Hosting a Christmas Cookie Exchange is something I look forward to every holiday season!

These free cookie exchange printables are perfect for using at your next Christmas Cookie Exchange event.

I’ve included invitations, signs, voting ballots, and even award ribbons. 

Scroll down to download and have a fun and festive time! 

I love the printable signs and display them throughout the event. I put some in frames, on doors, and on the serving table. 

Festive costumes are a must at our Christmas Cookie Exchanges! 

Baking cookies with my girls is one of my favorite holiday traditions. 

The voting ballots are simple and let you fill in the blanks.

There are four to a page to print and cut out. 

Prizes for the winning cookies have the printable award ribbons displayed on them.

You can also cut out and laminate. Then glue a pin on the back to attach. 

So many cookies, so little time!

A hot cocoa bar is another fun addition to a festive Christmas cookie exchange! 

My husband Ashton as the Grinch at the library cookie exchange. 

“Life is short… eat the Christmas cookies.”

You can never have too many cookies!

Download the printable cards and signs below!

1. Cookie Exchange Printable Pack PDF 

2. Christmas Cookie Exchange Sign

3. Cookie Exchange Game 1

4. Cookie Exchange Game 2

5. Christmas Calories Sign

6.  Bake Someone Happy Sign 

7. Taste Christmas Sign

8. Life is Short Sign

9. Cookie Voting Ballot 

10. Cookie Exchange Invitations

11. Award Ribbons

The post Christmas Cookie Exchange Free Printables – Ballots, Awards, and Signs appeared first on For the Love of Food.

These chewy sugar cookies have a delicious twist – I added some of my favorite fall flavors including molasses, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon.

These easy to make rolled cookies were a hit at my latest book club and holiday party! 

This recipe is part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap co-hosted by Erin of The Speckled Palate and Susannah of Feast + West. Every year, food bloggers get together to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give.

This year we are raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer, which is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer.

Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $18 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. From these grants have stemmed 35+ treatments available to kids battling cancer today.

Help us raise money for this important cause! Donate through our fundraising page.

Another exciting thing is that Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is in a matching window with their friends at OXO, meaning OXO will be matching every dollar raised through the end of 2025, up to $100,000. Whatever money we raise will automatically double on our fundraising page!

Print

Molasses Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• ¾ cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups flour
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt

Instructions

• Melt butter over low heat.
• Cool, add sugar, molasses, and egg.
• Beat well.
• Sift together flour, soda, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and salt, add to first mixture.
• Mix well and chill.
• Form the dough into 1-inch balls and roll them in sugar.
• Place on a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack.

Notes

Recipe by Lucy Burdette from "An Appetite for Murder".

Melt butter over low heat then cool and add sugar, molasses, and egg.

Mix well.

Sift together flour, soda, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and salt, add to first mixture.

Mix well and chill.

Form the dough into 1-inch balls

…and roll them in sugar.

Place on a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

About Cookies for Kids’ Cancer:

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer. Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $18 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. From these grants have stemmed 35+ treatments available to kids battling cancer today.

Fast Facts:

Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease of children in the U.S.
More than 40,000 U.S. children are actively battling cancer right now.
The average age of a child diagnosed with pediatric cancer is 6.
The combined 12 major groups of pediatric cancers receive 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) federal budget.
2/3 pediatric cancer patients will develop long-term side effects, many life-threatening—a result of the treatments that “cured” them.
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is committed to funding research for new, improved and less toxic treatment options for kids.
There are 300,000+ new cases of cancer affecting children worldwide annually. That’s more than 800 new kids affected every day.

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is in a matching window with their friends at OXO, who will be matching every dollar raised through the end of 2025, up to $100,000.

Whatever money we raise will automatically double on our fundraising page!

Help us raise money for this important cause! Donate through our fundraising page.

The post Molasses Sugar Cookies appeared first on For the Love of Food.

This festive holiday display is a fun way to serve donuts for a family brunch or Christmas gathering.

The donut wreath can be assembled easily and is always a hit with kids!

Print

Christmas Donut Wreath

Ingredients

• 2 14 oz packages about 4 dozen assorted donut holes
• 1 14 oz package about 20 mini powdered donuts
• foam craft wreath
• plastic wrap
• toothpicks

Instructions

• Add plastic wrap to a foam wreath completely covering.
• Set the wreath on a platter.
• Begin to add the donut holes all over the top and sides by inserting toothpicks at an angle halfway and gently pushing a donut hole through the center of the toothpick.
• Continue to add donut holes and fill in with the mini powdered donuts too on the top.
• Add donuts until completely covered.
• Wrap with plastic wrap until ready to serve.
• Optional: you can add a bow or ribbon to the center front of the wreath.

Add plastic wrap to a foam wreath completely covering then add to a platter.

I used one package of mini powdered donuts and two packages assorted glazed donut holes.

Begin to add the donut holes all over the top and sides by inserting toothpicks at an angle halfway. 

Then gently push the donut holes through the center of each toothpick.

Continue to add donut holes and fill in with the mini powdered donuts too on the top. 

