Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2013

Teresa Ambra

Teresa’s Bake Shop – Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2013

Okay, it’s Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2013 time! Every year for the past 35 years, John and I have made Christmas cookies to give away to family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, church staff, church family and friends, and service providers. We make between 4,000 and 5,000 cookies (usually about 300-400 per type of cookie/brownie), and seal them in poly bags so they will stay fresher longer. We freeze them before assembling them once all the cookies have been baked. Then we put them in popcorn tins, buckets, or on trays for delivery.

Follow Me On Instagram!

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2013 is always a huge process. This year, I spent two weeks baking at least one type of cookie per day (and on two  or three of those days I made two types of cookies), heat sealing the cookies in bags, and ,then, finally bagging them down in ziplock bags for the freezer. By the time I was finished all four of our freezers were chocked full of cookies! Then John drives all over the metroplex to find popcorn tins, buckets and trays. We probably should order them online but we just never have. This year we filled 12 popcorn tins, 60-70 buckets and 20-25 trays with Christmas cookies. I bring out all of the bags of each cookie one at a time, and go through and put them in each tin, bucket or tray before starting with another cookie. I usually place the sturdier cookies or brownies on the bottom and the top cookies are the iced cookies and more fragile cookies. It took several hours doing this as I walked around all the tables set up in my rather spacious dining room and deposited bagged cookies in each container. Yes, I got my walking exercise in that day!

My husband shared many of the steps in the process with his FaceBook friends, but this is where I share with the blogging community what we do and the end results. And, while it is a wearying process–it took me several days to recover the desire to do anything but sit in my recliner–I’d do it again in a moment! I usually start planning what I’m going to make in the summer as I see recipes I want to try. I also have to include family favorites. Those cookies or brownies are alternated so I’m not baking the same thing every year. Then I make a list and shop for everything. This year, I was busy with other things and mostly did everything on the fly. We didn’t really decide to do all the Christmas cookie baking until about the week before Thanksgiving. So I started with ingredients I already had on hand and then sent my husband out to the store to pick up anything necessary on a daily basis after that. Thankfully, he’s never minded store runs or helping me out wherever I need help.

The biggest hit this year, by far, was the Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies, that was a cookie I hadn’t even planned on making when I started. I just happened to see a picture of it on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. Oh, my, those cookies were so delicious. I have had rave reviews from so many of our recipients that, although they liked ALL the cookies, the Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies were their favorites!

The only thing that we have made every single year, except the first year, are the Coconut Date Balls which are such a favorite we’d get an earful if they weren’t included. I didn’t take any new pictures of them this year since last year’s pictures were good enough. So the pictures below are a little of the process we go through as we bake Christmas cookies each year. I’ve also included all the cookies I made in November for other holiday parties. So here you go. 24 of the best cookie recipes you’ll ever eat! Check them out. Each one is wonderful!

CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXTRAVAGANZA – 2013

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_7522

Butterfinger Blondies are one of the most scrumptious cookies we made this year. This great recipe was my introduction to Pinterest and the pinning world in January 2012. Yay.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2207

Here’s a big batch of Peanut Butter Chip Oatmeal Cookies ready to be bagged down, sealed, and stored in the freezer. (This is only a fraction of that batch!) 🙂

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2851

Here are some of the containers used to give away our Christmas cookies this year.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2853

Here’s what they looked like in individual buckets.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2854

I put the more fragile cookies toward the top, including any iced cookies like my BEST Sugar Cookies (and they really are the best I’ve ever eaten) and Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2855

Here’s another table of buckets. I had three long tables in my dining room covered with buckets, trays and popcorn tins, as well as all available space in my kitchen!

