Hi folks. This post is dedicated to the lovely ladies who dreamt up “The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2011”. So this one goes out to Lindsay of Love and Oil Olive and to Julie of The Little Kitchen. To give you the low down on this event here’s how it worked. The ladies had food bloggers sign up. Then they assigned each person 3 others to send cookies to. I cannot even begin to fathom the amount of work and organizational skills it must have taken to put this all together. These ladies rock, and they rock hard. So take some time to go check out their blogs and say hello. Tell them to go take naps as they must be way tired after this monumental undertaking. They are already considering doing it all over again next year so make sure you go sign up at “The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap“, this will ensure you get on the mailing list for next year. I had trouble with the code for the pic of the swap so will pop it up here later once I get the code figured out and working correctly. You can also visit the swap on facebook by clicking HERE!
I have to admit I got mine sent out a day late. Regulars know I had battled being sick. Well any time you bake for others you want to make sure you are completely well, not just for yourself but to ensure the people you are baking for don’t get sick. So I waited an extra day to bake and send to make sure I was fully back in good form. There was no way I was sending off a bundle of cookie germs. That meant being a bit late so hopefully my 3 got them by now. If not I promise they should be there any time. I wish I could have express shipped them but with hubs laid off money is tight so regular mail they went. Crossing fingers my ladies received them and are munching them happily as I type.
I am waiting on one more batch to arrive. I got two already and let me tell you I was thrilled. Not only did I get some wonderful cookies but I got some sweet personal notes with them. I could not be more thrilled with the ladies who got assigned little old me. K & K Test Kitchen sent me Haystack Cookies. I got a wonderfully sweet note from Kelsey. Let me tell you Kelsey, the guys went nuts for your cookies. Hubs cannot stop eating them. They are so tasty, I just can’t get over the flavour on these cookies. I cannot wait to hop over to your blog and get the recipe. The pink paper was so adorable too. I love me some pink. Miss Delish also got assigned moi so Jill sent me the most amazing whoopie pies. The funny thing was I had just said on my blog while doing the SRC assignment that I had wanted to do these cookies but was too sick to tackle something new. I’ve never made or had a whoopie pie before so Jill you were my first and I will remember you always (devilish grin inserted here), those Red Velvet and Peppermint Whoopie Pies rocked my world. I shall be stopping by for the recipe later today. I think you two ladies are to blame for the 5 pounds I’ve gained in the last week. I blame you fully. And thank you, if you’re gonna gain 5 extra pounds this is the way to do it. I shall pop up pictures after I post the recipe I used so you can see what these woman sent me. Thank you Jill aka Miss Delish, those cookies were incredible. Thank you K & K Test Kitchen and a special thanks to Kelsey for the wonderful note. Once I receive my third package I’ll edit that info in here.
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I made some cookies I was not happy with. I did checkerboard cookies and was not happy with how they lined up. I have a bit of ocd so while they are tasty and fine for us, they were not good enough to send to food bloggers. So after spending an entire day on them I decided to make something else to send. I will post those checkerboard cookies soon so you can see them. Then you’ll know why I did not want to include them in the swap. So I was now crunched for time and needed something tasty and fast, also something that would ship well as one of mine was in British Columbia. So I went to my go to cookie and tweaked it with a new ingredient. Folks I have discovered Nutella and I LIKE IT! Omg it is so yummy. So I added that to my no bake coconut cookies and voila, magic happened. Moist and yummy nutella and coconut goodness. I was a bit freaked out about sending out a no bake cookie to food bloggers but they were just so good I took my chances. Hopefully my ladies enjoyed them. Here’s some pics and the recipe. Hope you love them as much as I did. I must have eaten a gazillion of them. I did the old “oh that one is mis-shaped, oh that one is too small” routine. You know the one, “I can’t possibly send them THIS cookie, so I’ll just eat it myself”. Yah, I am sure that didn’t contribute the 5 pound weight gain. Nope, not at all.
A quick no bake cookie recipe that is sure to please everyone during the holiday season or any time of year!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 5 tablespoon cocoa
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/4 cup Nutella
- 3 cups vanilla oats
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla salt
- 1 cup coconut
Instructions
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In a saucepan combine your sugar, cocoa and milk. Cook over medium-low heat stirring until the sugar dissolves.
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Now bring to a low boil, (you don’t want to get it too hot) and add your shortening and Nutella. Mix until it melts.
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Add your oats and mix well.
