2016 can't ruin COOKIES baked by the internet! November 13, 2016 2:12 PM Subscribe
Welcome to the 2016 Metafilter Cookie Swap! It's time for another round of cookie adjudication, recipe sharing, and sugar-fueled meetups all over the world! If you'd like to bring a small bit of joy to someone else's life this month, read on.
To sign up, please take a few minutes to fill out and submit the google form below by November 25th:
Cookie Swap Signup
As in past years, I will arrange bakers into swap groups of ~4 and send out group assignments by November 27th. You will then be tasked with sending at least 6 cookies to each of your group's MetaBakers. While this means you are on the hook for a minimum of 18 cookies, you should likely bake extra for other creatures in your home who will make sad eyes at you until you share your cookies with them.
To maximize the chances that holiday travel won't ruin everything, the mailing deadline for this year's swap is Monday, December 5th.
Let the baking begin!
Yes! Had so much fun with this last year, thank you for organizing!
and now to look at cookie recipes for the rest of the day :)
posted by lepus at 2:32 PM on November 13, 2016
and now to look at cookie recipes for the rest of the day :)
posted by lepus at 2:32 PM on November 13, 2016
Cookies! I missed last year, and I missed being part of it.
posted by rmd1023 at 2:41 PM on November 13, 2016
posted by rmd1023 at 2:41 PM on November 13, 2016
I signed up with the contingency that I could really only get cookies if there's a gluten free bracket. So hopefully some gluten-free mefites are out there? I make pretty awesome gluten-free cookies...
posted by guster4lovers at 3:16 PM on November 13, 2016
posted by guster4lovers at 3:16 PM on November 13, 2016
Yay! I've been awaiting this thread because I believe in the restorative power of cookies, baking, and mefites.
Thanks for organizing, ausdemfenster.
posted by topophilia at 3:31 PM on November 13, 2016
Thanks for organizing, ausdemfenster.
posted by topophilia at 3:31 PM on November 13, 2016
I have enrolled in your organization.
posted by aubilenon at 4:32 PM on November 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 4:32 PM on November 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's a little weird but a lot awesome to eat cookies from the internet.
Signing up tonight! And, thank you for organizing!
posted by Fig at 4:51 PM on November 13, 2016
Signing up tonight! And, thank you for organizing!
posted by Fig at 4:51 PM on November 13, 2016
I've always been too much of a scaredypants to participate before.... But fuckit: 2016. I'm going to need some joy in my life to get through the rest of this year.
posted by meese at 6:36 PM on November 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by meese at 6:36 PM on November 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yes! I was too swamped with school to do this last year, but this year I'm free and back in an address where it's easy to receive packages. Bring it on!
posted by ActionPopulated at 8:07 PM on November 13, 2016
posted by ActionPopulated at 8:07 PM on November 13, 2016
We have had a gluten-free group every year (multiple groups, some years), so sign up secure in the knowledge that other gluten-free folk will also want cookies!
posted by ausdemfenster at 8:50 PM on November 13, 2016
posted by ausdemfenster at 8:50 PM on November 13, 2016
Cookie time!
posted by amapolaroja at 12:30 AM on November 14, 2016
posted by amapolaroja at 12:30 AM on November 14, 2016
2016 can't ruin COOKIES baked by the internet!
Oh, it'll find a way.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 4:59 AM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, it'll find a way.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 4:59 AM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am planning on squishing as much joy as possible into this winter season. Yay for cookies!
posted by brilliantine at 7:30 AM on November 14, 2016
posted by brilliantine at 7:30 AM on November 14, 2016
I don't usually bake cookies, but sure, why not? Sounds scrumptious.
posted by PearlRose at 7:46 AM on November 14, 2016
posted by PearlRose at 7:46 AM on November 14, 2016
I'm not joining, but I do want to say that the Weight Watchers TM cookies (2 points each I think?) that my wife made yesterday were a disgrace to humanity. That is all.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:46 AM on November 14, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:46 AM on November 14, 2016 [5 favorites]
Not to ruin the surprise but last night I tried to get too fancy to impress everybody with my cookies and it didn't work out as well as I wanted so we're going simple this year. I encourage any new swappers/infrequent bakers to do the same.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:21 AM on November 14, 2016
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:21 AM on November 14, 2016
Are swap groups set up to be local, international, or whatever mix of the above? Are there separate brackets based on those preferences? I guess what I'm really asking is - past participants, USA participants in particular - what kinda shipping budget am I looking at here?
