Hot Chocolate and Cookie Social

[CptMom96]

My neighborhood is having a "Hot Chocolate and Cookie" Social. I am almost positive I am going to make Candy Cane Hot White Chocolate, but I need ideas for cookies! Thanks ya'll!

[Cricket]

That sounds like a lot of fun! I've never heard of that kind of party before.

Here's the only recipe I have handy:

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

3-eggs-beaten
1 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup butter (real, not magarine)
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 cup white sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups oatmeal (I just by the quick oats)
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Combine eggs, raisins, and vanilla. Let stand (covered) for one hour at room temperature (Warning! DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP)


Cream together butter and sugars. Add flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Mix well!


Blend in egg-raisin mixture, oatmeal and nuts. Dough will be really stiff (this is normal).


Drop by teaspoon on UNGREASED cookie sheet. Flatten slightly.


Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

[Lily]

This month's Woman's Day magazine has their Annual Christmas Cookie Cookbook in it. There is a recipe for Santa's Whiskers which I thought would be a great "go with" the white chocolate cocoa you are having. If you want the recipe, I'll type it up for you. Two other cookies listed in this cookbook are Shortbread Trees and Peppermint Tea Cakes that I thought sounded like they would go well with cocoa. Good luck. The social sounds like a fun idea.

[marthainthemaking]

Well, I am just getting hungry thinkning about this party. I might throw one of my own. Please write back afterwards and let us know how it was. Any little details would be great as well...

Here is a link to a bunch of different cookie recipes:

http://cookie.allrecipes.com/

Snickerdoodles with hershey kiss in the middle are always my favorite!

[DeeK]

I'm not usually a "cookie baker", but I made these the other day and they were really good and easy to make too. ;)

Butterfinger Cookies

1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Butterfinger candy bars, cut into small pieces

Cream shortening and sugar together. Beat in egg. Sift together dry ingrediens. Sprinkle in candy pieces and combine with creamed mixture. Chill well.

Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 13 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on sheet before removing to baking rack to cool completely.

[CptMom96]

Hey Lily!

Would you please post the recipe for Santa's Whiskers? I think everyone would enjoy it! Thank you so much!

[Lily]

Here ya go.................. If somebody makes these, please give a review!

Santa's Whiskers
from Woman's Day Magazine 2005

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. each vanilla and coconut extract
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups all purpose flour
3 cupssweetened shredded coconut
1 cup red and/or green candied cherries, coarsely chopped

Heat oven to 350. Have baking sheets ready.

Beat butter, sugar, egg, milk, extracts and salt in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed until blended (mixture may look curdled). On low speed, beat in flour until combined. Stir in 1 cup of the coconut and the cherries.

Put remaining coconut into a bowl. Drop rounded measuring teaspooons of dough into coconut; turn gently to coat. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake 15 minutes or until coconut is toasted and cookies are set. Cool slightly on baking sheet on a wire rack before removing to rack to cool completely.

Storage tip: Store airtight with wax paper between layers at room temperature up to 1 week, in refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or freeze up to 3 months.

[shopsticks]

Martha Stewart's Holiday cookie magazine has tons of cookie recipes in case you are interested!

[Ginger]

These are pretty & you can freeze them if you want to make them ahead:
MERRY MERINGUE CHRISTMAS COOKIES (about 5 dozen)
2 egg whites, room temperature
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts
3 TBL crushed peppermint candy

Preheat oven to 250° (not 350.) Lightly grease two or more baking sheets. Using a mixer, beat the egg whites in a medium bowl until foamy. Add the salt & cream of tartar & continue beating until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, 1 TBL at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until the meringue is stiff.
Fold in the vanilla, chocolate chips, nuts & candy. Drop by teaspoonfuls, 1/2" apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake 40 minutes. Remove to cake racks to cool.~~From Plain & Fancy

[CptMom96]

Ya'll are giving me some TERRIFIC recipes and websites! WOW!! Thank ya'll so much! Keep them coming!!

[Lily]

Take a look at this one for cookie ideas. There isn't a one that doesn't sound delish!

http://www.joyofbaking.com/ChristmasBaking.html

[CptMom96]

Wonderful website Lily!! WOW!! How MANY different cookies am I going to make LOL!! :D

[AuKat]

My neighborhood is having a "Hot Chocolate and Cookie" Social. I am almost positive I am going to make Candy Cane Hot White Chocolate, but I need ideas for cookies! Thanks ya'll!
Please share your Hot Chocolate Recipie. Thanks so much!

[SouthernStyle]

I would like to do something like this in my neighborhood. We have a friendly lot, but not very social. Could you give some details on the logistics?