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2856

Here’s another look at the buckets on this table. It takes a lot of cookies to fill up this many buckets. I usually placed between 2 to 4 cookies of each type in each container–depending on how big the cookie was and how many I made of that particular recipe.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2857

After I fill up the tins and buckets with a certain amount of cookies I use the leftovers for the trays. No tray is exactly the same, and some have several kinds of cookies on them and others may have been filled with just two or three different kinds of cookies.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2858

Here’s a close up of one of the trays before John wraps it up tightly in plastic wrap. Each container includes a copy of my recipes for those with food allergies or any that may want to make up a batch of cookies on their own sometime.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2859

BEST Sugar Cookies were also rated very highly this year. They are So-So good.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013 - IMG_2860

This tray has some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies in the middle. I had quite a few guys tell me they really liked these cookies.

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2023 - IMG_2852

Here’s another close up of the cookies stuffed in the popcorn tins. One of these tins holds approximately 80 to 100 cookies depending on how many are larger, like brownies.

Here Are the Cookies:

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars - IMG_4534

Luscious No Bake Chocolate Bars

Luscious No Bake Chocolate Bars - Nanaimo Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #dessert is sinfully rich & so decadent. Every bite will have you drooling. It's the perfect #brownie to wow your family & friends. #FathersDay #FathersDayDessert #Chocolate #cookie #ChocolateDessert #NanaimoBars #Canada #coconut #NoBakeDessert #LusciousNoBakeChocolateBars #holiday #HolidayDessert

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars

Reese's Peanut Butter Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this spectacular #dessert is rich, decadent & divine! It uses only 5 ingredients. It's a fantastic #copycat #recipe for #ReesesPeanutButterCups. No kidding! Perfect for #tailgating parties & potlucks, or #holidays like #MemorialDay or #FathersDay. #cookie #chocolate #brownie #ChocolateDessert #PeanutButterDessert #ReesesPeanutButterBars

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fabulous #cookies start with the famous #NanaimoBars so they're rich and decadent. They're filled with #chocolate chips, #coconut, #GrahamCracker crumbs, #pecans & buttercream icing made from vanilla pudding! Terrific for #tailgating or #holiday parties. #ChocolateChipPuddingCookies

Butterfinger Blondies

Butterfinger Blondies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these incredibly outrageous #brownies will have you salivating after the first bite. They are absolutely divine. These #cookies are perfect for #holiday #baking & #Christmas #cookie exchanges. #Butterfingers #ButterfingerDessert #chocolate #caramel #chocolatedessert #ChristmasDessert

Fudge Frosted Brownies

Fudge Frosted Brownies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these are my favorite #brownies - they're topped with a thick #fudge frosting that's to die for! #dessert

Ginger Crinkles

Ginger Crinkles | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these classic #cookies are favorites for #holiday baking and #Christmas cookie exchanges. #dessert

Oreo Cookie Meltaways

Oreo Cookie Meltaways | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these over-the-top #cookies simply dissolve in your mouth! They're rich, decadent, chocolaty and so enjoyable! If you like #Oreos, you'll love them in this #dessert. #chocolate #OreoDessert #ChocolateDessert #ChristmasCookieExchange #tailgating

BEST Sugar Cookies

Best Sugar Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #SugarCookies are my absolute favorite #recipe! They are perfect for #holiday parties & #ChristmasCookieExchanges. The secret ingredient makes all the difference and the frosting is divine! #Dessert #cookies #HolidayDessert #ChristmasDessert #IcedSugarCookies

Cherry Surprises

Cherry Surprises | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these melt-in-your-mouth #cookies are absolutely spectacular. #CandiedCherries are hidden inside each #cookie before #baking. Then they're rolled in powdered sugar to serve. These heavenly cookies have been on our #ChristmasCookie baking list for decades! #dessert #Christmas #ChristmasDessert #cherry #CherryDessert #ChristmasCookieExchange

Caramel Oatmeal Cookies

Caramel Oatmeal Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #oatmealcookies contain #caramel bits & vanilla chips adding scrumptious flavors to an old favorite. They're terrific for #holiday baking and #Christmas #cookie exchanges. #dessert