There is nothing I would LOVE more than shipping cookies all over the world, but boo to international postal costs :(.
posted by R a c h e l at 10:12 AM on November 14, 2016
There is nothing I would LOVE more than shipping cookies all over the world, but boo to international postal costs :(.
posted by R a c h e l at 10:12 AM on November 14, 2016
I try to group people in a geographically-sensible way (some years, people end up being able to deliver their cookies by walking to their swap group members' homes, and frequently swap groups arrange local meetups) so you can focus your budget on baking supplies rather than shipping costs.
posted by ausdemfenster at 10:51 AM on November 14, 2016
posted by ausdemfenster at 10:51 AM on November 14, 2016
A little bit of joy in a hard year. Just signed up! Thanks, MeFi bakers :)
posted by too bad you're not me at 11:38 AM on November 14, 2016
posted by too bad you're not me at 11:38 AM on November 14, 2016
I had no idea we could go gluten free! Signed up and please count me in for the GF group!
posted by mochapickle at 11:53 AM on November 14, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 11:53 AM on November 14, 2016
Caveat: sometimes the gluten-free folks have to ship their cookies to less convenient locations. Of course, the more gluten-free bakers we get, the better the chances of local gluten-free swap groups!
posted by ausdemfenster at 12:00 PM on November 14, 2016
posted by ausdemfenster at 12:00 PM on November 14, 2016
I'm in! New to the cookie swap and loving the idea :)
posted by beandip at 12:17 PM on November 14, 2016
posted by beandip at 12:17 PM on November 14, 2016
Mail Noms are Best Noms!
posted by Hardcore Poser at 12:29 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Hardcore Poser at 12:29 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Need some sweetness in my life. Are there, like, best practices for mailing cookies?
posted by carsonb at 1:05 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by carsonb at 1:05 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's an AskMe on holiday cookie best practices from 2011. It's possible cookie mailing technology has made leaps and bounds in the intervening five years, but I doubt it.
posted by zamboni at 3:01 PM on November 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by zamboni at 3:01 PM on November 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
Aw yeah, cookie time!
posted by Secretariat at 6:35 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Secretariat at 6:35 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Anyone up for egg and dairy-free cookies? I'm good at the regular kind, but can also do fancy things like sugar plums...
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:53 PM on November 14, 2016
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:53 PM on November 14, 2016
Another one for team GF! Long time lurker, first time baker...
posted by sapere aude at 9:31 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sapere aude at 9:31 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
If there are any vegans out there who would like to trade lovingly crafted baked goods, please let me know. I will send some homemade vanilla extract too!
posted by amnesia and magnets at 11:33 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by amnesia and magnets at 11:33 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
Signed up! I love me some internet cookies. (So much so that I ran an internet bakery for two years!)
Go internet cookies!!
posted by firei at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2016
Go internet cookies!!
posted by firei at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2016
Longtime quonser, first time cookier.
posted by jeoc at 4:19 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by jeoc at 4:19 PM on November 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
Although I'm not gluten free, if there's a GF swap that needs filling out, I'm happy to join that instead/in addition. My son has celiac disease, so that would make him happy too...
posted by Philbo at 6:45 AM on November 17, 2016
posted by Philbo at 6:45 AM on November 17, 2016
My holiday season last year was made immeasurably better by an in-person Metafilter Cookie Meetup Extravaganza!! We all lived so close we had two groups come together to swap untold riches of baked goodies. I'm in again for sure this year!
posted by missmary6 at 8:25 PM on November 17, 2016
posted by missmary6 at 8:25 PM on November 17, 2016
I missed the sign up last year and am super excited to have made it in this year!!!
posted by congen at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2016
posted by congen at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2016
I signed up with a lot of food allergies; if you can't group me with someone, it's fine to just leave me out of the groups (or see if amnesia and magnets wants to be a tiny group with me). I'm willing to accept the challenge of other people's specific food problems as well.
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:23 PM on November 18, 2016
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:23 PM on November 18, 2016
We've never previously ended up with a group whose food allergies/preferences were too difficult to bake with, so we'll do everything possible to accommodate!
I do want to note here that while it might feel silly to report your onion allergy in a baking swap, you really never know how creative people are going to get or what's in their kitchens, so I'd always prefer over-reporting to under-reporting. This has been a public service message from Oh God No Citrus House.
posted by ausdemfenster at 10:53 PM on November 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
I do want to note here that while it might feel silly to report your onion allergy in a baking swap, you really never know how creative people are going to get or what's in their kitchens, so I'd always prefer over-reporting to under-reporting. This has been a public service message from Oh God No Citrus House.
posted by ausdemfenster at 10:53 PM on November 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
COOKIES!
