Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop

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I’m participating for the first time in the Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop hosted by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt.

Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop - piecefulthoughts.com

This is the final day of the Hop, so I hope you will go visit the other bloggers who have participated this past week. There are plenty of delicious cookie recipes being shared, just in time for your Christmas baking!

If you’re new to my blog, let me introduce myself. I’m Wendy, and I write from a little cottage home in Minnesota. I enjoy creating, and most often you will find me quilting. When I’m not in my sewing room, you might find me in the kitchen, especially this time of year!

Now that the winter season is here, I needed to change the decorative pillows on my bed to something more warm and wintery. We live near a woolen mill, and I was able to find some wool remnants at the mill store to make these pillows rather inexpensively. They look good on the bed, but I think it needs just a little something more.

Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop - woolen pillows - piecefulthoughts.com

Tomte Pillow

My mother was Swedish, and each Christmas, my brother and I would often give her a Swedish item. She particularly loved the Swedish tomte. Last year, Sue from Moss & Lotus designed some foundation paper-pieced tomte patterns. So I had to make one in honor of my mom, and I ended up making quite a few of them. Some of you may remember this little mini quilt I finished earlier this year.

Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop - Tomte Mini Quilt - piecefulthoughts.com

Sue is hosting a second year of the Moss & Lotus Tomte Sew Along on Instagram (#mossandlotustomteSAL2018), and several of us are having a blast making these little cuties. If you want to join in, you can get the patterns here. (Hope on over to my Instagram feed to see more of these fun tomte.) If you make one, be sure to join in the Instagram fun and let us see your tomte!

One of the bonus patterns from the sew along last year was this little pillow. He was delightfully fun to make.

Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop - Tomte Pillow, pattern designed by Moss & Lotus - piecefulthoughts.com

I love the 3D effect of his little legs and his fancy wool boots. You notice he is sitting pretty on the tree stump, waiting to join me for some cookies.

Now, doesn’t he make a nice addition to my bed pillows?

Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop - Pillow ensemble on my bed - piecefulthoughts.com

How About a Cookie?

During the Christmas season, my mother and grandmother would spend days together making cookies. One of my favorite Christmas cookies were called Mint Snowballs. They are small, but tasty, and quite easy to make.

Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop - Mint Snowball Cookies - piecefulthoughts.com

[recipe title=”Mint Snowballs” servings=”3 dozen” time=”30 mins prep” difficulty=”easy”]

  • 1 C. butter
  • 1/2 C. powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp. water
  • 2 C. flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 C. oatmeal (old fashioned or quick)

Cream butter, add sugar gradually and cream until fluffy. Add water. Sift flour and salt together, and add to creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly. Blend in oatmeal. Dough will be quite stiff. Shape into 1-inch balls. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet in a slow oven, 325º for 25-30 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool.

Frosting

  • 2 C. powdered sugar
  • 1/4 C. milk
  • 1/2 tsp. mint extract
  • Green food coloring
  • Shredded coconut

Thoroughly blend together sugar, milk and mint extract. Add a few drops of green food coloring to tint the frosting. Dip the cooled cookies in the frosting, then in the coconut. Drain on wire rack. This makes enough frosting for a double batch of cookies.

[/recipe]

I hope you give them a try. If you don’t care for mint flavoring, you can experiment with some other frostings and toppings. For example, flavor the sugar with maraschino cherry juice and roll them in pecans. I might try dipping the cookies in melted chocolate, drizzle them with caramel, and sprinkle them with sea salt. If you do try them, I’d love to hear what you think of them.

Want More Cookies??

Don’t forget to stop over to my fellow bloggers who are posting today, then go visit the previous days too. Here’s the schedule:

November 27

November 28

November 29

I want to thank Carol for hosting this fun hop and letting me be a part of it.

Do you have a favorite holiday cookie? I’d like to know!

Wendy

Thanks for visiting my blog! Feel free to leave a comment, and I'll respond via email.

62 thoughts on “Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop”

  1. farmquilter

    Love your Tomte!! The pillow with the 3D legs is fabulous! My my was Swedish as well. Thank you for sharing your cookie recipe.

    Reply
  2. Gray Barn Designs

    Oh, that little elf sitting on a tree stump is so so cute! I love his little 3D legs with the wool boots! Completely adorable…thanks for sharing! Cookies look yummy too…I am going to have to go up a jeans size (or two) after this cookie hop.

    Reply
  3. Vicki in MN

    Oh those little legs and those boots, OMG so stinking cute. He is ready to jump off that stump and raid the cookie jar!

