Our neighborhood has done this for a few years now. We get together right before Valentine’s Day to make cookies and cards for our families, friends and neighbors. It’s a great way to catch up with each other, be creative and do something nice for others.
This year we met at a local church to cut down on the wear and tear at our own houses. A couple of weeks ahead of time we coordinated who was going to bring cookies, frosting and card making supplies. Then we met up for a wild and crazy night of fun.
We ended up with about 50 extra cookies that we packaged up in polka-dotted cellophane bags and then took around to people in our neighborhood who needed a little extra TLC — the house-bound, older couples, etc.
Amy’s Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
{makes 5 dozen medium sized cookies}1/2 cup softened butter
1 1 /2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. almond extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sour creamMix butter and sugar well, add eggs and almost extract. Blend until smooth. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, sour cream and salt. Mix until blended and dough forms a ball. If dough is too loose, add flour. Cover and refrigerate overnight. On a well-floured board, roll to 1/4 inch thick. Cut shapes and put on cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees 4-6 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before icing. {cookies are done when the bottoms are light brown}
Butter Cream Frosting
1/2 cup softened butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
2 tsp. almond extract
4 Tbsp. milk
1/4 tsp. salt
food coloringMix together and blend until smooth.
XOXO
We are decorating sugar cookies tomorrow. What a fun party!
Oh my goodness, so fun!!! What a great neighborhood to live in! 🙂
I love all of the decorated cookies. So fun.
Thanks for the recipe. It looks like those sugar cookies turned out SUPER perfectly!! Mine are always a little thin. These are nice & fluffy & thick. Hmmm…..except that Tahner is allergic to almonds. Guess he won't get any! 😉
How Fun! I so need to try that recipe! You can tell it's good because of the sour cream.
this looks like it was such a great time. I wish I had enough time to organize one for my friends I guess it will have to be an easter party lol
How fun! And the recipe looks great!
What a fun idea! Everyone from LDS is a master at fostering community. Thanks for sharing this.
What fun!
I want to live in a neighborhood like that! 🙂
This looks like such fun! I would never think to do this for Valentine's Day…only Christmas. This would really be better…less stress this time of year.
Sue
What a great idea! I am going to mention this to my church. I think it's a great idea!
What a great idea! Fun and fellowship!
Looks like such a blast! those cookies and cards are so sweet! 🙂
How fun!
This sounds like so much fun. Most cookie exchanges seem to happen around Christmas, when people are already over-scheduled.
I'm putting this on my calendar for next year!! Thanks for the wonderful ideas and fun pictures!
Mmmmmmmm, as soon as i get home, I'm gonna make some cookies!!!! With TONS of frosting (YUM!). THEN, I'll start losing all this haven't-exercised-in-4-weeks weight 🙂
Looks like a blast!!!!
What a great idea!!! How sweet and fun that looks!
What fun! I used to host a cookie swap years ago and it was the most fun! Wish we had taken more pics back in the olden days! heehee! ♥
I have only recently found your blog and let me tell you, I have spent hours "oohing" and "ahhing" over every post. I love your creative style and how you can manage to do this all with a lot of cheap dollar store deals!
Hope you have fun delivering all those cookies!
what a great idea to do this at valentine's day and not just christmas.
This is what I love about blogging … discovering the wonderful fresh ideas of others. This is such a lovely idea!!! I was just wondering the other day how I could reach out to some of our quieter neighbors! LOVE it!!! Thanks for posting 🙂
You must have the best neighborhood ever! 🙂 What a fun party!!!
I see Jill and Ellie!
Those cookies look delicious.
Thanks for the recipes. We are going to try these out!
What a wonderful idea!!!
I love that idea. It looks like a lot of fun! I will have to try that sugar cookie recipe. Sounds and looks great!
Good luck with the surprise party tomorrow night. I know you have most of it planned and ready…can't wait to hear more about it. Have a blessed day!
What a great idea and fun too.
Oh my, this is my idea of heaven!! I am the ultimate cookie monster, I can seriously eat a dozen sugar cookies by myself – no problemo! Of course, then I have to go run 8 miles, but it is worth it 🙂
Oh that looks like a lot of fun. How do you break down the cost? Does everyone just pitch in? Do you divvy up buying the supplies and everyone just brings something. I am curious.
adorable cards!
What a great way to get your neighbors together!!!
~Becca
TO FUN JEN!!!! Love gathering with friends to do fun stuff. The cookies look so delish, I shouldn't of opened this post! ha! HUGS, JGG!
TO FUN JEN!!!! Love gathering with friends to do fun stuff. The cookies look so delish, I shouldn't of opened this post! ha! HUGS, JGG!
What a fun and festive gathering! This would be such a great neighborhood idea ~ thanks for sharing.
Jo
That looked like so much fun. The cookies look awesome, might have to try that recipe.
Crazy mormons and their sugar!!! I'm glad to be one of them:)
That sounds like a really fun evening! 😀
I love to bake and decorate sugar cookies, and I think I'll be doing that on Friday. I love the idea of getting together to do it with friends too…so sweet!
I wish we could bake and decorate together!