Ok, maybe not ever, but in my time in Italy, yes. And we’ve only just begun…(cue music). Now that I’ve waded into the waters of cookie swapping and dragged some Italian friends with me, I know that next year will be even easier!
So many cookies, so little time. I included a little non-sugar at the party in the form of Pugliese taralli, and some fresh cut vegetables with the Caramelized Onion Dip from 101 Cookbooks (very good – I made it with only Greek yogurt thinned with a little milk since we don’t have sour cream here in Italy).
In the middle, some aptly-named “Trees Company” cookies with a sprinkling of nutmeg and cinnamon on top in the form of little Christmas trees. Behind them, cookies named “Si mangiano con gli occhi chiusi” – “Eat me with your eyes closed” which were a mix of oatmeal and ginger and very good.
The crowd favorite, and the most American cookie of the bunch: Super Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies with M&M’s.
One of my contributions: French Macarons with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache. There’s the recipe!
Sablés Breton with pistachios from Pierre Herme’s Cookbook.
Another one of my cookies, Cranberry Coconut Shortbread Bars which are extremely ugly but are delicious and were a favorite at the party. They are GOOD, trust me. I’ll be posting that recipe, too. (next to the World Peace Cookies I posted in a Virtual Hug for Barbara from Winos and Foodies)
Another one of my cookies, Jam Thumbprints, my mom’s recipe, mixed up a bit by rolling them in some Bronte pistachios. I’ll post that recipe, too.
The other end of the table. Some of the cookies were still in boxes and hidden. You can see the back-end of the “Eat me with your eyes closed cookies” and in the blurry foreground (sorry!) we have the Burrotini Burrosi al Sapore di Burro (basically: very buttery cookies) and the Tozzetti di Mamma direct from Procida (an island near Capri).
Nevicati: “Snowed” Cookies – don’t you love the little sugar balls? Yum.
Madeleine di Jardinier (Madeleines from the gardener). I probably didn’t spell that right, corrections welcome. made by a native French with candied violets. In the background, her buttery sugar cookies with sesame seeds and chocolate.
See a favorite cookie here? What cookie would you bring to a cookie swap?
You are really making me salivate over here Sara!! I would say it WAS the best cookie swap ever. Such a great, fun and fattening idea. Wish I had enough friends here that would pull it off. I would bring rugalach or walnut crescents!
What a fantastic swap Sara! I’m sure it will become a tradition! The table looks great!
YUM! Everything looks delicious. I made the Pignoli recipe last night, so good. I can’t wait to make the French Macarons with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache. Hope you’re well!
What a spread! I must be in cookie heaven! Merry Christmas xox
What a fab display and what an exchange. Wish Milano wasn’t so far away!
That is just amazing. never heard of a cookie swap. I think it become a tradition :-)
Proud Italian Cook posted on this yesterday. Looks fantastic- I wish that they had the same thing on this side of the world.
All of them please!
don’t tell me you made those macarons – they are perfect! i want one so bad right now i can’t think of anything else!
Thanks everyone! I am definitely looking forward to next year…and maybe some interim swaps in the middle :)
@anna, yes I did make them :) I think I have to tweak the colors still.
I really love the “snowed” cookies. And the sables look interesting! Very fabulous photos. Wish I could’ve been there! :P