I am looking forward to participating again this year but I do have one suggestion [for future years perhaps] for the signup. I believe that the alcohol question needs another answer. There isn't a middle ground between no alcohol and YES alcohol which to me is a bit strange as one of the most common flavorings in baked goods is vanilla extract which is primarily bourbon.
I really like vanilla extract in baked goods and other alcohols when they are minor flavors in the product but I am going to gag if I bite into a rum ball which is why the no preference option doesn't really work either.
In any case I am signing up for no alcohol but just wanted to offer my thoughts on this.
posted by nolnacs at 10:41 AM on November 20, 2016
I am looking forward to participating again this year but I do have one suggestion [for future years perhaps] for the signup. I believe that the alcohol question needs another answer. There isn't a middle ground between no alcohol and YES alcohol which to me is a bit strange as one of the most common flavorings in baked goods is vanilla extract which is primarily bourbon.
I really like vanilla extract in baked goods and other alcohols when they are minor flavors in the product but I am going to gag if I bite into a rum ball which is why the no preference option doesn't really work either.
In any case I am signing up for no alcohol but just wanted to offer my thoughts on this.
posted by nolnacs at 10:41 AM on November 20, 2016
Excellent point, nolnacs. Will incorporate into the 2017 questionnaire! For now, if anyone has any alcohol position not captured by the current answer options, feel free to mefi mail me.
posted by ausdemfenster at 1:00 PM on November 20, 2016
posted by ausdemfenster at 1:00 PM on November 20, 2016
vanilla extract which is primarily bourbon
Vanilla extract does contain alcohol, but it's plain old ethyl alcohol, not bourbon whiskey. You're getting confused by Bourbon vanilla, which is a varietal of the vanilla plant. Both the whiskey and the vanilla are indirectly named after the House of Bourbon.
posted by zamboni at 2:21 PM on November 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
Vanilla extract does contain alcohol, but it's plain old ethyl alcohol, not bourbon whiskey. You're getting confused by Bourbon vanilla, which is a varietal of the vanilla plant. Both the whiskey and the vanilla are indirectly named after the House of Bourbon.
posted by zamboni at 2:21 PM on November 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
I make my vanilla by putting vanilla beans in a bottle of vodka, so it is definitely alcohol.
posted by CathyG at 12:24 PM on November 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by CathyG at 12:24 PM on November 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Vodka is just ethyl alcohol with a marketing budget, so you're right on track there.
posted by zamboni at 9:01 PM on November 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 9:01 PM on November 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Every year, I think to myself "this is totally a thing that I'd like," then forget to sign up. Prepare to be cookied, random mefite.
posted by Kreiger at 8:43 AM on November 23, 2016
posted by Kreiger at 8:43 AM on November 23, 2016
I'm in! Thanks so much for doing this. Last year was super fun!
posted by bluesky43 at 7:41 AM on November 25, 2016
posted by bluesky43 at 7:41 AM on November 25, 2016
I am one day late with the signup, but i"m signing up anyway in the hopes that maybe there's one group that's got an odd number and I can save the day...?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:00 PM on November 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:00 PM on November 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
We welcome late signups! If any late signups happen to be from Australia or Japan, that would be even better!
posted by ausdemfenster at 6:48 PM on November 26, 2016
posted by ausdemfenster at 6:48 PM on November 26, 2016
Swap groups are being assembled! Some of you are going to end up in two swap groups this year to even out numbers/geographies/dietary restrictions, and with one exception we've managed to accommodate everyone (Naanwhal, my apologies, but you were this year's only Australian signer-upper—if we can find someone else to volunteer to send cookies in that direction, we're back on track!).
Please be on the lookout in your email inbox later today with your group assignment, and then let the baking begin!
posted by ausdemfenster at 1:03 PM on November 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
Please be on the lookout in your email inbox later today with your group assignment, and then let the baking begin!
posted by ausdemfenster at 1:03 PM on November 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
All swap groups are out! 2016 groups are named after movies containing some December/January holiday-themed scene, and my apologies in advance if you don't get your favorite. Regrettably, only 4 people could fit in Group Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
If anyone hasn't received an email from me by now, please mefi mail me and I'll get you sorted out. Happy baking!
posted by ausdemfenster at 4:27 PM on November 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
If anyone hasn't received an email from me by now, please mefi mail me and I'll get you sorted out. Happy baking!
posted by ausdemfenster at 4:27 PM on November 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yippee! Thanks for organizing!