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Now remove from heat and add your vanilla salt, coconut extract and your coconut flakes. Stir well.
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Now with a spoon or ice cream scoop lay them out on parchment lined cookie sheets.
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Now leave them to set up. I always eat about 5 while they’re hot, I’m not gonna lie.
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Serve them up with a smile or send them off to people you love.
Note: Had to pop back to edit the Nutella amount. I triple batched my cookies and for some reason did not adjust the Nutella per batch. It has now been adjusted. Thanks to Baker Street for snapping me out of my cookie coma!!!
Yummy right. You know me and my pictures. As I try to improve my photog skills you get bombarded with pictures. I love playing around with them. I have been known to love stacking. The added benefit of stacking is this happens:
No really I am not crazy, this is a good thing. Then you get to say “oh I couldn’t possibly send these ones, they are all broken and bruised (giggles) so I’ll just have to eat these ones myself”. See, I’m an evil cookie genius. Mwuhahhahahaha!
Okay so I took some pics of the cookies I received and had some fun with those too. Here’s a couple of shots for you to drool over!
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| FROM K&K TEST KITCHEN- HAYSTACK COOKIES |
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| FROM MISS DELISH- RED VELVET AND PEPPERMINT WHOOPIE PIES |
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| RED DEER FOODIE- MOLASSES GINGER CRISPS |
Since I am in a sharing mood I shall include the picture of the cookie I deemed unworthy of sending to food bloggers. I shall make them again and line everything up correctly. So this is them in all their uneven glory. I’ll post the recipe and more pics later. But I gotta scoot to Costco to pick up a present that has to be wrapped and shipped today. Yup, I am a total Martha wannabe but have a habit of doing too much then rushing around late. To know me is to love me. You’ll just have to wait to do it as I’ll be late for that too.
Yah, tasty but not my usual ocd perfect cookie. So I shall try these ones again. They are a bugger to make. Lots of prep involved. I was so disappointed in the lack of uniform to them. But the taste is bang on. Go figure.
Okay folks I gotta rock n roll if I am going to finish up on time today. I have a wonderful Meatless Monday recipe coming up later. So check back tonight for so yummy goodness. Enjoy your day and remember to eat lots and lots of cookies. Thanks again to Kelsey and Jill. You ladies are amazing. Please take some time today my lovely readers and go say hi to these lovely gals. You can see their recipes by clicking the link under their cookie photos. Happy Holidays!
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Kels @ K and K Test Kitchen says
Kim you are just as sweet as can be! I'm so glad that you got the cookies and happy to hear that you all enjoyed them! Thank you for including the link to K&K Test Kitchen too! And of course these Nutella Cookies have me wishing that you were one of the bloggers sending me cookies! Yum!!
Tina says
Checkerboard cookies I have yet to master-the lining up does not come easy for me!
I am surprised you think that your recipients did not gobble up your cookies already. Ha-they probably have been awaiting your post with the recipe. Simply delicious Kim!
Ryan says
Glad you are feeling better! I know it really really stinks to be sick during the holidays when things are so busy! These cookies rock and I can't imagine how delicious they are with all of that yummy Nutella!! Beautiful pictures too. 🙂
Buttercream Blondie says
Mmmm nutella! They look so good! That "oh this ones too small, and this one doesn't look right" sounds a bit familiar… I'm a bit OCD as well, so I totally get it 🙂
Kiri W. says
Wow, these look amazing!! 🙂 Nutella is food of the Gods, I swear.
This swap was awesome, even if my cookies were stolen. Definitely signing up again!
Baker Street says
Anything with 3/4 cup of nutella must be magical..
Kim Bee says
@Baker Street- Aw shnikeys you just alerted me to that. I used half a jar for a triple batch and forgot to adjust it down. Rofl! Off to edit, thank you for that. It should be 1/4 cup per batch. I made 3 but just did a triple to save time. Crikey that would be one nutella-y blob with that much. Hopefully no one made them yet.
Cathy W says
All those cookies look fabulous! Why didn't I think of putting Nutella in my no-bake cookies? Love it! 🙂
anne says
Did you send mine already ? hahaha Love that yummy nutella cookies !
Emily says
Wasn't that so much fun. I love looking at what every one made and received! Your nutella cookies look to die for…and I would for one taste.
