t be a better way to spend an impromptu holiday afternoon visiting with a good friend.
Cookie exchanges are one of the oldest parties in the holiday season repertoire. I like to throw a version of that old standby as a kind of antidote to the typical flash and stress of the party season. In fact, my cookie party is so casual I do little more than bake one or two batches of cookies, buy some Prosecco, and put a kettle on to boil for tea. My friends come by, each with a batch of cookies in hand and maybe a gift for an exchange.
In addition to a quick bar cookie recipe, I also make either gingerbread or sugar cookies, put out bowls of frosting and sprinkles and let my guests decorate themselves. This is such a DIY party that I even have colored paper bags, markers, and stickers so that my friends can decorate their own bags to take home their cookie bounty. We sit, we eat, we decorate. The cookie party is stress free and both friend- and fun-filled, the way the holiday season should always be.
Whether for a gift, a friend, or a party, if you are feeling motivated to spice up the standard bar cookie recipes there are easy additions that can add a lot of pizazz. In addition to or in place of the nuts, try mixing in chopped candies such as mint after-dinner chocolates for a luxurious chocolate flavor with minty twist for the holidays. Chopped candied cherries in red and green give the perfect festive look for almost no extra work. And when all else fails, holiday colored frosting and sprinkles never fail to give a plain cookie some festive spirit.
In this most wondrous time of the year, it is easy to bounce from office party, to house party, to luncheon and happy hours without taking a breath for the simpler things that the season offers. A cookie for a friend, a party, or even Santa--all are a sweet reminder of wonderful and simpler things the season has to offer.
Ginger Almond Bar Cookie
Made with almonds, candied ginger, chopped in a small dice, brown sugar, butter, salt, baking powder, flour
Made with almonds, candied ginger, chopped in a small dice, brown sugar, butter, salt, baking powder, flour
Serves/Makes: 18
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/3 cup candied ginger, chopped in a small dice
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a mixing bowl, beat softened butter with sugar until creamed. Add flour and beat again. Stir in ginger and almonds.
Press dough into a greased 9 x 9 inch pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool on a rack then slice into cookies.
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©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/amy-powell/806-christmas-cookie-gifts/