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 4:33 PM on November 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 4:33 PM on November 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thank you so much for organizing, Ausdemfenster! :)
posted by firei at 4:39 PM on November 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by firei at 4:39 PM on November 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Woohoo! Group Die Hard! Just deciding what cookies to make.
posted by amapolaroja at 5:34 PM on November 27, 2016
posted by amapolaroja at 5:34 PM on November 27, 2016
Group Brazil! I am excited to bake cookies for some of my favourite mefites. Who knew I lived within spitting distance of such wonderful folks?
posted by congen at 8:33 PM on November 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by congen at 8:33 PM on November 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just saw this and signed up! If I'm too late, I'll join in next year :)
posted by kayray at 9:46 PM on November 27, 2016
posted by kayray at 9:46 PM on November 27, 2016
I'm in Group Scrooged, and I chuckled, because that's the beau's favorite holiday movie. So excited to make cookies for the group this year -- so excited that I have to make a second batch for co-workers and desperate significant others.
posted by PearlRose at 8:30 AM on November 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by PearlRose at 8:30 AM on November 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm in group Lethal Weapon, and if that's a crack about my cooking ability, well...
So excite! Thank you for organizing this, ausdemfenster!
posted by mochapickle at 9:02 AM on November 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
So excite! Thank you for organizing this, ausdemfenster!
posted by mochapickle at 9:02 AM on November 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
shit, i missed it!
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:15 PM on November 28, 2016
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:15 PM on November 28, 2016
COOKIES! The first batch of goodness arrived with the mail just as I was putting my own contribution in the oven. I won't spoil it for the rest of the Eight Crazy Nights group, but... YUM! Thanks, minsies!
posted by miratime at 12:25 PM on November 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by miratime at 12:25 PM on November 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Followers of Brian (Would we be the People's Front of Judea or the Judean People's Front?) - I hope to bake sometime in the next couple days and get them in the mail to y'all this weekend.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:50 PM on November 30, 2016
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:50 PM on November 30, 2016
Cookies are baked and packaged! I'm taking them to the post office tomorrow, so be on the lookout Group Brazil!
posted by congen at 1:36 PM on November 30, 2016
posted by congen at 1:36 PM on November 30, 2016
Oh, great, miratime - so glad you liked them! 3 of the 4 Eight Crazy Nights packages I mailed arrived today, according to the tracking information (apparently MN is just a step too far for the USPS).
posted by minsies at 5:52 PM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by minsies at 5:52 PM on November 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
When Harry met Sally expect some cookies soon; mailed today from Seattle.
posted by Margalo Epps at 2:58 PM on December 1, 2016
posted by Margalo Epps at 2:58 PM on December 1, 2016
miratime, the gingersnaps are delicious! Both gingery and snappy! Thank you!
posted by minsies at 1:36 PM on December 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by minsies at 1:36 PM on December 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mcbietila included an amazing card with her deeelish cookies in very nice packaging, as documented here.. Thank you so much!
posted by Fig at 12:01 PM on December 3, 2016
posted by Fig at 12:01 PM on December 3, 2016
I just taste-tested a cookie from my batch. They are stupid good and will be boxed up and dropped off for USPS tomorrow!
posted by PearlRose at 9:43 AM on December 4, 2016
posted by PearlRose at 9:43 AM on December 4, 2016
All my cookies are baked, and will be sent out tomorrow, Group Brazil :)
posted by just_ducky at 4:30 PM on December 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by just_ducky at 4:30 PM on December 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
People's Front of Judea (aka Life of Brian)! There are boxes wending their ways to your respective thithers!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:45 PM on December 4, 2016
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:45 PM on December 4, 2016
Team Silent Night, Deadly Night met up on Saturday and exchanged all of ours. Shortbread with tart cherry, chocolate chip with salt (plus caramels!), toffee, and macaroons, were all proclaimed to be delicious.
posted by tooloudinhere at 7:29 PM on December 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by tooloudinhere at 7:29 PM on December 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Team Gremlins should all have my cookies by now. And I've received one delicious cookies but not the other two delicious cookieses.
posted by aubilenon at 11:45 PM on December 4, 2016
posted by aubilenon at 11:45 PM on December 4, 2016
Cookies in the mail!
posted by platypus of the universe at 9:45 AM on December 5, 2016
posted by platypus of the universe at 9:45 AM on December 5, 2016
Fellow Life of Brianers! These cookies you're about to get are tasty and so very uniniform. They are all individuals.
