Cookies and Milk for Santa

Every year I try to come up with something creative to make/give to the neighbors for the holidays. I usually try to bake something – one year I did dog and cat treats, last year it was candy pretzels. We have quite a few little kids on the block, so I wanted to make sure it was something fun… and easier than those dang pretzels. I went with a favorite, cookies and milk!

I found red and white straws at my local grocery store. The milk was from Straus Family Creamery – purchased at my local co-op. The tins were found for 65% off at Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts. The red and white string was bought at Cost Plus… and I made the cookies – Toll House basic recipe, but I used all organic ingredients from the co-op.

I put just over a dozen cookies in each tin. I used parchment paper to line the tins and then tied the tin lids to the front of the container with the red and white string and attached a handwritten label to the straws.

I made just over 7 dozen giant chocolate chip cookies – only 6 fit on my cookie sheets at a time. I used an ice cream scoop for the dough.

The cookies and milk were a big hit with the adults and the kids… the kids were so excited that the milk came in glass bottles. Lots of thanks and smiles – it was totally worth the extra effort.

The neighbors also got really creative this year. We received homemade granola in a bell jar tied in fabric, a Christmas platter of assorted baked goods, homemade tamales (that were incredible!) and Pampered Chef mixes tied up in a Christmas basket with a spatula spreader.

I love where I live and Christmas is the perfect time to show how grateful I am to have such wonderful neighbors.

Do you exchange gifts with your neighbors?