[CptMom96]

SouthernStyle,

I am very fortunate to live in a neighborhood that likes to socialize! We meet once a month at our "common area" (actually the boat launch area that has picnic tables and a pier). How we started was with a 4th of July social. We put fliers in all of the mailboxes telling where the "meeting " will be...whose house, what night, time. We then meet and decide what to do over the next few months, trying to do something once a month. We did a wine tasting and appetizer party in October...it was a hit. We also have a newsletter that goes out about every 6 weeks or so. A few days before the event, we post signs at the entrance to the sub division and at a few other key spots advertising what we are having, where, what time and a number to call if they need more info. Try it SouthernSTyle, you may be surprised at how people really like to socialize! If I can be of any more help, let me know.

[CptMom96]

AU KAT,

Here is the recipe for the hot chocolate. I hope you will try it and enjoy!

CANDY CANE HOT WHITE CHOCOLATE

12 CUPS MILK
9 OZS LINDT OR BAKER'S WHITE CHOCOLATE, CHOPPED
1 CUP CRUSHED RED AND WHITE STRIPPED CANDY CANES OR HARD PEPPERMINT CANDIES
1/4 TSP SALT
1 1/2 CUPS PEPPERMINT SCHNAPPS
WHIPPED CREAM
ADDITIONAL CANDY CANES OR PEPPERMINT

BRING MILK TO SIMMER IN LARGE SAUCEPAN, REDUCE TO MEDIUM LOW. ADD WHITE CHOCOLATE, 1 CUP CANDY AND SALT. WHISK UNTIL SMOOTH. ADD SCHNAPPS. LADLE INTO MUGS. TOP WITH WHIPPED CREAM AND ADDITIONAL PEPPERMINT OR A CANDY CANE. ENJOY!!

[SouthernStyle]

CptMom,

Thanks for the info. Last Christmas Eve I hosted a drop in of sorts and invited the neighbors I had met (even if I didn't know them well) and they all came and seemed to enjoy themselves,as the festivities lasted for a long time and there was lost of natural conversation and fun. Unfortunately I haven't heard from some of them since. I was thinking I would do something again.

[Veecee]

I'm not usually a "cookie baker", but I made these the other day and they were really good and easy to make too. ;)

Butterfinger Cookies

Dee, I just read this recipe of yours and hit print without a second thought - wow does this sound great! Butterfinger is one of my favorite candy bars. This will be my first Christas cookie recipe that I make! (I'm gonna be in big trouble with these in the house... :rolleyes: )

With your recipe as inspiration, I searched & found this page on the net featuring candy bar recipes. Thought you might like to take a look.

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/mainstreet/candy/

[Veecee]

I'm not usually a "cookie baker", but I made these the other day and they were really good and easy to make too. ;)

Butterfinger Cookies

Dee, I just read this recipe of yours and hit print without a second thought - wow does this sound great! Butterfinger is one of my favorite candy bars. This will be my first Christmas cookie recipe that I make! (I'm gonna be in big trouble with these in the house... :rolleyes: )

With your recipe as inspiration, I searched & found this page on the net featuring candy bar recipes. Thought you might like to take a look.

http://www.thatsmyhome.com/mainstreet/candy/

[Veecee]

Sorry again, tried to edit and accidently made two. :o
Is there a trick to editing these posts?

[Sassygrits]

Here is another site to visit:

http://www.bettycrockercookies.com/

Hope you find something wonderful!!! :D

[Cricket]

Sorry again, tried to edit and accidently made two. :o
Is there a trick to editing these posts?

The edit feature doesn't work here anymore. From reading old threads, evidently there was some trouble before where people would flame others and then edit what they said so it was taken away.

I wish it did work, though, because I don't always catch all my typos when I preview.

[CptMom96]

Hey Ya'll,
Friday night was the social. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful recipes! Believe it or not, my neighbors and I got together and made ALL of the recipes you posted! They were wonderful! I ended up making Santa's Shortbread Cookies from SL and rolled them in pecans. WONDERFUL!

Thank ya'll again for helping me out! If you live in a neighborhood where you could do a social like this...try it!

The newcomer hit recipe of the party....Cinnamon Bread Sticks....Here is the recipe..I urge you to try it!

1 package of the skinniest breadsticks you can buy at the grocery store....they come in a box and usually found near the salad aisle

1 stick butter, melted
cinnamon and sugar mixed together.

You got it! Break bread sticks in half lengthwise. Dip the bread sticks in the butter and roll them in the cinnamon sugar mix. Bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes (depending on your oven). Let cool. BEWARE! THESE ARE ADDICTIVE LITTLE THINGS!