posted by lauranesson at 11:09 AM on December 5, 2016
posted by lauranesson at 11:09 AM on December 5, 2016
Sending out Lethal Weapon cookies today! So excited (and hope they arrive in one piece)!
posted by guster4lovers at 11:30 AM on December 5, 2016
posted by guster4lovers at 11:30 AM on December 5, 2016
Hudsucker Proxy I am one hour away from delivering cookies to the post office!
posted by annathea at 11:42 AM on December 5, 2016
posted by annathea at 11:42 AM on December 5, 2016
Better Off Dead held an IRL cookie swap in Portland, OR yesterday afternoon (well, 3/4 of us did, one sadly had to work but was able to pick up his cookies later). We sipped tea and nibbled delights including pecan amaretti, Andes mint chocolate chocolate chocolate goodness, citrus nutmeg butter cookies, 5-spice shortbread, and more. I guess we're all overachievers (or more likely, hedging our bets in case something didn't turn out), because everyone made two kinds of cookies. Delicious!
posted by Secretariat at 1:51 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Secretariat at 1:51 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Team Brazil - I dropped my packages off at the post office just in time for them to go out today. My cookies are a bit of an experiment; I hope you like them! I sweetened the deal with some edible packing material.
posted by atropos at 3:23 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by atropos at 3:23 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Lethal Weapon group, you should have cookies by Wednesday. I hope there will be much rejoicing.
posted by guster4lovers at 3:41 PM on December 5, 2016
posted by guster4lovers at 3:41 PM on December 5, 2016
specialagentwebb made the Eight Crazy Night-ers some super great pfeffernusse and lemon basil tea cracker-y things and thank you and yay more cookies!
posted by minsies at 6:20 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by minsies at 6:20 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Die Hard fans should be expecting cookies by mail tomorrow.
I struggled some with the recipe, my oven, my cats, and while I'm not 1000% pleased with the cookies in the mail they're about a million billion times better than the ones I made last week. Whereas those were puddles coming out of the oven, all spread out and melted together, these are round little fists of cookies. Dark chocolate chunks, pretzel, and dried cherries nearly cram out the slightly-modified basic chocolate chip cookie dough.
In honor of our group's namesake, I'm calling them 'Fists With Your Toes.' (They can be used off-label to help ease the effects of jet lag, natch.) They're probably gross, and I apologize in advance, and I'm going to practice making my mom's almond bars and send those out when I get a good batch as a sort of supplementary actually-holiday-y cookie shipment.
posted by carsonb at 6:20 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I struggled some with the recipe, my oven, my cats, and while I'm not 1000% pleased with the cookies in the mail they're about a million billion times better than the ones I made last week. Whereas those were puddles coming out of the oven, all spread out and melted together, these are round little fists of cookies. Dark chocolate chunks, pretzel, and dried cherries nearly cram out the slightly-modified basic chocolate chip cookie dough.
In honor of our group's namesake, I'm calling them 'Fists With Your Toes.' (They can be used off-label to help ease the effects of jet lag, natch.) They're probably gross, and I apologize in advance, and I'm going to practice making my mom's almond bars and send those out when I get a good batch as a sort of supplementary actually-holiday-y cookie shipment.
posted by carsonb at 6:20 PM on December 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Group Elf met up today for an IRL exchange. We came away with chocolate spice cookies, molasses cookies, Maltese Christmas cookies, and oatmeal peanut butter chip cookies with sea salt. Thanks for the delicious treats and good company, everyone!
posted by ActionPopulated at 7:45 PM on December 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ActionPopulated at 7:45 PM on December 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Those cookies sound yummy, carsonb!
I mailed 2 packages off today and want to connect in person with the third Die Harder. The almond chocolate stars look rather homely, but they taste pretty good. Most of the cookies come from to 1959 cook books I got from a little old lady friend of mine: Out of Kentucky Kitchens, and a collection from the Junior League of Columbus, Georgia. I also threw in some wonderfully delicious contemporary cookies.
Thanks to our QuonsmasCookieCzars for organizing this.
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 2:09 AM on December 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I mailed 2 packages off today and want to connect in person with the third Die Harder. The almond chocolate stars look rather homely, but they taste pretty good. Most of the cookies come from to 1959 cook books I got from a little old lady friend of mine: Out of Kentucky Kitchens, and a collection from the Junior League of Columbus, Georgia. I also threw in some wonderfully delicious contemporary cookies.
Thanks to our QuonsmasCookieCzars for organizing this.
