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DIY Projects

DIY Holiday Cookie Exchange Boxes

December 1, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

If the year 2020 has given us anything, I believe it’s cultivated a spirit in the American people to think more creatively, shift gears quickly and turn less-than-ideal situations into ones that are positive, even though things may look a little different along the way. As we head into the holiday season, we’re all being tasked with getting creative and finding new ways to celebrate the season, spread Christmas cheer and keep our favorite holiday traditions alive with friends and family in a safe manner. 

DIY Holiday Cookie Exchange Boxes

And if ever there was a time when Christmas cheer needed to be spread across our communities, it’s certainly now. One way my family is keeping the Christmas spirit alive this season is by hosting a holiday cookie exchange to keep our friends and family close at heart, even though we may technically be more than 6 feet apart. In years past, cookie exchanges looked a little bit different as friends would gather in one common area with their homemade cookies and treats to “swap” with other families. Instead of gathering in one place this season, we are picking our top 3 favorite holiday cookies, packaging them up and delivering them to others. Each box will have a recipe card for one or more of the cookies featured in the box, plus a challenge for the recipient to create their own cookie box to share with their loved ones this holiday season. 

DIY Holiday Cookie Exchange Boxes

While many other activities may be cancelled, baking treats in your own kitchen, getting a little crafty and sharing those gifts with others is certainly not off of the table. So gather up your baking supplies, break out the ribbon and twine and turn up the Christmas carols on the radio, because I’m going to show you how I put together these simple boxes with very little effort, all while creating a chain of holiday cheer that will ignite a light of hope throughout our communities during a time when we truly need it the most.

DIY Holiday Cookie Exchange Boxes

To start off our holiday cookie exchange, I selected 3 of our favorite cookies to make this time of year. My white chocolate cranberry cookies are a certified Santa favorite in my house, so those were a top choice to pack in our cookie boxes. Our other two choices were a classic gingerbread cookie and jam-filled lintzer cookies. I packed a total of 4 of each variety into our boxes, so recipients would receive a full dozen cookies to enjoy with their families.

As much as I love baking, assembling these boxes with particular families in mind was perhaps the best part of all. I found these paper lunch boxes in the party supply aisle as my local craft/hobby store. These are not a seasonal item, so you should be able to find them year round and often in multiple colors. I also picked up some wired holiday ribbon, crinkled paper gift box filler, an inexpensive pack of flat Christmas ornaments with “Merry Christmas” written on them, and a flocked fir pick from the floral department to attach to each box. 

DIY Holiday Cookie Exchange Boxes

 

Once the cookies were baked, cooled and ready to pack, I filled each box with a handful of crinkled box filler and arranged the cookies on top. Inside the box I added a printed out recipe card for the cookies, along with a personalized card for the family and the challenge for them to continue to cookie exchange. I then closed the box, wrapped the ribbon around it and put a dab of hot glue on a small fir branch I trimmed off of the pick and placed it right in the center. I then glued the Christmas ornament on top for a completed look, and loaded up the boxes and delivered them safely to my friends and family.  

DIY Holiday Cookie Exchange Boxes

As much as we all long to be comfortably reunited with our loved ones during this season, there are many creative ways we can still be with them in spirit until we’re all able to safely be together again. Starting a cookie exchange in your own community or circle of friends is a great way to keep our favorite holiday traditions like cookie baking and gift giving alive, all while spreading love, care and holiday cheer to others who could really use a pick-me-up during these times. 2020 may not have been the best year for many of us, but we’re given an opportunity every day to bring a smile to others faces. Sharing homemade cookies are a wonderful and simple way to do that, as each bite is sure to bring a smile over and over again!

Are you ready to begin your own cookie exchange? Here’s my recipe for these scrumptious White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies to get you started!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
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Soft & Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup salted butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbs vanilla flavoring
  • 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer, combine butter, white sugar and brown sugar.
  • Add in vanilla and egg and mix until incorporated.
  • Slowly add in flour, corn starch, baking soda and salt and mix until a soft, thick dough forms.
  • Add in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips and stir until just combined.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour or longer. (Don't skip this step!)
  • Preheat oven to 350 F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray or use a non-stick silicone baking mat
  • Once dough is thoroughly chilled, roll or scoop into 2 inch balls and place about an inch or more apart on the cookie sheet
  • Bake for 10-11 minutes. *Cookies will appear undercooked when first removed from the oven. Do not cook any longer - the cookies will continue to set while left to cool on the cookie sheet.
  • Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?

Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

 

Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: cookie exchange boxes, DIY Holiday cookie exchange

DIY Triple Chocolate Easter Bunny Dessert

April 1, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This DIY Triple Chocolate Easter Bunny Dessert is the perfect treat to celebrate the spring season with. Just grab a spoon and bottoms up!

We’re hopping right along into the spring season, and my heart has been thumping over all of the beautiful new green foliage, gorgeous pastel colored flowers and the brisk cool morning air. Spring has always felt so refreshing to me, and seeing what has withered away regain  new life and come into bloom is such a testament of the beauty of the season.

We built our home in a very wooded area, and each morning our yard comes to life with beautiful creatures and critters coming out to play in the blanket of morning dew on our lawn. My two girls have grown particularly fond of the wild rabbits we have that wrinkle their noses as they munch on the Bahia grass. We are big fans of the Easter bunny, and my daughters giggle with delight each time they see the store shelves flooded with those cuddly stuffed bunny rabbits and giant packs of pastel colored eggs.

DIY Triple Chocolate Easter Bunny Dessert…

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Filed Under: Desserts, DIY Projects

Free Printable: I’m Beary Glad You’re My Friend Valentine

January 30, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Affiliate links are included throughout this post at absolutely no cost to you. Enjoy this Free Printable: I’m Beary Glad You’re My Friend Valentine to share with your friends!

We’re just a few weeks out from Valentine’s Day, and it seems like you can’t throw a rock inside a big chain supermarket right now without hitting something pink, red and covered in Conversation Hearts. You won’t catch me complaining, though, because even though Valentine’s Day is just another made up holiday fueled by consumerism, the thought of celebrating love is always appealing to me. I have a lot of people in my life that I love, and they never hesitate to make me feel the same way in return. So bring on the mushy-gushy Valentine stuff, because I’m all about it!

Free Printable: I'm Beary Glad You're My Friend Valentine…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects, For the Kids Tagged With: Beary glad you're my friend printable, Beary glad you're my valentine, Free bear valentine printable, Free printable valentine

Rubber Ducky Valentine Cards + FREE Printable

January 23, 2020 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

These Rubber Ducky Valentine Cards are a fun little way to make any Valentine recipient feel like a lucky duck!

Earlier last week my daughter received a note in her school folder reminding all parents that Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and each student will need to make a little Valentine mail box so all classmates can deliver each other special Valentine treats during their class party. I loved passing out Valentine cards and treats to my classmates in elementary school, so this was definitely a project I’m excited to help my daughter with!

Free Printable: Rubber Ducky Valentine Cards…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: Free printable valentine, Rubber Duck valentine, rubber duckie valentine, Rubber ducky valentine

How to Create a Winter White Harvest Tablescape

October 25, 2019 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #CocaColaHolidaySpice #CollectiveBias

As we’re winding up the final months of 2019, I can’t help but think about how we’re in the home stretch of wrapping up an entire decade. So much personal growth has happened in the last 10 years, including marrying my soulmate, starting a family and building our home. As I’m making preparations to celebrate the upcoming holidays, I’ve been feeling pretty sentimental about all of the good memories that I’ll be sharing with my family when they gather around my table for Thanksgiving this year.

How to Create a Winter White Harvest Tablescape #CocaColaHolidaySpice…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects, Farmhouse Finds, My Favorite Things Tagged With: deer antler tablescape, white fall tablescape, white table setting, white tablescapes, Winter White Harvest Tablescape

Free 1st Day of School Hang Tag Printable

August 3, 2019 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

These free 1st day of school hang tag printables are perfect for teacher, faculty, and class gifts on the first day of class!

We’re just THREE days away from school starting for our oldest daughter, and even though we’re sad to see summer come to an end, we’re thrilled that she is going to be introduced to a classroom setting and make lots of new friends! We’ve had a blast picking out new school clothes, purchasing school supplies for the very first time and now picking out  gifts for her to give to her teachers.

