Standard cookie recipes for rolled and cut out cookies generally were for five dozen. These cookies were not the monster-sized cookies of today, but typically a tablespoon scoop or a 2-2.5 inch wide sliced cookie. My favorite cookie cookbook is Carole Walter and most of her holiday cookies do approach the five dozen.

I was told to bring 5 per person (assuming we all try one and then take some home). I should be relatively close to that number.

I just hosted one for about 15 people and asked everyone to bring about 2-3 dozen. None of the people coming want to take home a truckload of cookies, it's more for the sampling and enjoying each other's company.

If anyone needed a go-to recipe that is a bit nicer than basic chocolate chip, I highly recommend this choc chip shortbread recipe -
https://smittenkitchen.com/2017/12/salted-butter-chocolate-chunk-shortbread/

It is super easy. My husband triples the recipe and we roll the logs smaller than it recommends. The cookies spread when they bake. You can store extra logs in the fridge or freezer and bake as needed. I’m a skilled baker, but these are the first to go at any party we host.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I did exactly ONE cookie exchange when I moved to the area. One dz was burned, another was store bought, another tasted like is was made from a store bought mix. Never, ever again.

Oh, the drama of it all!

Anonymous wrote:Anyone care to share a super easy recipe for bar cookies? I’m not a baker and get stressed every year for my book club cookie exchange.

Do not let the homage caramel throw you - it’s actually really easy. These came out well the first time I made them. I doubled the recipe and baked it in a 9x13 and they were a smidge thin.

https://smittenkitchen.com/2019/08/salted-caramel-pretzel-blondies/

5 dozen is nothing. The minimum for a swap should be 6 dozen so you go home with 12 cookies of 6 varieties - or 6 cookies each of 12 varieties!

I have seen 3 doz swaps and it’s just sad, but I was raised in the NE Ohio / Western PA tradition of “cookie tables.” And if you entertain at all over the holidays it’s expected that you present a large platter with an aesthetically arranged selection of cookies of various flavors, shapes, and colors.

The point of a cookie swap is that you make 6 -12 dozen of a single recipe. Ideally your signature recipe that you are known for and is easy for you. That is way faster and easier than making 6-12 varieties at once.

I make sugar cookie cutouts with royal icing designs. People regularly ask if I sell them professionally. I promise my cookies are the most labor intensive at the swap unless you make lady fingers/clothespin cookies. I do not complain about the volume because the whole point is that I don’t want to make snowballs, pecan tarts, peanut butter blossoms, grasshopper brownies, gingerbread men, etc.

Yeah, I did exactly ONE cookie exchange when I moved to the area. One dz was burned, another was store bought, another tasted like is was made from a store bought mix. Never, ever again.

Anyone care to share a super easy recipe for bar cookies?

These are very easy, the recipe is on the back of the Nestle butterscotch morsels:
https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/recipes/butterscotch-scotchies/

Anyone care to share a super easy recipe for bar cookies? I’m not a baker and get stressed every year for my book club cookie exchange.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The original Nestle toll house cookies recipe makes a batch of 5 dozen.

I’ve never gotten 5 dozen out of it and I make it all the time. I even measure out each cookie with a cookie scoop. I get about 3.5 dozen. I wonder why I’m so far off.

I don't think you're that off. For a single recipe toll house cookie it's not 5 dozen.

Ours is asking for four dozen. I don’t actually want four dozen cookies. So I will go and not bring or take home any.

Anonymous wrote:The original Nestle toll house cookies recipe makes a batch of 5 dozen.

I’ve never gotten 5 dozen out of it and I make it all the time. I even measure out each cookie with a cookie scoop. I get about 3.5 dozen. I wonder why I’m so far off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The original Nestle toll house cookies recipe makes a batch of 5 dozen.

Good to know for the future, thanks. I don't think they're the best chocolate chip cookies out there but sometimes quantity matters.

I make them with white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, a dash of cinnamon and some orange zest and they’re a hit. If you alter the mix ins, you can change them up.

I am a loyalist to Joy the Baker's brown butter chocolate chip cookies. Best version. I appreciate your variation though!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The original Nestle toll house cookies recipe makes a batch of 5 dozen.

Good to know for the future, thanks. I don't think they're the best chocolate chip cookies out there but sometimes quantity matters.

I make them with white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, a dash of cinnamon and some orange zest and they’re a hit. If you alter the mix ins, you can change them up.