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 2:09 AM on December 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
So by my estimation, team Life of Brian is going to be getting their packages today, and other people are disclosing cookies, so -
I try to make these walnut acorn cookies every year. They're easy, tasty, and not overly fiddly to decorate but still look fancy. However - we got a "no nuts" admonishment in the team.
Um.
But after perusing the recipe, I noticed that the cookie itself is just a shortbread cookie with chopped walnuts thrown in at the last minute. So I could leave them out. And as for the walnuts sprinkled on top....I had a packet of this fancy carmel crunchy sprinkle stuff I picked up in Paris that I thought would go fantastic with the brown sugar shortbread. Ta-da!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM on December 6, 2016
I try to make these walnut acorn cookies every year. They're easy, tasty, and not overly fiddly to decorate but still look fancy. However - we got a "no nuts" admonishment in the team.
Um.
But after perusing the recipe, I noticed that the cookie itself is just a shortbread cookie with chopped walnuts thrown in at the last minute. So I could leave them out. And as for the walnuts sprinkled on top....I had a packet of this fancy carmel crunchy sprinkle stuff I picked up in Paris that I thought would go fantastic with the brown sugar shortbread. Ta-da!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM on December 6, 2016
duffel, there was a packet of (delicious, addictive, seriously oh-go-good) saltine toffees on my doorstep BEFORE 9 AM this morning. Fellow Ghostbusters, just try saying no to these salty parallelograms!
posted by drlith at 7:48 AM on December 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by drlith at 7:48 AM on December 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Last of the Lethal Weapon group here. Got them in the mail just under the wire last night; should be arriving in 2-3 days. Hope you like them!
posted by sapere aude at 9:53 AM on December 6, 2016
posted by sapere aude at 9:53 AM on December 6, 2016
my cookies went out yesterday, but I'm posting here because I'm desperately disappointed that I'm not in group Die Hard, which is my favorite Christmas movie and one of my favorite movies over all.
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
(jk, no worries, group an american tail is awesome, even if it's not in nakatomi plaza making fists with its toes!)
Some year we should consider making a wiki or a google doc or something of all the cookie recipes that are sent out in the swap! :)
Merry cookiemas!
posted by firei at 5:14 PM on December 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.
(jk, no worries, group an american tail is awesome, even if it's not in nakatomi plaza making fists with its toes!)
Some year we should consider making a wiki or a google doc or something of all the cookie recipes that are sent out in the swap! :)
Merry cookiemas!
posted by firei at 5:14 PM on December 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Carsonb the cookies are awesome! They were alone in the mailbox when I got home tonight.
posted by amapolaroja at 12:25 AM on December 7, 2016
posted by amapolaroja at 12:25 AM on December 7, 2016
Group When Harry Met Sally - each of your packages should arrive today. I was a little worried about creating a dairy- and egg- free cookie that could stand up to shipping, but after some futzing with a trusted mail-able cookie, ended up being pretty pleased with the results. Hope you like them!
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 10:46 AM on December 7, 2016
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 10:46 AM on December 7, 2016
Anthony my mailman just showed up with 2 packages. *knock knock* I'm home today! Usually Anthony just brings me the slip and I go to the PO the next day to pick up packages, we've an arrangement not to leave anything at my door. But he still comes up and knocks because he's awesome.
So I said 'Anthony these are cookies by mail! Do you want some?' and he was all 'heck yes I do' so we just ate some cookies in the hall and they were delicious and I felt Holiday Cheer or just some cheer.
Sweetness achieved, thank you LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco!
posted by carsonb at 12:13 PM on December 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
So I said 'Anthony these are cookies by mail! Do you want some?' and he was all 'heck yes I do' so we just ate some cookies in the hall and they were delicious and I felt Holiday Cheer or just some cheer.
Sweetness achieved, thank you LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco!
posted by carsonb at 12:13 PM on December 7, 2016 [12 favorites]
3/4 of team Santa Claus Conquers the Martians met up in St Paul today to exchange cookies. A few of the cookies will make it home to share with my family. They were too good to not eat while I sit at my normally cookie-free desk all afternoon. It was great to meet you and the cookies are wonderful!
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:45 PM on December 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 1:45 PM on December 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Firei and King Bloom, cookie awesomeness was delivered today. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. Bluesky is a total fan of internet cookies too :)
posted by bluesky43 at 2:28 PM on December 7, 2016
posted by bluesky43 at 2:28 PM on December 7, 2016
I got my first Lethal Weapon cookies in the mail today from sapere aude!