Add donuts until completely covered. 

Optional: you can add a bow or ribbon to the center front of the wreath.

Serve right away or cover with plastic wrap to keep from going stale.

I recommend you serve the day or the day after you assemble. 

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This delicious Christmas recipe is viral online for a reason!

Only three ingredients are required for this sweet and tart holiday treat. I bet you can’t eat just one.

Print

Viral Candied Cranberries

Ingredients

• 1 bag of fresh cranberries
• 12 oz can of Cranberry Ginger Ale soda
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• optional 1 cup orange juice

Instructions

• Add cleaned cranberries to a large bowl and pour cranberry ginger ale on top. You can also add OJ too.
• Soak overnight up to 24 hours.
• Strain all the liquid.
• Coat the cranberries in powdered sugar, tossing gently to coat.
• Spread out on a lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 200 degrees for 5 minutes to "dry out".
• Remove and chill in fridge until ready to eat.

Enjoy this sweet and tart treat with a crunch! They are addicting! 

This recipe makes a bowl full. The perfect amount to share.

They last about a week covered in the fridge- but i doubt they will last that long!

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This fun “You’ve Been Mugged” printable gifting game is a Christmas take on the popular “You’ve Been Booed” game.

Simply add a tag and info sheet to a coffee mug and fill it with treats then leave it as a surprise for your neighbors, coworkers, teachers, or friends.

Then they can keep spreading the Christmas cheer and “mug” someone else!

I’ve included free printable tags, door hangers, and signs along with an instruction sheet and even treat and gift ideas below!

This is a great way to gift just about anyone from coworkers to friends and even your kids’ teachers!

Simply print out the “You’ve Been Mugged” signs to include with your gift.

I adjusted mine to print 4 to a page and attached them as tags to the mugs.

There is also an instruction sheet to explain all the details.

Print then fold and add inside the mug.

I also included door hangers and funny gift tags too!

You can just gift the mug or add some treats like hot cocoa packets, tea bags, coffee pods, and candy.

So cute and so fun! 

Click here to download and print the You’ve Got Mugged ideas and tags!

1. You’ve Been Mugged Sign

2. Door Tags

3. Instructions 

4. Treat and Gift Ideas 

5. Funny Tags

The post You’ve Been Mugged Christmas Gift Idea and Printable Tags appeared first on For the Love of Food.

This sweet and festive ornament shaped cheeseball is ideal for serving as a Christmas themed appetizer!

Print

Christmas Ornament Brie Cheeseball

Ingredients

• 6-8 oz spreadable brie cheese
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries divided
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans divided
• 1 tbsp honey
• Rollo gold wrapped candy optional
• crackers for serving

Instructions

• In a bowl mix together the soft brie, 1/4 cup cranberries, 1/4 cup pecans, and honey.
• Once combined scoop onto a large piece of cling wrap.
• Form into a large ball and secure top.
• Place in the fridge for a couple hours up to overnight.
• Once it is set, remove from fridge and unwrap.
• Add the remaining cranberries and pecans to a plate and roll the brie ball in them to coat.
• Place on a decorative plate.
• Top with a gold wrapped Rollo candy as the top of the "ornament".
• Serve with crackers and a knife for spreading and enjoy.

This Christmas themed cheeseball is so easy to make with just four ingredients! 

I used this spreadable brie cheese. 2 3-4oz packages of it was enough for one cheeseball.

Add 1/4 cup cranberries and 1/4 cup pecans to a bowl.

Add honey.

Then add both containers of soft brie. Mix well to combine.

Scoop onto a large piece of cling wrap.

Form into a large ball and secure top.
Place in the fridge for a couple hours up to overnight.

Once it is set, remove from fridge and unwrap.
Add the remaining cranberries and pecans to a plate.

Roll the brie ball in them to coat.
Place on a decorative plate.

Top with a gold wrapped Rollo candy as the top of the “ornament”.

Place on a decorative plate and serve with crackers and a knife for spreading.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from my family to yours!

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It’s Christmas movie night and tonight we are showing Home Alone!

To make it more fun (is that even possible?!), I provided props and an interactive script so everyone watching can Scream, Dance, and Snack along with the classic scenes from the movie!

This fun printable game is a great way for everyone, young and old, to participate in movie night! All props are easy to find and your Home Alone screening will be a blast! 

The simple props you need are gold chocolate coins, candy canes, pizza flavored goldfish crackers, gummy candy worms or spiders, and toy balls or craft fluff balls.

Follow along with the 13 prompts during the movie!

Stella loved eating a bite of a chocolate coin every time she saw she saw Harry’s gold tooth!

Have a fun movie night, ya filthy animal! 

Print the Home Alone Interactive Movie Prompts below!

I have provided 3 different file types for you to choose from. 

Click here to download the PDF movie prompts.

Click here to download the Word doc movie prompts.

Click here to download the JPG movie prompts.

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One of our favorite holiday family traditions is driving around to look at Christmas lights in our area.

