Holiday Baking on a Budget: Creative Cookie Exchange Ideas to Sweeten the Season
It’s in the mess that memories are made.
Right?
At least that’s how it seems to be work at our house. Be it in the kitchen or outside in a pile of leaves or with bubbles in the bathtub. It’s the fun and messy activities that make the best memories.
My oldest elf Ryan helping scoop dough onto the cookie sheets.
I love helping my boys learn how to cook and bake. I love watching them try to pick out egg shells from the eggs they crack. I love hearing mutter, “oooh, watch this,” as the stand mixer transforms the ingredients into the dough or batter for whatever we’re baking. I actually let them fight over the ice cream scooper for scooping out the cookie dough and dropping them on the cookie sheet. (They’ve actually figured out a very good system for remembering…they are quite diplomatic and serious about their cooking baking!)
But I’m totally into messes on a budget, and being creative with what I’ve got on hand. And not trying to create elaborate cookie masterpieces that take too much money out of my pocketbook and time away from our busy life. (One of the things I love about Holiday Cookies…simple and easy enough for me, the non-crafty baker, to make!)
So holiday cookie baking on a budget. Both a time budget and a dollar budget. Here’s what you need to know…
- Watch the sales. Search the store ads inside out, and definitely grab ingredients when they are on the front page of the circular.
- Use coupons. Holiday baking and Thanksgiving feast ingredients are in a tight race for both quantity of coupons released, as well as value of coupons released during this season. There are a slew of coupons available at the moment for all your holiday baking needs.
- Search for lowest prices at different grocery stores and online retailers in your area. (And don’t forget to use your coupons in conjunction. And price match too!)
- Stock up. When you have coupons and see great sale prices, buy a few extra packages of the ingredient you need (especially the more expensive ingredients like nuts and caramels).
- Double up. Make an extra batch of the dough while you’re making the mess and freeze the other half to bake yourself later, or gift to a friend. (You will be my best best best friend forever if you give me frozen cookie dough!)
Another reason I like to prepare dough in advance and double up batches is cookie exchanges. Even though we’ve got an extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, these fun cookie exchanges can really sneak up on you. There’s less stress in getting to one with a box full of cookies, if you’ve already got the dough on hand, ready to be baked!
Christmas & Holiday Cookie Exchange Ideas
Christmas & Holiday Cookie Exchange Ideas
Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas
Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas
Homemade Vanilla Extract
A gift that anyone can use! Super cute in a bottle with a tag!
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix
A regular and dairy-free version of hot cocoa mix - perfect for your own kitchen, or to give as a gift!
Cracker Toffee “Christmas Crack” + 7 Flavor Combos!
With the different flavor options, this makes a homemade gift that you can mix and match!
Easy Cashew Bark
I bought some Christmas themed coffee mugs that I plan to fill with cashew bark and wrap with pretty cellophane for the kids to give as teacher gifts.
Mexican Cocoa Fudge
A delightful combination of dark chocolate and cinnamon with just a tiny bite to it from cayenne pepper!
Peppermint Divinity
Divinity is much easier to make than you might think! Try this peppermint version!
Dipped Pretzel Sticks and Gift Tags
Use your choice of dark chocolate, milk chocolate or white chocolate – or make a combination of all three!
Peppermint Bark Chex Party Mix
Quick and easy recipe!
Cinnamon Pecans
Super simple. Super tasty!
Cake Mix Cookies
The great thing about this recipe is that you can use any kind of cake mix and any kind of add ins.
So now I’m hungry. And ready to bake. Holiday Cookies on Pinterest
If you’re looking for some pin-spiration for your holiday cookies this year, check out our Holiday Cookie Baking board on Pinterest for photos and links to what might be your new favorite holiday cookie!
And here’s what I really want to know…what holiday cookies are on your list this year? Do you have “tradition cookies” that you make every year? New ones you want to try to make this year, or take to a cookie exchange? And lastly, what’s your absolute favorite holiday cookie to eat?
Lisa @ Thriftability says
Erin – thanks for the great money saving tips! I agree with you – stocking up is a good way to save money, as is making a big batch ahead of time. Sugar cookie dough is easy to make in big batches, then just scoop out what you need over a week’s tie and make small specialty batches that you decorate differently or mix in other ingredients to customize the cookies.
I am pinning this post to my Pinterest board at http://pinterest.com/thriftability !
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
Yep! I just did a double batch of sugar cookie dough, for this same reason! Happy holiday baking!
Erin
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Kathy says
How do I do my Christmas goodies on a. Budget