Sunday, December 4, 2022

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop 2022



It's still too early to panic about the Christmas festivities, so relax, pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, and be inspired.  

Every year Carol of Just Let Me Quilt  hosts the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange blog hop and I always have to join in the fun!  It's just the ticket to get my creative juices flowing for the holidays.  Thank you, Carol, for letting me play along and for hosting this fabulous hop.

This year I decided to make a batch of Eggnog Cookies.  These are sweet and spicy and leave your kitchen smelling amazing.  If you bake these cookies, make sure to make a large batch because recipients will beg you for more.  

I'm hoping Santa will love a couple of these cookies with a hot cup of coffee.  He's going to need lots of coffee for his midnight run!  If you would like to make a batch or two for gift giving or holiday noshing, I have provided the recipe below:

EGGNOG COOKIES

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup eggnog

1 tsp vanilla

1 large egg

1/2 cup sugar for rolling cookies 


Drizzle Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon butter, softened

Pinch of salt

1/4+ cup eggnog  


Instructions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2.  Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves together in a small bowl.

3.  Using an electric mixer, cream together the sugar and butter in a large bowl.

4.  Add the eggnog, vanilla, and egg and beat at medium speed until smooth.

5.  Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat at low speed until just blended.

6.  Create 2 Tablespoon-size balls of cookie dough and roll into balls.

7.  Roll each ball in the additional sugar to coat, then place on cookie sheet one inch apart. .   

8.  Bake at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes, or until bottoms are light brown.  

9.  Allow the cookies to cool slightly, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

10. Drizzle icing over cookies.  




Of course Santa would be nothing without his reindeer.  I have a bag of organic carrots to set out for them as well.

For my project this Christmas, I made a table runner in honor of Santa's hard-working reindeer.  Afterall, without them, where would Santa be?  Stuck at the North Pole, for sure!


I chose a pale blue background with white dots I thought looked a little like snow.  (It does not snow where I live in California.)  

For the reindeer, I chose a cream color for the muzzle, a cocoa brown for the face and ears, and dark brown for the antlers.

I use the Half-Square Triangle method a lot in my patterns, and this one is a full of them.  


The reindeer blocks are 10" x 10".  The side prints are 5" x 10".



The overall size without the border and seam allowance is 15" x 30".  Two different sizes of black buttons sewn askew finish my reindeer.


The border adds 1 1/2" all around, for a finished size of 18" x 33".  


I used a cute Christmas print on white for the backing.  Of course, it's upside down.  



As a runner, it's a little small for my dining room table.  I should have added a few more reindeer to add length.  No matter, Santa seems to like it, and it can make a cute wall hanging, too.

Thank you, Carol, again for hosting this hop at this magical time of year.  It is always so much fun to visit everyone and see new ideas, remember the past, and virtually sample yummy treats.   

This is just the first day of this fun blog hop, so you have miles to go.  Be sure to come back everyday for delicious cookie recipes, as well as more Christmas magic from these fabulous makers and bakers.  You don't want to miss a thing!    

28 comments:

  1. The Egg nog cookies sound so yummy. Thank you so much for the recipe. And what a darling reindeer quilt. Beautiful job.

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  2. I am going to have to try the eggnog cookies. What a cute table runner.

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  3. Yum those eggnog cookies look delicious! What a cute little runner, thank you for sharing!

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  4. The Santa plate and mug are adorable! That mug looks like Santa is wearing a real knit hat! (The knitter in me noticed, lol). Those reindeer are so cute!

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  5. Those cookies look good! I think I'll have to make some. That reindeer runner is really cute. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Egg Nog - we love it so the cookies are perfect. You've been busy with quilting the table runner and all. We have our celebration this coming weekend - I'm getting close to panicking. LOL

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  7. Egg nog, Oh how I love Egg nog! Those cookies look divine too! And that reindeer runner. They are just the cutest! I think I need a reindeer runner at my house too! Merry Christmas!

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  8. Awe, they are so cute.

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  9. The Eggnog Cookies look delicious and the reindeer table runner is adorable. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  10. It's always a pleasure to have you share your Christmas goodies with us. Eggnog cookies? Yummy! I love eggnog so this recipe is totally up my alley. I love those reindeer on your runner. So cute! Thanks for sharing your Christmas fun!

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  11. I love eggnogg, so I know I would love these cookies! The runner is amazing, and I think it's a good length, because I don't like them going down the whole table, just a little color in the center. What a cute pattern!

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  12. I love eggnog and those cookies sound great! Thanks for sharing the recipe. The reindeer runner is adorable!

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  13. Love the reindeer and those cookies sound yum. Copying that recipe into my Paprika app right now!

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  14. What an adorable runner! And your cookies sound yummy!

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  15. The eggnog cookies sound so good. I like you reindeer runner too. Yes, Santa would be in trouble if stuck at the North Pole.

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  16. Thank you for an unusual cookie recipe. My hubby loves egg nog so I'll have to give it a go. I like your honesty that the runner is too short for your table. Isn't it true that the hardest part of making a runner is deciding how long it should be!!? It looks lovely and could certainly be an extra long placemat instead!

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  17. What a cute trio of reindeer! Those cookies look delicious - I'll be right over!

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  18. Your eggnog cookies look delish. I can't wait to try them! WOW, what an adorable runner. Those reindeer are the best!

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  19. Thanks for sharing your cookies and reindeer runner! I'm a little jealous of Santa now. . . Merry Christmas!

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  20. Your eggnog cookies sound and look wonderful and your reindeer runner is just too cute! Thank you for sharing both 😉

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    Replies
    1. And it’s Carol from Quilt Schmilt. Your blog won’t let me comment with my blog address 😳

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    2. I don't know what is going on with Blogger. I am having the same trouble at several of the other sites. I appreciate your stopping by and letting me know you are unable to leave a comment. I will see what I can do on my end.

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  21. Your reindeer are cuteness plus. I think our kids would love them on the table. And the cookie recipe, well i'm pretty sure that Papa Christmas who stops here would definitely be saying thanks a bunch.

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  22. What a darling table runner! Thank you for the cookie recipe! Yum!

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  23. I have not heard of egg nog cookies. They look delicious and your table runner is just the right touch!

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  24. cute reindeer runner and great cookies!

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  25. I have to try those cookies. I love the fun table runner.

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  26. Really festive runner and yummy looking cookies. Thank you for the recipe and the tutorial.

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