I have eaten one, and it was delicious. Thanks!
posted by guster4lovers at 2:51 PM on December 7, 2016
I have eaten one, and it was delicious. Thanks!
posted by guster4lovers at 2:51 PM on December 7, 2016
I also checked the delivery of the boxes, and sapere aude's has been delivered! But mochapickle, the tracking says yours hasn't even left the freaking Bay Area yet. It says the "operating conditions" have delayed it. Irritating.
posted by guster4lovers at 3:45 PM on December 7, 2016
posted by guster4lovers at 3:45 PM on December 7, 2016
Another Lethal Weapon report: guster4lovers' package arrived today, I was obliged to try both types of cookie immediately, both were excellent. Thanks!
posted by sapere aude at 4:16 PM on December 7, 2016
posted by sapere aude at 4:16 PM on December 7, 2016
I also neglected to mention that the chocolate ones are better warm. Even a few seconds in the microwave. Glad they arrived safely!
posted by guster4lovers at 5:29 PM on December 7, 2016
posted by guster4lovers at 5:29 PM on December 7, 2016
Oh, s'alright... I will be patient! Or I would be if all this talk of warm chocolate cookies weren't so distracting! :)
My packages went out today, after delays caused by irreconcilable differences between me and my initial recipes. USPS says they should be there by Saturday for you both!
posted by mochapickle at 6:08 PM on December 7, 2016
My packages went out today, after delays caused by irreconcilable differences between me and my initial recipes. USPS says they should be there by Saturday for you both!
posted by mochapickle at 6:08 PM on December 7, 2016
I am awash in cookies thanks to congen and just_ducky! I'm trying to save some until Friday because I have the day off and plan to spend much of it in a blanket nest watching festive movies.
posted by atropos at 6:52 PM on December 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by atropos at 6:52 PM on December 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
tracking originally estimated Friday, but all mine show they were delivered today! yay! microwave briefly for optimal deliciousness, and so that the caramel inside doesn't break your teeth if it's been out in your mailbox all day!
internet cookies ftw!
posted by firei at 7:10 PM on December 7, 2016
internet cookies ftw!
posted by firei at 7:10 PM on December 7, 2016
my first cookie package from Ostara just arrived in a beautiful tin with a gorgeous variety that I am going to dig into as soon as my children go to sleep. Thank you so much!!
posted by annathea at 10:52 AM on December 8, 2016
posted by annathea at 10:52 AM on December 8, 2016
mjcon, thanks for the fudge! Waiting for it to thaw a bit after being in the mailbox all day, but super excited to get it in my face!
posted by miratime at 3:16 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by miratime at 3:16 PM on December 8, 2016
Today's Eight Crazy Nights arrival was from hannahelastic - cedar-maple-manoomin (I didn't know what manoomin was until I received these and had to look it up, so yay for cookies teaching me something!), peanut blossom, and potato chip cookies. They are delicious - thank you!
posted by minsies at 4:23 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by minsies at 4:23 PM on December 8, 2016
EmpressCallipygos' cookies are just beautiful little works of art that arrived in a gorgeous package that put mine to shame. They're wonderful. Thank you so much! You are clearly PhD-level at emotional labor. Holy cow.
posted by lauranesson at 8:25 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lauranesson at 8:25 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
guster4lovers, your package just arrived! The oatmeal cookie was so good I actually sank down on the couch and surrendered myself to the mmmmmms. Can't wait to try the second variety! THANK YOU for all the loveliness!
posted by mochapickle at 10:53 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mochapickle at 10:53 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
And to round out my Eight Crazy Nights experience, mjcon's excellent fudge mysteriously appeared in the mailbox by itself, way before (or after) the mail is usually delivered. I will not question it. Thanks, mjcon!
posted by minsies at 11:49 AM on December 9, 2016
posted by minsies at 11:49 AM on December 9, 2016
mochapickle I was about to go check tracking again when I saw your post! So glad it arrived and they were acceptable!
