Hark , the biscuit angels spill the beans ! There ’s nothing like a cooky exchange to contribute out the best of the vacation season . forgather with others who get worked up about sprinkles and frost , and swap goods so everyone goes home with a lusciously various assortment of cookie that would take forever to bake all on your own . Does anything epitomize community cooperation and public security on dry land more than this sugar - coated bliss ? We helped host our first cookie exchange this season , a fun and festive gathering for our localWisconsin Farmers Union South Central Chapter . Here are some tips we learned along the way of life . John D. Ivanko
1 . Gather Kindred Cookie - Baking SpiritsIn order to perpetrate off a successful biscuit swap , you need a core group of enthusiastic bakers . We ended up with about 15 essence bread maker and over 30 people full , including kinsperson member and common people we still gladly welcomed who were n’t bread maker ( or are astonishingly avoid sugar this time of twelvemonth ! ) to block off by and socialize . Most were fellow local husbandman , all quick to kick back after the busy harvest and associate with old and fresh champion . John D. Ivanko
Each baker brought about five dozen cookies , so we had mint of bounty for both try and swap . The mixture and flavors of cookies were amazing , including holiday classic like this tower of homemade shortbread . John D. Ivanko
We all gather at an prescribed start time of 6 p.m. to chat and taste , and then bulge out the official swap officially around 7 post meridiem We check the issue atCow & Quince , a raw local - intellectual nourishment restaurant in southwestern Wisconsin . Owner Lori Stern liberally offered to host on a Wednesday nighttime , an eve the eatery was unsympathetic . This worked out to be a win - win all around , as folks could come and see and celebrate the new cafe and we had a beautiful , festive spot for the effect . John D. Ivanko
2 . Identify and Celebrate the CookiesWe gave everyone an identification identity card like the one above to write in the name of their cookie , key ingredient and any storey or background they would wish to share about their treat . This avail identify food allergies and also fetch out lots of playfulness account , such as how some of the ingredients were upraise in one ’s garden and a farsighted kinsperson - recipe story . Next meter we ’ll make more of these designation cards . We think we had enough as we made one for every bread maker who RSVPed with a few to spare . What we did n’t gestate was several baker brought more than one cookie and needed additional calling card . What a merry , tasty trouble to have !
Just for merriment , we also devote everyone when the make it a voting ballot to write in their favorite cookies as they sampled . We had categories like “ Just like Grandma ’s , ” “ Best embellish ” and “ Most Unique Flavor . ” This give everyone a reason to try out every cookie . That say , everyone wanted to try everything but not necessarily commit to a whole cooky , so we quickly made it prescribed that you could break off pieces of cooky to assay — with clean hands , of course .
John D. Ivanko
3 . SampleNeedless to say , sampling is what a cookie central is all about . John D. Ivanko
Expect some unexpected treats at a cookie central . These cupcakes were very popular . John D. Ivanko
A Graeco-Roman cut - out cooky always goes over well . John D. Ivanko
John D. Ivanko
Treats everyone remembers from their puerility , like these peanut butter and cocoa thumbprint cookies , are always favorites .
4 . SwapRight before we started the official commutation , we gathered as a group for some announcements and welcomes and to briefly explain the rally data format . Folks brought tin and container for their take - home bounty and we had some extra paper plates and foil in case they were needed . As a first round of exchanging , swappers took about six of each cooky . That ensured everyone had some of everything . After that , folks could go back and take more of their favorite ( and keep try out ! ) until everything was gone . John D. Ivanko
A with child , deep container works well for your take - menage cookie . We found it helpful to assort and well organize the cookie into smaller containers right when we aim home , grouping things like crispy cookies together ( to keep the crunch ) and jam delicate varietal more carefully . Or better yet , just eat on them right away !
John D. Ivanko
As you probably sensed , we dispatch a gamey distinction first time out of the chute with this cookie commutation , and it now will be an annual tradition . Channel your baking sand and come conjoin us the next first Wednesday evening of December here in the rolling hills of Wisconsin . Or better yet , draw aspiration to host your own , and tell us how it went .
John D. Ivanko
John D. Ivanko
John D. Ivanko
John D. Ivanko
John D. Ivanko
John D. Ivanko
