This holiday season, I had the opportunity to participate in the “Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap!” 
To participate in the cookie swap, each blogger baked three dozen of their favorite baked good. We were each sent a list of 3 different bloggers to mail our cookies to. And then each of us received cookies from 3 other bloggers. So it was kind of a “Secret Santa” event.
We were told to ship out our cookies no later than Monday December 5th. So on three different days last week, I was the lucky recipient of some delicious cookies! 
Cookie Delivery #1:
I was sent cookies from an actual pastry chef?? How lucky could a girl be??
These cookies were pistachio shortbread cookies with clementine marmalade. I’m not typically a big shortbread fan, but I was very impressed with these cookies. I loved the combination of flavors and textures. I was also impressed with how pretty they were! Thank you, Rachel, for your very creative cookies!
Cookie Delivery #2:
Kristina sent me some “old-fashioned sour cream cookies.”
I gotta be honest. Flavor-wise, these cookies were my personal favorite. They were soft and spongy and tasted a lot like a snickerdoodle, which I love. Thanks, Kristina, for your super tasty cookies!
Cookie Delivery #3:
Teri sent me her family’s favorite holiday cookies …
… Mint Chocolate Truffle Cookies!
Not only were the cookies unique and tasty, but I also loved the card Teri sent me. She wrote a very kind and personal message. Thank you so much, Teri!!
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So by now, you’re probably wondering what cookies I sent for the swap!
I actually decided to be a rebel and sent brownies instead of cookies. 
I figured the brownies would hold up well during shipping, and they would still taste fresh after a couple of days on a delivery truck.
Plus, these brownies contained two of my favorite ingredients ever.
Peanut butter and Nutella. Doesn’t get much better, folks.
The recipe is called “Peanut Butter-Hazelnut Brownies.”
I used this recipe from Food Network and I followed it to a “T.”
Note: If any of you can actually melt peanut butter and Nutella together and not lick the bowl clean … well, you are a better person than me.
One note about the baking time. I have made these several times in the past and I have noticed that if you use a glass baking dish, you’ll need to bake the brownies a little longer (30-35 minutes). But if you use a dark metal pan,you will probably need to bake the brownies for less time (closer to 25 minutes). Just keep that in mind, and be sure to use a toothpick to check their doneness.
As I mentioned, I have made these brownies a lot in the past. And they are always a huge crowd-pleaser.
They are incredibly rich, moist, and flavorful. They are also addicting … just a warning. 
I had never shipped baked goods before, but fortunately the cookie swap hosts (Julie and Lindsay) had given us some advice in this area!
I bought these cute plastic containers at Walmart for a minimal cost. Then I cut out parchment paper and put it on the bottom of each container. I put six brownies in the bottom of the container, put more parchment on top of those brownies, and added six more brownies before putting on the lid.
I used plastic bags …
… and bubble wrap …
… to keep the container of brownies from moving around in the box. Then I just taped up the box and shipped it!
One of the bloggers who received my brownies said that they were perfect when she received them, which I was very relieved to hear! So I guess my first cookie swap was a success!!
Question for ya …
If you are a blogger, did you participate in the swap? What cookies did you make?
If you aren’t a blogger, have you ever participated in a normal cookie swap?
What is your favorite kind of Christmas cookie?
What did you do this weekend??
These sound incredible! Wow! I want to make some Nutella brownies now. Unfortunately, I’ve placed an embargo on holiday baking during the weeks between the cookie swap and Christmas. Now I’m not sure I can make it!
Kristina recently posted..Ice cream Christmas trees, and a recipe contest
Kristina, I seriously LOVED your cookies. And they lasted so long! I just ate the last two tonight haha!
Thanks again!
Those look Ah.Ma.Zing. PB and Nutella? Sign me up! Can you share the recipe? Would it be weird to do a cookie/brownie swap with myself?
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..Score!
You just have to click on the link I provided to get the recipe. It’s on foodtv.com.
ahhh I totally missed that! Thanks!
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..Score!
You’re very welcome!!
You got a pastry chef to make you cookies!? You lucky lady!
I wanted to participate but didn’t because of my wheat allergy
No bueno.
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..Treat Time
They had other people with dietary restrictions! I think they were trying to match people up based on their restrictions. But I do understand. Honestly it was fun, but also a lot of work and money to ship them. You take the good with the bad, right?
Those brownies are calling my name…. YUM!
I co-hosted my first cookie swap this past Saturday night. It was a “cookies and cocktails” party, and we had a great time. I think my pants are fitting a little tight after eating all those sweet treats.
I decided to be a rebel and make truffles. I made “dark chocolate Bailey’s Caramel Irish Cream truffles” and didn’t really have a set recipe to follow, but MAN they were good.
Hopefully next year I can do the blogger cookie swap – how fun!
Wow those truffles sound amazing!!!
Holy crap those brownies look AMAZING…I might be using this recipe to give to my co-workers! Thanks for sharing
Amy@ahealthyandhappyheart recently posted..Pregnancy: Week 14
looks like these turned out awesome! how fun was the cookie swap?! i had such a blast getting to know new food bloggers, and, oh yeah, eating lots of cookies. glad you enjoyed it, too!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..chai snickerdoodle cookies (+ the great food blogger cookie swap!)
Oh man, I am seriously jealous of all these cookie swaps I’ve been seeing! Why oh why did I not participate? You lucky girl
Kiah recently posted..weekend of pictures
Bahh I’m so sad that I didn’t participate in this!! I WANT some cookies haha…actually I really want those brownies that you made. Seriously they look and sound fantastic! I’m hardcore craving chocolate right now
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I didn’t participate, but it looks like fun! Your brownies look so good…I think I might have to try that recipe
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Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy recently posted..Christmas Angels in Indiana
Definitely try the brownies … you won’t regret it! But plan to give some to neighbors or co-workers, or else you’ll end up eating them all in 24 hours (if you are like me!).
love the idea of the swap! i think the sour cream cookies would be my fave
Sam recently posted..5 ways to find balance this season
I wanted to participate SO bad but knew I had a ton of obligations coming up and would be pressed for time and didnt want to disappoint!! SO, next year
Love reading about it on everyones blogs though!
I love good ol fashioned sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, or my new fav I made this year brownie mint cookies (I will be sharing soon!)
Yum, all of the cookies sound great!