I hadn't heard of the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap (GFBCS) until it was bought to my attention via a tweet from Julie of Gourmet Getaways. I must admit, I didn't immediately jump at getting involved. Mainly due to the time of the year, right when you are running around like a goose for Christmas. Curiosity got the better of me, and I signed up.
This was the second year for GFBCS. A USA based event, which includes a few countries, like Australia. There is a US$4.00 charge to participate and that money is donated to charity. The charitable cause is Cookies for Kids' Cancer. Money well spent as far as I am concerned.
So how does it work? You sign up on the GFBCS website. Once you confirm your participation you are instructed to make a US$4.00 taxable donation (if in the USA) directly to Cookies for Kids' Cancer. 100% of your donation goes to the cause.
Once the deadline for signing up has passed you will receive the names and addresses of three other participants who you will send your cookies too. It is all hush hush, they have no idea you are their cookie provider, and you have no idea who you will be receiving cookies from.
All that is left is to bake your cookies and then post them to your secret recipients by the deadline. In return you will receive (hopefully) three cookie parcels. The last thing to do is blog about it by the set date, which just happens to be today.
I sadly only received two cookie parcels. I am sure the third is playing hide and seek in the Australia Post's Christmas mail.
cranberry, pistachio, cardamon shortbread from gourmet getaways
I was thrilled when Julie from Gourmet Getaways was the first to present me with cookies. I felt it was rather befitting as she was the one that got me involved. No risk of them getting lost in the post, they were handed over at the Sydney Food Bloggers Christmas Party! Julie went all out on wrapping with a great Christmas feel, baubles included.
espresso chip oatmeal cookies from sweetly baked
My second parcel of cookies was from Catie of Sweetly Baked. Wrapped so well for travel in a tin, a gorgeous note and Christmas card accompanied them. Plus the recipe, such a giving gift.
My third cookie swap person? I have no idea. If you are reading this, which you probably are, email or tweet me and let me know. With any luck they will turn up before the new year.
cookies made for the sydney food bloggers christmas picnic
For my cookie swap victims, whoops, I mean recipients , I went for a tried and tested recipe. They are actually the same base that I used for cookies I made for the Sydney Food Bloggers Christmas Picnic.
I do need to tell you, this recipe isn't mine, it is actually taken from a fellow Sydney Blogger and friend. The below recipe is from Angie from Angie lives to eat (and cook). Please do head over to her blog as there are quite a few gem recipes on there.
Below is based on Angie's original recipe. What I love about this recipe is it is really adaptable. Throw in whatever you want flavour wise to mix it up. Or keep it as it is and simply roll the dough in sugar before putting it in the fridge.
lemon burst cookies
I treat the cookie mix a bit like play dough and mould it as I wish. For the lemon burst biscuits, I added the zest of two lemons and then the shaped dough into a long rectangle.
chocolate vanilla biscuits
For the chocolate vanilla biscuits, half the mixture had two tablespoons of cocoa powder mixed through. The chocolate dough was then layered on top of the plain, sugar crystals placed on top and then wrapped in plastic wrap, shape smoothed out, then put in the fridge.
Printable Recipe
Slice and Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 250 grams butter softened
- 200 grams (1 ¼ cups) icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 300 grams (2 cups) plain flour
- 75 grams (¼ cup) rice flour
- 50 grams (â…“ cup) cornflour
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Beat together the butter, sifted icing sugar and extract until light and fluffy.
- Sift the flours into the butter mixture and add 2 tablespoons of milk. Beat until well combined.
- Place half the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap and shape into a log. Roll up in the wrap until it is a smooth cylinder. Repeat with the other half of the mixture.
- Refrigerate until firm (about 1 hour).
- Preheat oven to about 160 degrees Celsius and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
- Cut logs into 1 cm slices and place about 3cm apart on the trays. Bake for 20 minutes and then cool on wire rack.
Oven Temperatures
All oven temperatures are fan forced.
Measurement Notes
All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
Recipe Notes
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.
Angies' Suggested Variations
Orange and Poppy Seed: In place of the vanilla extract, beat in 1 tablespoon of finely grated orange rind with the butter. Add 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds to the flours.
Lemon and Craisen: In place of vanilla extract, beat in 1 tablespoon of finely grated lemon rind with the butter. Add ¾ cup (120g) coarsely chopped craisen (dried cranberries) with the flours.
Pecan and Cinnamon: Add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to the flours. Stir in 1 cup (120g) of chopped pecans. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking.
M&M's: Stir in 70g of mini M&M's with the flours.
