7. White Chocolate Cookies - Cookies Rule

When my children were little, cookie exchanges became very popular and usually took place during the month of December. The original idea was to reduce the amount of holiday effort for each participant, yet provide the variety that is the heart of Christmas cookie baking. Each person would bake specified dozens of one kind of cookie and trade matched dozens with the other bakers. I could hardly wait to go to my first exchange!

My contribution was a true holiday-type cookie, festively packaged. A few of the other exchangers, however, seemed to have missed the whole point of the event. Their cookies were of the unimaginative variety... like chocolate chip, peanut butter and worst of all, Rice Krispies squares. It didn't matter that the latter were in the shape of Christmas trees; nor did it matter that they were tinted green...they were a true disappointment.The worst cookie I ever tried to eat from a cookie exchange, however, had been made using some kind of lard that had the aroma of bacon...yikes! What was that all about?

After being, 'burned' a few times, I avoided cookie exchanges until the day I received and invitation to one which also included the following rules...

The theme for this exchange is "Christmas Cookies"
Please bring (  ) dozen total cookies.
Arrange cookies on (  ) holiday paper plates and be creative!
All cookies should be homemade.
RSVP - no duplicate recipes are allowed.

No plain chocolate chip cookies, cookie mixes, no-bakes, meringues or bars.
Mail a copy of your recipe before the party.
A booklet for all recipes will be assembled and distributed.
Christmas attire is encouraged!


I was ecstatic...now, this was going to be my kind of cookie exchange! I arrived to find that the host home had been carefully decorated and the fragrance of mulled cider filled the air. Everyone had adhered to the rules and we all were impressed with our individual creations.

Even though the rules for that particular exchange excluded no-bake cookies, today's  much-requested  recipe is of the no-bake variety. At Christmastime I have been known to add a few sprinkles of green or red sugar on top before the ingredients harden. Children will love to help make this cookie and the recipe can easily be doubled or divided.

White Chocolate Cookies

Melt together in the microwave according to the almond bark package directions:

2 1/2 packages (30 squares) almond bark (white chocolate)

1 C peanut butter

Add:

2 C dry roasted, unsalted peanuts

3 C Rice Krispies

2 C mini marshmallows

Mix well. Drop by large teaspoonfuls on wax paper. Allow to harden. Store in a cool, dry place.

Makes 11 dozen.