Chic & Gorgeous Treats says
Hi Kim Bee! How're you? I wish I could deliver my cookies to all of you. Seriously.. But due to all the food regulations, I can't. That is sad. It's really nice to know that all of you foodie bloggers are doing the cookie exchange. It must be really fun. I really enjoy your posts and thanks for buzzing me over at my blog too. Here's a toast to a new found foodie friend and have wonderful Christmas and New Year ahead. Till then, hugggsss.. Jo
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
I am loving the festive treats you have been sharing today! You can't go wrong with Nutella!
Anna @ hiddenponies says
Haha, I am always happy for the same reason when my precarious cookie pile topples…cookies for me!!! Your nutella cookies look delicious, and I'm heading over to check out that whoopie pie recipe too – wow!
Meg @ Sweet Twist says
These were great. My husband stole 3 on the first day!
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family says
I wish I could make checkerboard cookies. It takes just a little more concentration and patience than I have presently.
However nutella so belongs in cookies. Thanks so much for sharing them, I only wish I had been one of the 3 lucky recepients.
Kim Bee says
@Kels- You are so welcome. I wanted to make sure I got pics of the cookies before the family gobbled them right up.
@Tina- Thanks. I am so ocd that the checkerboards are just too stressful for me. Lol!
@Ryan- Thanks so much. Being sick is no fun. But yummy cookies make everything better.
@Buttercream Blondie- Glad I am not the only one with serious ocd. I swear I try to knock things over on purpose now. It's sad.
@Kiri- Wait, what? Someone stole your cookies? I still haven't gotten my third batch. Hoping to get them today so I can edit them in here.
@Baker Street- See previous comment to you and thank you for snapping me out of it to realize I had wrote the wrong amount written down.
@Cathy- Just occurred to me recently too. Lol!
@anne- Lol, I may have eaten yours.
@Emily- Thanks so much. This was a hoot and I really hope they do it again next year.
@Jo- So glad you popped by. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Years as well.
@Stephanie- Thanks so much!Loving Nutella, recent discover. I am slow on the uptake. Lol!
@Anna- I was so lucky to get the people I got. Their cookies rocked. And I just said I wanted to make red velvet whoopie pies so I was so stunned when they arrived.
@Meg- I am so glad you liked them. My hubs was the same way. I was trying to get pics before they were all gone. Lol!
@Rachel- Aw, thanks. Maybe next year I'll get your name. Man those checkerboard cookies almost did me in. I swear I thought I was going to be in crying heap on the floor over them. Tricky little buggers.
Jen at The Three Little Piglets says
So glad you're feeling better! And just in time to enjoy those yummy treats! We're HUGE Nutella fans in our house – and we especially love it in Nutella pancakes!
livingthesweetlifeblog says
My word, these are phenomenal cookies!! I just received my package in the mail. SO chocolaty – SO melt.in.your.mouth. I'm so happy you posted the recipe, these are probably going to become part of our family's annual cookie bake 🙂 thanks so much for the wonderful treat!!
TheChocolatePriestess says
I had fun doing this, too, though I seem to be the only bars from what I've seen so far.
Kim Bee says
@Jen- Perfect timing for sure. Oh Nutella pancakes sound divine.
@Livingthesweetlifeblog- Yeah, I am so happy you got them. I got them out late so I was so terrified it would take forever. I am so happy you like them. That makes me smile. You are so welcome. It's so nice to meet new people through this swap.
@The Chocolate Priestess- I got whoopie pies so I think there are a few of you that thought outside the box. But I have seen mostly cookies.
Terri's Little Haven says
Oh my gosh, these look so delicious. I need cookies now.
MIchelle Lacayo says
These look great. I make a version of the nutella cookie but I've never used coconut in it before. Sounds like a great addition! Thanks for sharing.
Cassie/Bake Your Day says
These sound perfect Kim! I love the addition of nutella!
Rosann says
What a fun way to share some Christmas cookie love! As usual, all of these look delish!! 🙂
Kim Bee says
@Michelle- Thanks so much. Coconut is super yum in these types of cookies.
@Cassie- Aw, thanks my dear. New to Nutella and loving it.
@Rosann- Thanks. It was a ton of fun.
The Bold Baker says
I finally received these cookies! To be honest, im not crazy about nutella and coconut, but together they make an amazing pair! I absolutely love these cookies. Thank you =)
Simone says
First time visitor here through Lisa’s blog… Can I just point out maybe first that when you click on your name after you commented on something it goes to a cravingsofalunatic.wordpress.com site. Might be an old one you used before, but it’s a dead end obviously. Thought I let you know that that link doesn’t work. I hate it when that happens.. 😉 Now those cookies look quite amazing!