What could be better than a cookie night at home with friends? Here are some photos of the cookie exchange and a winning recipe…
What an expanse! I hosted my first cookie exchange 14 years ago as a sleepy new mom (see baby Toby in the second photo?). The event has since been held again in recent years, making this the fourth time. Always one of my favorite gatherings.
my friend rear I ordered these personalized photo cookiesit made us all laugh. Brooklyn Nine-Nine! Warriors! panda dunk! Potato chips!
my friend Zahra I made homemade Oreos.
Dan Pelosi brought italian cookiesof course.
I drank wine and eggnog…
And mixed.
Cookie exchanges aren’t usually competitions, but 14-year-old Toby loves declaring himself the judge. “I haven’t tried everything,” he admitted of joining this year’s group. “I was full.” But he tasted the bulk, and the widely agreed winner was…
Awesome thumbprint cookies in the pink box above. It was very delicious with the sour passion fruit and the soft cookie that tasted like shortbread.
Writer and amateur baker ruby smith (On the right, with Erica) He was kind enough to email me the recipe the next day.
passion fruit thumbprint cookies
1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
2/3 cup (150 grams) sugar
2 egg yolks (room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (you can also add a few drops of almond extract if you like)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/3 cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (or approx.) passion fruit curd (passion fruit curd can be hard to find; I buy mine below) Karstian’syou can also order online. You can also use lemon curd instead. Or any kind of jam. I made it for my family using guava butter that my mom brought home from her travels – it was delicious. )
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer), mix the softened butter and sugar for 2 minutes or until well combined. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and salt and mix until incorporated. Mix in the flour. The dough will be a little crumbly, but it should stick together when you press it.
Roll into balls and use your thumb or the handle of a wooden spoon to make an indentation in each cookie. Spoon curd into each cookie. Bake for 11-14 minutes. The cookies are done when they look matte with no wet or shiny spots, but they should still be quite soft to the touch. It will solidify further as it cools. Cool completely before serving.
It’s a blurry photo but I still love it 🙂
what about you? Have you ever hosted a cookie party? Or would you recommend a different type of gathering? It’s always fun to hear about gatherings…
PS Last year’s epic cookie exchange and the year before that (how cute is that sweater?).
(Film photo provided by: Erica Vurink. )
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
