The holiday season is officially in full swing! Trees are up, the lights have been hung, and cookies are fresh out of the oven. One of my absolute favorite things about the Christmas season is all of the baking I get to do. There’s traditional family recipes that I love to whip up and exciting new ones I like to test out. In my house baking Christmas cookies was always a huge ordeal. Each of us kids picked our favorite recipe, my mom pulled out all the ingredients, turned on the Christmas music, and we spent the whole afternoon in the kitchen. Definitely one of my fondest moments of the holidays and growing up!

Being a huge sweets addict, I love pretty much every kind of cookie. Especially when it involves multiple favors {chocolate is a must}. These twix cookies were pointed out to me by a friend a couple weeks ago and I instantly knew I HAD to try them out! I am so thankful she brought them to my attention and that I had a perfect excuse to mix them up.

A month or two ago I came up with the idea to do a virtual cookie swap. I wanted to partner up with some of my blogger babes and swap our favorite recipes with each other as well as our incredible readers. Christmas is all about spreading the love {what greater form of love is there than cookies 🙂 haha}. Lucky for me, everyone I asked was on board immediately! So I hope you enjoy this little virtual cookie swap. You’ll find the next blogger, Shelby, at the end of my post where there’s a photo of her recipe + a little about her. Click the link to be taken to her site where you’ll find her full recipe and the next blogger + her cookie choice. Would love to hear your favorite Christmas cookie recipe as well! Share in the comments below, I might just try it out next.

Birds: Target // Gift Tags: Target // Twine: Target // Paper: TJ Maxx // Mug: Target

Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
7 oz caramel bites
1 tbsp heavy whipping cream
1 package milk chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a mixer beat together butter and powdered sugar until well blended.
Add in the  flour and vanilla. Beat for about 2 minutes.
Lightly cover the counter with flour and place dough on top. Using your hands shape the dough into a log shape.
Wrap in plastic wrap tightly to keep shape and refrigerate for 30+ minutes.
Slice dough {about 1/5 inch thick} and place on baking sheet.
Bake for 11-13 minutes, until edges set and begin to just slightly brown.
Place cookies on a cooling rack.
Put caramel and whipping cream into a microwave bowl.
Microwave for 1 minutes. Stir and if they aren’t completely melted then microwave again for 15 seconds and stir. Continue to do that until smooth.
Drop 3/4 tbsp of caramel on the center of each cookie.
Melt milk chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute. Stir and just like the caramel, if it is not completely melted and smooth microwave for another 15 seconds and stir. Continue to do that until smooth.
Place on top of the caramel & cookie.
Allow cookies to sit on the cooling rack for about 20-30 minutes.
Enjoy!

Shelby from Pretty In The Pines made White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

 Head over to Shelby’s blog to see her full recipe and all of her drools worthy + decor inspiring photos. Also if you aren’t already checking into Pretty In The Pines daily be sure to take a look around and catch up on all her fabulous fashion! I personally cannot get enough of this recent look. Also how stinking cute is Shelby and her pup in this post? From Shelby’s post you’ll find another blogger’s recipe to add to your baking list!