Living on a Coupon: WE COOK: COOKIE EXCHANGE + RECIPES!!

One of my favorite things to do around the Holidays is a Cookie Exchange.

A group of my favorite girls get together every year and do this.

It is the perfect way to get several goodies without having to do all the baking!

I made 3 different treats and came home with 9 new ones.

it makes my house look like I was the Baking Queen! HA!

TOP: Snowman Poop
LEFT BOTTOM: Scandinavian Almond Cookies
RIGHT BOTTOM: Black Eyed Susans

*SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND COOKIES* (these remind me of a biscotti)

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbl milk
Sliced Almonds

ALMOND ICING:

1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 or 2 tbl. milk (just enough to make the icings a drizzle consistancy)

DIRECTIONS:

in a seperate bowl (from your mixing bowl) combine the flour, baking powder and salt.
In your mixing bowl cream sugar and butter
Add egg and almond extract. Mix until well combined.
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mixing well. Divide dough into four parts and roll each part into a 12 tube.
Place 2 of the dough tubes on a cookie sheet and gently press the dough flat with your hand until the dough is about 3 inches wide.
Brush the dough with milk and sprinkle with sliced almonds.

Bake 18-20 minutes at 325 degrees. or until edges are lightly brownded.
While cookie is still hot, cut diagionally into 1 inch slices.

Move the cookies to wire racks to cool completely, drizzle with icing.

*BLACK EYED SUSANS*

(A spritz cookie with a chocolate chip placed in the centers to mimic the flower)

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

DIRECTIONS:

Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and next 3 ingredients, beating well.
Combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to butter mixture, beating until blended.
Use a cookie gun fitted with a flower-shaped disc to make cookies, following manufacturer's instructions. Place cookies on lightly greased baking sheets. Place a chocolate morsel in the center of each cookie.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Chill 30 minutes. Freeze up to 1 month, if desired.

Makes 8 dozen.

*SNOWMAN POOP (this recipe is dang easy and uses my kids favorite cereal)

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups of Captain Crunch

4 cups of mini marshmallows

2 pounds of White Chocolate Melts

1 cup of Creamy Peanutbutter

1 tsp. of Vanilla

DIRECTIONS