I think I'm in a postal black hole right now because there are a bunch of packages that should have shown up in the last few days and none of them are here. However, I am still enjoying sapere aude's chocolate cookies and I've almost finished the two or three oatmeal cookies I saved. And waiting for mochapickle's cookies is the last "cool thing I am getting from strangers on the internet" so I guess I just get to extend the pleasure of waiting.
posted by guster4lovers at 3:13 PM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think I'm in a postal black hole right now because there are a bunch of packages that should have shown up in the last few days and none of them are here. However, I am still enjoying sapere aude's chocolate cookies and I've almost finished the two or three oatmeal cookies I saved. And waiting for mochapickle's cookies is the last "cool thing I am getting from strangers on the internet" so I guess I just get to extend the pleasure of waiting.
posted by guster4lovers at 3:13 PM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've gotten cookies from congen and atropos, and they are all fabulous and delicious! Cookies from the internet taste better than all other cookies.
posted by just_ducky at 4:10 PM on December 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by just_ducky at 4:10 PM on December 9, 2016 [3 favorites]
I had two wonderful cranberry lime bars for breakfast. I loved them! They were great with cheese. It took great willpower to save the rest. I'll have the tea for after dinner to savor with one of carsonb's salty and sweet chocolate, pretzel, and raisin morsel of goodness. I was touched by the pretty card, too. It'll have a place of honor next to okayokayigive's dancing skeleton Quonsmas card.
Team Die Hard for the win! Many, many thanks.
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 4:41 PM on December 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
Team Die Hard for the win! Many, many thanks.
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 4:41 PM on December 9, 2016 [2 favorites]
cranberry lime bars sounds amazing. anyone want to share a recipe for that?
I received all my cookies - thanks, group An American Tail! <3
posted by firei at 12:19 PM on December 10, 2016
I received all my cookies - thanks, group An American Tail! <3
posted by firei at 12:19 PM on December 10, 2016
I've received delicious assortments from drlith and jeoc. yum!
posted by bunnysquirrel at 12:53 PM on December 10, 2016
posted by bunnysquirrel at 12:53 PM on December 10, 2016
It took great willpower to save the rest.
I admit that none of the cookies sent to me made it past last night. I finished off the last of the cranberry lime bars after dinner, and that was with maximum willpower applied. Die Hard outdid themselves and I am very thankful and extra crumby around the beard.
posted by carsonb at 5:05 PM on December 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I admit that none of the cookies sent to me made it past last night. I finished off the last of the cranberry lime bars after dinner, and that was with maximum willpower applied. Die Hard outdid themselves and I am very thankful and extra crumby around the beard.
posted by carsonb at 5:05 PM on December 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've only gotten one of Team Life of Brian's so far; have all y'all others sent yours out? I've been having some mail looniness recently so I wanted to see if it was time to complain...
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:23 PM on December 10, 2016
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:23 PM on December 10, 2016
Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas, I've received and devoured heart-shaped chocolate cookies and a two-fer package of chocolate chili sandwich cookies (RECIPE PLZ) and white chocolate cranberry cookies. I am pleased to report extreme deliciousness. USPS suggests a Monday delivery for y'all's kitchen sink cookies from me!
posted by ausdemfenster at 10:56 PM on December 10, 2016
posted by ausdemfenster at 10:56 PM on December 10, 2016
I've been generally ahead of the game this year Christmaswise, and I just put the tree up - and one of my cookie packages was here when I was bringing the tree in. I get small trees so it's a short chore, which leaves extra time - time enough for tea and cookies.
So 1 pot of orange-spiced Christmas tea + Earl Gray shortbread = one elegant hour in the afternoon. Merci.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:28 AM on December 11, 2016
So 1 pot of orange-spiced Christmas tea + Earl Gray shortbread = one elegant hour in the afternoon. Merci.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:28 AM on December 11, 2016
I got your cookies today mochapickle! Or more accurately, they've been sitting in the parcel locker since yesterday some time, but I found them today. For a minute, I thought it was Secret Quonsar Part Two because it was packaged beautifully, and had a lovely card and a jingle bell pencil! And there were OWL STICKERS YOU GUYS.
Amazing. So excited to try them. Thanks for making cookie swap a ray of light in a really dark few weeks, Team Lethal Weapon.
posted by guster4lovers at 12:39 PM on December 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Amazing. So excited to try them. Thanks for making cookie swap a ray of light in a really dark few weeks, Team Lethal Weapon.
posted by guster4lovers at 12:39 PM on December 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hey, Team Life of Brian, your cookies are amazing all around and thank you so much. I have been feeding them to grateful friends who drop by. The Nutella ones are naughty. The acorns are so fancy with their crunchy French caramel. The Earl Gray are so delicate and a buddy of mine wants the recipe. Lemme know if you didn't get my hilarious ugly ones, and I'll send some more. USPS informed me a while ago they were all delivered.
posted by lauranesson at 1:42 PM on December 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lauranesson at 1:42 PM on December 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by miratime at 2:20 PM on November 13, 2016