I made it even more fun by creating this printable scavenger hunt for my kids to check off different lights and decorations we see!

This new version is updated for 2023!

You can check out the original scavenger hunt printable from 2018 here.

Scroll down to see our Christmas lights adventures this year and to download and print your scavenger hunt. 

Our festive family loves the holidays.

Even with traveling, school, car troubles, being sick, and all the other things that happened this month we always make time for our time together making memories.

Our Christmas lights drive tradition is a good one! We fill a thermos with hot cocoa, order subs to go, and load up in the van with blankets and our scavenger hunt. 

Then we put on the Christmas music and drive around our town looking at all the Christmas decor and dancing lights!

We are lucky to live in an area with lots of holiday lights! I have found the best way to find the most festive areas is asking friends, coworkers, and searching social media! 

Most local dancing lights have their own pages and videos posted. 

We could watch them all night! I especially like the Grinch lights.

Another place to check for festive decor: downtown squares, city parks, and family farms! 

Of course, lights at stores and malls can count too! This was at our local Bass Pro Shops.

We go here every year for free Santa photos too.

You know we go all out at home too! 

My husband and kids love inflatables so we have a fun collection of those front and center.

Our last home in Missouri had a much bigger yard than our current house, so we were able to display my favorite sleigh and reindeer.

One day we have a goal to have dancing lights and a “Griswold” style house! (IYKYK)

Print the Christmas Scavenger Hunt below!

Click here to download the Christmas Lights and Decorations Scavenger Hunt here.

Have fun doing this scavenger hunt as a family and creating new Christmas memories!

The post Holiday Fun Printable – Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt appeared first on For the Love of Food.

It’s Christmas break and we’re planning a movie night to celebrate! 

Christmas movie night’s are a family favorite and tonight’s choice is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. 

The animated classic is based on the book by Dr Suess that we read every year during the holidays. 

To add a fun activity to our screening, I planned a game of Grinch themed bingo to play during the movie. Our snack menu included

Green Grinch Hot Chocolate and Grinch Snack Mix, served in festive Grinch themed popcorn boxes. 

Scroll down to print out Grinch bingo and two sizes of popcorn boxes!

Tonight’s menu:

Green Grinch Hot Chocolate

Grinch Snack Mix

These popcorn boxes come in two sizes: small and large. They are easy to print, cut out, and tape together.

Then fill with popcorn or your favorite snack!

More Movie Night Printables:

Merry Grinchmas Sign

Movie Night Sign and Tickets

Print the bingo and popcorn boxes here!

Click here to download page 1 of bingo cards.

Click here to download page 2 of bingo cards.

Click here to download the small Grinch popcorn boxes.

Click here to download page 1 of the large Grinch popcorn boxes.

Click here to download page 2 of the large Grinch popcorn boxes.

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Grinch Movie Night would not be complete without a festive snack mix.

This salty and sweet recipe is a delicious holiday treat that the whole family will enjoy!

Print

Grinch Holiday Snack Mix

Makes a large bowlful

Ingredients

• 4 cups Chex Cereal I used Rice Chex
• 4 cups Popcorn popped
• 2 cups pretzel sticks
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• green food coloring
• 3 oz package Christmas M&Ms
• 1 Hershey's white chocolate bar I used the holiday sugar cookie flavor

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, pretzels, and Chex cereal. Mix well and set aside.
• 2.In a small bowl add the white chocolate chips and microwave on  50% power for 45 seconds. Stir and heat an additional 15 seconds, stirring again. Repeat until fully melted and smooth.
• Add green food coloring and stir in drops until you get the color green you want. I added about 6 drops.
• Now pour the chocolate over the snack mix and stir to coat. Optional you can also scoop into a large gallon size bag and add chocolate then seal and shake to coat.
• Spread onto a lined baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, boil a small saucepan of water and add the Hershey bar. Dip in with tongs for a few seconds until it is melted.
• Remove and cut off a corner of the wrapper. Drizzle all over the snack mix.
• Finally, sprinkle on M&M's .
• Let set then scoop into cups and serve!

Start by gathering your snack mix ingredients including your favorite Chex cereal, pretzels, and popcorn. 

In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, pretzels, and Chex cereal. Mix well and set aside.

In a small bowl add the white chocolate chips and microwave on  50% power for 45 seconds.

Stir and heat an additional 15 seconds, stirring again. Repeat until fully melted and smooth.

Add green food coloring and stir in drops until you get the color green you want. 

I added about 6 drops. 

Now pour the chocolate over the snack mix and stir to coat.

Optional: you can also scoop into a large gallon size bag and add chocolate then seal and shake to coat.

Spread onto a lined baking sheet.

Meanwhile, boil a small saucepan of water and add the Hershey bar. Dip in with tongs for a few seconds until it is melted.

Remove and cut off a corner of the wrapper. Drizzle all over the snack mix.

Finally, sprinkle on M&M’s .

Let set then scoop into cups and serve! 

We served this snack mix along with Green Grinch Hot Chocolate for our Grinchmas Movie Night.

   “Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.” — The Grinch  

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