Almond Joy Cookies for the Great Food Blogger Christmas Cookie Swap

I joined the Great Food Blogger Christmas Cookie Swap for 2014.  It is a cookie exchange without having to leave your house.  I love cookie exchanges and hosted this one last year at my house.  I haven't yet planned my Holiday entertaining yet for this year, but seeing as you can never have too many cookies on hand for the Holidays I figured this would be a great opportunity to start off the Christmas season. Not only that but the swap is also supporting the fight against pediatric cancer.  As part of our registration we were required to give a donation to Cookies for Kids.  Cookies for Kids was founded in 2008 and has helped fund 4 dozen childhood cancer research grants.  What a great kick off to the holiday season.  Baking cookies, swapping cookies and helping fund a program that may allow a family to have their child home and healthy for Christmas.  A perfect scenario!

We were each given 3 other bloggers with whom to exchange cookies.  This means that we sent out 1 dozen to each of our partners and received  3 packages, each containing a different type of cookie. These cookies were shipped no later than December 3rd and we all are sharing our blog posts today.

I found this recipe on Facebook.  There was no credit given so I can't thank whoever wrote and originally posted this recipe.  I don't know how much they taste like an Almond Joy Candy Bar but I do know that they are delicious!!  I hope you enjoy them.

Almond Joy Cookies

1 c. butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

11/2 c. brown sugar

4 eggs

3 t. vanilla

4 1/2 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 package chocolate chips

1 package slivered almonds

2 c. sweetened coconut

In large bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs beating after each.  Add vanilla and slowly add dry ingredients on low speed until incorporated.  Stir in chocolate chips, coconut and almonds.  Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake in a preheated 375* oven for 10 minutes.  Print Recipe

And here they are all packaged up and ready to ship. 

 I hope the bloggers assigned to me enjoy them.

My cookies were sent to Zainab of Blahnik Baker, Lynsey of Lynsey Lou's

 and Faye of Live, Bake, Love .

You need to check out these wonderful foodie blogs!!

Imagine my delight when I came home one day to discover 6 packages awaiting me right before Thanksgiving.  I had not ordered anything and while I was involved in several swaps it was quite a while before the mailing deadline.

Four of the packages were all uniform and obviously sent by the same place.  I began opening them and found 4 lovely "Bake it Forward" cookie tins each containing a coupon for free Imperial or Dixie Crystals product.  Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find this brand here in Michigan.

The next box I opened was marked that it came from OXO, a company that I just love but from which I had not placed an order.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the box to find an 8 piece baker's silicone decorating bottle kit. OXO had sent the kit as a thank you to those of us supporting Cookies for Kids.  They included a letter that told how the foundation was founded by two of their employees after their 2 year old son was diagnosed with cancer.

 I had already completed the cookies for this swap when this gift arrived. But I had planned on making some frosted sugar cookies for my Secret Recipe Club Cookie Carnival so this was timed perfectly for that post is also going live today.

The final box was from Julie and Maddie of Tastes of Lizzy T's.  This package contained the jackpot!! My first of the three packages of cookies I would get.  And WOW....what cookies they were.  Fancy Cinnamon Buttercream Sandwich Cookies.  They were gorgeous and packaged beautifully.  The shipping was very professional and even included an ice pack to keep the cookies fresh.

I have to confess that I went immediately to past round ups to make sure everyone's cookies were not going to be this elaborate and wonderful.  I did not want others to be disappointed when they opened the package I sent them.  Thankfully there was a whole plethora of cookies of every shape and size. Some were elaborate, some were homey....mine were going to be just fine.

The following day another package was delivered and I anxiously opened this package to find.....

These gorgeous cookie bars from Illyanna Maisonet of Eat Gorda Eat.

Tingting was over when we got the package.

She immediately grabbed one and said "they are like a banana bread with chocolate and nuts".

She loved it and couldn't believe how moist and flavorful they were.

My final package came from Nicole of Confectionalism.com.  The package contained wonderful white and black "Penguin Cookies'.  When I did a search for Confectionalism.com...google advised it was coming soon.  I did find Nicole as a guest blogger at The It Mom but I was unable to connect with her blog at all.  I would like to thank Nicole for the lovely cookies and Nicole if you stop by here please give us a link to your blog because I am sure that all the rest of your recipes are just as delicious!

This was a wonderfully delicious and fun swap and I want to thank Lindsay and Taylor of Love and Olive Oil and Julie of the Little Kitchen for hosting this swap party.