Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Cookie Exchange Cookies--Southern Style!

Today I've been baking cookies for a Cookie Exchange I'm attending tomorrow. The 'Cookie Lady' said "No store bought cookies, No Pillsberry Dough cookies, et cetera...only real homemade cookies!" Lord have mercy! That got me in a real panic! If The Fresh Market doesn't make 'em, I don't usually eat 'em!!!

So, I racked my brain to come up with a 'real cookie.' I have to tell y'all...I'm not really a good baker, so this got me pretty worked up into a tizzy! Anywho...I came up with Red Velvet Cake Cookies. Hmmm, when I saw the recipe from Betty Crocker, I knew it was the cookie for Miss Janice!

Now, I've been baking 9 dozen of these yummy things and I'm dressed very casual...{actually, I look like something the cat drug in}--I'm wearing my stretchy pants, my new red Paula Deen "Hey Y'all" apron, and my house socks! The oven has been on the entire day and I'm exhausted, but the cookies are ready to go!

I started with the baked cookies...then frosted them with cream cheese icing, and topped them off with chopped pecans!
Here are the cute little cookie boxes I got at Michael's...
I added the recipe to the bottom of the box ~ in the Church Lady style!
The Red Velvet Cookies on a bed of white shred, inside the boxes...
Now I have cookies to carry to the Cookie Exchange tomorrow, cookies for friends, and cookies for moi!


Recipe for Red Velvet Cookies:
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 egg
3/4 to 1 cup Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Stir cookie mix, cocoa, butter, sour cream, food coloring, and egg until soft dough forms.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-9 minutes or until set. Cool 2 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

Frost cooled cookies with frosting. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Makes 36 cookies.




Thank you for visiting with me today. Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!!!

24 comments:

The 5 Bickies said...

Perfect timing...I have a cookie exchange on Thursday and was wondering how to package the cookies I bake. I am making a chocolate caramel shortbread cookie and might run in to Michael's for some of those boxes. Also love your idea of putting the recipe on the bottom of the box. Think of all the cookies you will bring home.

Whosyergurl said...

Do I get to be the first comment? YAY! Your cookies look yummy, the boxes are adorable! I bet your house smells delicious. Won't the mister want one or two when he comes in?
XO, Cheryl

GatorGirlintheCity said...

Miss Janice, does that mean each guest will get a dozen cookies? I'm hosting my 2nd annual cookie swap, but we do it a bit differently. Because we all have small families, we all bring 3 dozen cookies and leave with 3 dozen different cookies. Not sure my friends would be up for baking more than that anyways!

Tammy B said...

Those look yummy! I'm going to have to copy and save that recipe.

Lori said...

No way, you wrote every recipe card! I went to one this past Sunday. I took Southern Living.. peanut butter candy bar cookies (mini snickers in the middle) They were great, but I won't make them again. I get upset when they don't turn out like the picture. I guess my butter was too soft. Your boxes were perfect. I bet they all get taken first.

Pamela said...

Oh, so yummy looking. I'm kinda paper crazy so the recipe paper called my name. That's a neat idea to include it.

Socially Savvy said...

Oh Yum! Thank you for sharing!

Lori said...

I have a weakness for Red Velvet cake and I KNOW I would have a weakness for these cookies too. I must make these!!!! Soon!!!!

Lori
(Lmsbartow)

preppy little dress AKA "PLD" said...

Fabulous! Have a great time, I love hosting Cookie Exchanges! Although I haven't hosted one in a couple of years!

Kathleen said...

I can't believe I have never been to a cookie exchange. I guess they aren't big here in NY, but they sound like fun!
I spent 4 days last week baking for our Christmas Party Sunday. I am recovering! 55 adults and 24 kids!
Your cookies look delicious, and I did not see boxes like that at Michaels!

Town and Country House said...

Thanks for sharing the recipe! I hope you get lots of great "scratch" cookies!

Kathryn @ Bonafide Southern said...

Miss Janice..these look absolutely divine! I had a little ornament swap tonight at my house and one of my aunts brought these same cookie. They were oh so tasty. I couldn't help but notice that one of your pictures had your address label on it. You may want to remove that picture so no stranger comes lurking in your neighborhood for a cookie! Thanks for sharing.

Kelly said...

These look delicious! I wish I could go back in time and make these for the Christmas party I had last week. Oh well, these will just go on the list for next year :)

Designs on 47th Street said...

Hey Janice, it's been a long time! Now I have heard of red velvet cake and red velvet cupcakes, but not cookies! These look like something my family would enhale! Thanks for sharing.

I hope you'll stop by and see me again sometime. (Was that bad manners to ask? :)

Donna

nomo wino daph said...

OH MY YUM!!! When i grow up, I want to be just like you:)

I bet mini-me would enjoy making these....we love some red velvet!!

xo

Anonymous said...

Oh yum, I LOVE red velvet! These are so perfect for the holidays, as well! Thanks so much for the recipe!

Nanette said...

Hi Miss Janice,
Well it looks as if your cookies turned out wonderful. Love the packaging, lovely presentation. Love the comment about your stretchy pants, that's the way to bake ... in comfort!
Valerie

Roxie said...

I've made these cookies before using this easy recipe:
1 Box Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Mix all ingredients together. This will make a cookie dough. Roll into balls and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Flatten down slightly (depending on the thickness you desire). Bake at 375° until the tops crackle (about 8-10 minutes) or until desired doneness.

Cool and then frost with basic...

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 ounce package cream cheese -- softened
1/4 cup stick margarine or butter -- softened
2 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar (you may have to use more - make sure the icing is stiff so it will dry quicker)

Beat cream cheese, margarine, milk and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.

Gradually beat in powdered sugar on low speed, 1 cup at a time, until smooth and spreadable. Add nuts if desired.

A Hint of Home said...

Oh my! I should not have looked at this post while hungry.
They are making my mouth water. lol
Thanks for the recipe!

Laur said...

What a cute way to package your cookies! Hope you had fun baking! XO

ekgcooper-crofton said...

Hi Miss Janice!

I'm making Red Velvet Cupcakes for my work (Art Gallery of Western Australia) Christmas party and I just had to say I'm also making your Red Velvet Cookies too for take home gifts. Wish me luck!

jeanie said...

Your cookies look delicious. Red Velvet cake is my grandson's favorite cake so I've got to make those cookies for him! Unfortunately, we don't have a Michael's near us--those boxes are adorable.

Merry Christmas!!

Miss Janice said...

Edward,
I do hope the cookies came out great! I love them:)
Miss Janice

Custom Packaging Retail said...

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