    Reply
  5. Carol Kussart

    Those pillows are really neat–I like the formality of the wool and then the elf (?) pillow adds the right touch for Christmas. And that cookie recipe–you had me with the coconut and with mint added in–well, I will have to make them, and if I add chocolate, that will have to be perfection. 🙂 I don’t think I have a favorite “holiday” cookie, but my favorite cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip with coconut and pecans added into the mix. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  8. MossandLotus

    Wendy!! 😍😍 I love how your pillow turned out!! That quiet night sky filled with snowflakes is so perfect for sitting on a stump (whether you’re a tomte or a human 😂). That stripy fabric on his legs is adorable!! You’re so good at making the tomten.. I bet your mom is thoroughly enjoying them. 💕

    Reply
  9. karenfae

    if I have some spare moments later today I will need to check out some of those links that you have. After seeing your Tomte’s and someone else’s you have me thinking I need some I will need to check them out more

    Reply
  10. rl2b2017

    Hi Wendy! Oh, I think your little tomtes are so cute. I love the runner and your pillow is the perfect addition to your bed. Very festive and fun! Your cookies look delicious. I love mint and coconut – and together?! YUM. Happy Happy Thursday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

    Reply
  11. Tracy @ Its a T-Sweets Day!

    Hi Wendy! Your new wooly pillows are completely adorable , but the addition of your cute little gnome makes them over the top fantastic! And your cookies look delicious. I really like all of the different versions to try. Yum!

    Reply
  12. Denise

    Mint is my favorite. My nose loves the smell, my taste buds love the flavor, and my eyes love it as most things mint are dyed green. Your pillow is so cute.

    Reply
  13. Carol S.

    I’ve seen them but didn’t know they were called Tomtes…I love them! The 3D look on the pillow is so adorable and the mini quilt makes me smile just looking at it. Mint snowballs sounds delicious and I love how festive they look in green. Thank you so much for hopping with us and sharing your sweet projects and recipes! xo

    Reply
  15. Pat

    Your Tomte pillow is adorable. I have seen these but did not know the name. How nice to have a good source of wool nearby. The cookies look delicious. I never thought of icing snowball cookies this way, but I am sure going to try it soon. Thank you for the recipe … 🙂 Pat

    Reply
  16. Diann Bottrell

    Those cookies look yummy – I love mint! I’ll have to put them on my list to try. The tomte mini and pillow are both adorable! I really like your snowy ground that gives everything some depth.

    Reply
  18. Joan

    Mint snowballs! OMG they sound fabulous. I’ve got to give them a try. What a fun 3D Tomte too. Have a very Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  19. Brenda @ Songbird Designs

    Your Tomte pillow is so cute and does make the perfect addition to your bed! Love it! Thanks for the recipe. I love mint and these sound wonderful! Merry Christmas, Wendy!

    Reply
  20. Bernie

    Adding the Tomte pillow was just perfect with the other wool pillows. So cozy! My husband thinks extra pillows on the bed are a bit annoying so I have given up on that! Sigh…
    The cookies are a great canvas for trying flavors! I love the idea of the chocolate/caramel/sea salt version. That is such a great combination. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
  21. Karrin L Hurd

    Those cookies look delicious, and love the Tomte. I didn’t know that was what they were called. I think I even got a couple of shelf sitters from my grandson’s fundraiser. Thanks for sharing the recipe and Happy Holidays

    Reply
  24. Tu-Na Quilts

    Oh, your little Tomte pillow and wall hanging are so cute!!!! I’d love to sew them. I’ll have to check out the patterns. I can just taste your mint snowballs; they contain two of my favorite ingredients; mint and coconut! I thought looking at all these great cookies on the hop were no calorie? Somehow I’ve managed to gain a pound this week. Hmm…must be from eating the leftover Santas. I knew I should have frozen them!

    Reply
  26. Lj Meyers

    Snowballs – yes – but – Mint Snowballs – that’s a new one. I’ll bet they are deliciously wonderful. Love your newest tomte pillow – a great way to honor Mom.

    Reply
  27. Kathleen McCormick

    You know how much I love the tomte! Still haven’t done one, but one day I will. Those cookies look yum too!

    Reply
  30. Preeti

    Love the tomte pillows. That picture of cookies is so picture perfect, I would not want to touch it. Yes, you can eat my share. I am behaving myself 🙂

    Reply
    1. piecefulwendy

      Thanks, Preeti, but after this week, you can misbehave until after Christmas. You have my permission 😉

      Reply
  31. Susan

    Thanks for sharing again, I forgot about these, but they are a cookie I can have, no chocolate. I’d leave out the coconut, since I’m not a fan, but I think they’ll be delicious and also nutritious with the oatmeal!

    Reply

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