So what did I think? Was great fun, but really at the wrong time of the year, way too close to Christmas. Would love to see an event like this based in Australia with proceeds going to an Australian charity. Having it held in July when it isn't scorching hot and biscuits aren't being transported by post in 40 degree heat. All in all it was a fun experience.
Do tell dear Belly Rumbles' reader, would you participate in an Australian based charity event like this?
Sara xxx
Nic@diningwithastud
What a great initiative 😀 such a good cause and very Christmassy indeed. I might join next year 🙂
Traci Tritsaris
Dear Sara
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This year was a super crazy christmas period, Im sure you will agree. This is my 2nd year in the Cookie Swap, I love it, I got my recipe & links posted on time but for some reason I had the 12th in my head for posting by and it wasn't til I had it all packaged up and sealed at the post office and I re-opened the email to write down the addresses on the parcels that I freaked out that it was the 9th and I wasn't 2 days late, I was 6!!!!
It stated in your post you were still awaiting your cookies.... Have you received your Orange Gingerbread Nutcrackers??? Please say yes or I am gonna die!!
I have finally posted my round up today of what I received in the swap as I had left one tin at my partners for us to share there but I kept forgetting my camera somehow so I could get pics.... so he was barred from touching them til I got the piccies done!
Ive included a link to your page in my round up, hope you get some traffic through from it. Can't wait to see my pics on your page at some stage, let me know when.
Noticing all my fellow bloggers attended a "Food Bloggers Picnic" recently, do you have details to jump on a list, registry or invite as would love to attend the next one, how often are they on?
Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.
Cheers, Traci xx
Sara
Hi Traci, yes I did receive your bics, I let and thank you on your blog. Thank you so much for the link, very sweet of you.
Regarding the Food Bloggers Picnic, contact Helen from Grab Your Fork or Suze from Chocolate Suze as they are the dynamic duo that organise the Christmas get together each year.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
I wonder if the posties know what a precious cargo they're carrying! 😀
Sara
Probably not, biscuits being posted all over Aus.
Anna @The Littlest Anchovy
I love the look of these and I wish I got to try them at the picnic (sadly I couldn't make it)! I would be very interested in participating in an Australian (or Australia/NZ) food swap for a charity.
Sara
It's a shame that you couldn't make the picnic, hopefully next year.
Vien
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They're so yummy!!!! 😀 My fave is the lemon one! hehe and my brother can't stop munching on them! I had to hide them from him so I can keep them for myself!! HAHAHA 😛 again, THANK YOU! 🙂
Sara
So glad you enjoyed them Vien.
Angie
Love your variations Sara! Especially the ones at the picnic 🙂 I can't take absolutely all the credit for the recipe that I happened to stumble across in one of my many cookbooks but it sure is a great one to have on hand 🙂
The cookie swap sounds like a great idea but definitely not the right time of year for it.
I'm sure if there's enough interest floating around we can definitely get one going locally for mid next year.
Sara
I am so glad you posted that recipe on your blog, has become a true staple of mine now.
Catie
Yay! I'm glad they got to you in one piece! I hope your third batch arrives soon!
I'm interested in trying your cookies!! I think I might have to do some baking this weekend - they look delicious.
I would LOVE it if there was an Australian version of this!! and I definitely agree, sometime in July.
Sara
Thanks Catie, your cookies were great, thanks so much
vegeTARAian
Your cookies were delish Sara! Love the idea of a cookie swap, such a great cause too
Sara
Thanks so much Tara, the swap was great fun.
Amanda@ChewTown
While, I wasn't paired with you for the swap... I did get to taste the cookies you made for the picnic and they were AMAZING! I love the sound of the lemon zest and chocolate versions. I am definitely bookmarking for future biscuit making and hope the third batch comes through to you soon.
I really enjoyed being a part of the cookie swap, but I do think the timing could be better for Australia. I'd be interested in the idea of an Australia only food swap of some sort. x
Sara
Thanks Amanada, glad you enjoyed the picnic ones.
Tina @ bitemeshowme
I'd love to par take next year. It sounds like such a wonderful cause! Your cookies look so perfect!
Sara
Thanks so much Tina.
The Life of Clare
What a wonderful swap! Such a great cause too.
Sara
Was such a great event.
muppy
Angie is just so lovely 🙂 and an amazing cook! i love her instagram feed.
Sadly i didn't even try you take home pack from the picnic - the kids snuffled them up!
Can't wait until next year to get surprises in the mail again 🙂 hoping your third one turns up - from blog hopping the rather small aussie cookie swap pages we might be able to figure it out?
Sara
Angie really is lovely. Hope the kids enjoyed the biscuits even if you didn't get to try them.