31 Days of Christmas Parties: Christmas Party #9: Christmas Cookie Baking Party

Christmas Cookie Ornaments, from Taste of Home

CHRISTMAS PARTY ACTIVITY:

Gingerbread Man Spatula, from Crate and Barrel

Invite five or six women over to share the joy of baking and decorating cookies for Christmas. Provide the cookie ingredients, decorations, and a light meal. Each guest should go home with three or four dozen different cookies, neatly packaged, to serve her family or gift for the holidays.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DECORATIONS:

Carson Plaid Tablecloth, from Pottery Barn

Snowman Dish Towels, from Amazon

CHRISTMAS PARTY MUSIC:

The Jackson Five "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," on YouTube

Buy The Jackson Five "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" MP3 on Amazon for 99 Cents

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, by the Ronettes, on YouTube

Buy Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" MP3 on Amazon

Last Christmas, by Wham, on YouTube

Buy "Last Christmas" MP3 by Wham on Amazon

Buy "Last Christmas" MP3 by the Puppini Sisters on Amazon for 99 Cents

CHRISTMAS PARTY APPETIZERS:

Party Potatoes Recipe, from Betty Crocker

Parmesan Tartlets with Red Onion Marmalade Recipe, from Caroline O's Kitchen

Tomato Basil Muffins Recipe, from Clever Muffin.com

CHRISTMAS PARTY BEVERAGES:

Cinnamon Caramel Apple Martini Recipe, from Betty Crocker

Apple Ale Wassail Recipe, from MyRecipes.com

Dream by the Fire Tea, from Republic of Tea

Peppermint Chocolate Hot Cocoa, from Crate and Barrel

Cookie Cocktails, at What To Drink.com

CHRISTMAS PARTY ENTREES:

Christmas Tree Salad Recipe, from Healthy Happy Life

Curried Apple Butternut Squash Soup Recipe, from Brooklyn Locavore

Serve a nice festive salad and a simple soup as a main course. Guests can fill up on appetizers and nibble cookies as they work.

CHRISTMAS PARTY DESSERTS:

Red Velvet Cupcake Bites, from Hoosier Homemade

Black Forest Cake Recipe by Hubert Keller, on Epicurious

Creamy Christmas Mints, from What Megan's Making

Ultimate Sugar Cookies Decorated for Christmas, by Pasta Princess

Salted Caramel Pecan Linzer Cookies Recipe, from Domestic Fits

Let guests nibble on cookies every time something comes out of the oven. That way you don't have to spend time or money figuring out a fancy dessert. Instead, spend money on the extra butter, flour and sugar your guests will use up at this party. It might be good to have a dozen or two cookies already pre-baked though in case guests immediately feel the need for a sugar rush.