Caramel Bars

Caramel Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Peanut Butter Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Peanut Butter Chip Oatmeal Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #cookies are fantastic! #OatmealCookies are amped up with #walnuts & #ReesesPeanutButterChips. They are mouthwatering, irresistible & heavenly. Marvelous for #tailgating parties, #holiday #baking & #ChristmasCookieExchanges. #PeanutButter #dessert #Reeses #PeanutButterDessert #PeanutButterChipOatmealCookies

Cranberry Almond Bars

Paula Deen's Cranberry Almond Bars | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | fabulous #PaulaDeen #cookie recipe with a streusel crust and topping. The filling is made with fresh #cranberries & #pineapple preserves & #almonds on top. This is a terrific #dessert for #Christmas baking.

Apricot Shortbread Bars

Apricot Shortbread Bars | these luscious #cookies have a #shortbread crust, spread with #Apricot jelly & topped with a scrumptious #coconut topping. Terrific for #tailgating parties, potlucks or #ChristmasCookieExchanges. #dessert #ApricotDessert #HolidayDessert #ApricotShortbreadBars

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these #pumpkin #cookies are utterly delightful. They're filled with #chocolate chips & delicately seasoned with #cinnamon & pumpkin pie spice. Terrific for #holiday baking. #dessert

Date Squares

Date Squares | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these classic #Christmas #cookies are wonderful for #holiday #baking. They're also terrific for #ChristmasCookieExchanges. Everyone loves them. #dates #dessert #ChristmasDessert #HolidayDessert

Chocolate and Vanilla Chip Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate and Vanilla Chip Chocolate Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

Butterfinger Cookies

Butterfinger Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fabulous #PeanutButter #cookies include loads of chopped up #Butterfingers. Absolutely heavenly & terrific for #Tailgating parties, potlucks, #SuperBowl or #ValentinesDay! #holiday #Dessert #HolidayDessert #ButterfingerDessert #PeanutButterDessert #ChocolateDessert #ChristmasCookieExchange #SuperBowlDessert #ValentinesDayDessert

Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies

Melt in Your Mouth Pumpkin Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these are the most awesome #pumpkin #cookies ever! The brown sugar buttercream frosting is amazing. These are terrific for #Christmas baking & parties. #dessert

Coconut Date Balls

Coconut Date Balls | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | our most loved #Christmas #cookie! Everyone always raves over them. Perfect for #holiday baking & parties. #dessert

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these spectacular #cookies include #pumpkin, #CheesecakeJellO & #CinnamonChips. They have explosive flavor & are perfect for #holiday parties or a #ChristmasCookieExchange. Also great for #FallBaking. #fall #dessert #cheesecake #PumpkinDessert #PumpkinCheesecakeCookies #cinnamon

Holiday Chocolate Mint Cookies

Holiday Chocolate Mint Cookies | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | these fantastic #cookies are loaded with #chocolate chips & #mint chips. This delectable #dessert is terrific for #holiday #baking & #Christmas #cookie exchanges. #ChristmasDessert #ChristmasCookieExchange #MintDessert #ChocolateDessert

Chocolate Glazed M&M Skookie

Chocolate Glazed M&M Skookie | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this fantastic skillet #cookie is divine! #M&M cookie dough is glazed with a luscious #chocolate sauce. Perfect for #holidays like #ValentinesDay. #dessert

You may also enjoy these helpful posts!

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2012

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2012 - Christmas Cookies 028

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza – 2014

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2014 - IMG_5074

Tips For Baking Cookies

Tips for Baking Cookies - 81 - IMG_6106

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza - 2013

Teresa Ambra
No ratings yet
Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword almonds, apricot, Butterfingers, caramel, cherries, cherry dessert, chocolate, chocolate chip cookie, chocolate chips, coconut, cookie, cranberry, cream cheese, dates, dessert, oatmeal, peanut butter, pumpkin
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

25 Comments

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Previous Post Next Post