Free 1st Day of School Hang Tag Printable…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: 1st day of school tag, back to school printable, back to school tag printable, first day of school printable, free school tag printable, free teacher gift tag printable, teacher gift printable

Father’s Day Gift Basket for Fishermen

May 29, 2019 by Laura Tucker 5 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #JackLinksDad #CollectiveBias

One of my favorite perks of living in the southern portion of Alabama is that the beautiful sandy white beaches aren’t far away at all. We’ve gotten quite spoiled by the ability to make day trips down to the Gulf, and my husband’s family loves to spend any free weekend they get fishing off of the state park pier. My husband and I used to fish together frequently before we had children, but now our time spent at the beach involves much more splashing in the waves than casting a reel. Fishing is still one of my husband’s favorite pastimes, so we made sure during our vacation this past weekend that he was able to take the time to cast his reel and enjoy his time in the outdoors.Father's Day Gift Basket for Fishermen #JackLinksDad #ad…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects, My Favorite Things Tagged With: cooler gift basket, Father's Day gift basket, Fishing Father's Day gift, Fishing gift basket, Fishing gift ideas, Jack Links gift ideas, Outdoorsman gift basket, Outdoorsman gift ideas, pier fishing gift ideas

DIY Game Day Place Mat + Homegating Tips & GIVEAWAY!

January 24, 2019 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

This post has been sponsored by Farm Rich and Litehouse. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. I love sharing my favorite tips and tricks for hosting the ultimate game day party with my readers! Scroll down to learn about the Farm Rich giveaway going on now!

Tracking Pixel

We’re just days away from the ultimate game day showdown, and all the buzz centered around the Big Game has me SO excited to get my head in the game and host the ultimate game day celebration as we watch two amazing teams gear up to bring home a championship title! Game days have always been a big deal for us. We all huddle together as family and friends to watch our favorite teams play, and while the spirit of the game is what brings us together, the game day snacks are what keep us smiling for all 4 quarters!
DIY Game Day Place Mat + Homegating Tips & GIVEAWAY!…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects, My Favorite Things Tagged With: DIY football place mat, DIY game day, game day, game day hosting tips, game day snacks, homegating, homegating tips

Simple Friendsgiving Entertaining + DIY Burlap Utensil Holder

November 12, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #GiftACoke #CollectiveBias

I remember the very first time I was introduced to the idea of “Friendsgiving.” During my senior year of college, a sorority sister of mine invited me to a Friendsgiving dinner she was hosting at her house. Without even being entirely sure of what it was, I told her to count me in! When I asked what all a Friendsgiving dinner entailed, she quickly explained that it was a time of fellowship with friends to celebrate the Thanksgiving season before we all parted ways during the break to head back home to visit with our families. Since then, I’ve seen many of those same people that attended keep the tradition alive by hosting a gathering  in their homes filled with good food, good fiends and good times!

Simple Friendsgiving Entertaining + DIY Utensil Holder…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects, Farmhouse Finds, My Favorite Things Tagged With: Burlap utensil holder, Coca-Cola recipes, Cranberry Coke-tail, DIY burlap utensil holder, DIY utensil holder, Farmhouse Decor, Farmhouse Thanksgiving table, Friendsgiving, no sew utensil holder, Thanksgiving entertaining, Thanksgiving tablescape

To Mars and Beyond VBS Snack Ideas

June 14, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Affiliate links are included throughout this post at absolutely no cost to you.

VBS 2018 has officially kicked off with the start of this new month! You may have seen my posts about Game On, Shipwrecked and Splash Canyon (3 popular VBS themes for this year) floating around the world wide web – and it’s because I absolutely LOVE Vacation Bible School and all that it entails!

It may (or may not) come to a surprise to you that even though VBS hasn’t even started at my own home church just yet, I’m already looking ahead to VBS 2019 to see what all the buzz is about! On June 1st, Cokesbury announced the brand new theme set to take off for 2019, and we’re all in for a treat that’s totally out of this world!

To Mars and Beyond Snack Ideas…

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Filed Under: DIY Projects, VBS Resources Tagged With: Cokesbury VBS, Cokesbusy VBS 2019, Galaxy snack ideas, Outer space food, Outer space party, Outer space party food, Outer Space party ideas, To Mars and Beyond VBS, VBS 2019

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"Hi there! I'm Laura, and I'm a child of God, a wife, and a mother of two. My roots are planted deep in rural Alabama. Monograms, crafting and Southern cuisine - yes, these are a few of my favorite things! Join me as I grow my family in the beautiful South where the tea is sweet, the accents are sweeter, & someone's heart is always being blessed." [Read more...]

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