You guys. It’s the moooooost wonderful time of the year! But it’s also one of the busiest.

We’ve got plans every night, it seems like. And some nights we have multiple plans. And don’t even ask how I’m doing on Christmas shopping! Lordy.

But you know one thing I AM on top of? COOKIES. Between a cookie swap with friends and just wanting to be able to feast on cookies at home, I am doing QUITE well on cookies. Especially after the swap – I have a couple dozen at least!

And I have no problem with that! Haha.

I’m thrilled to be sharing this recipe today in honor of #calmandbrightcookienight, an online cookie exchange led by my friends at The Modern Proper. Since we are all so busy with our own holiday schedules, we decided to meet up online for our own cookie swap! Check out all of their amazing recipes!

Coconut Thumbprint Cookies with Salted Caramel

Wood and Spoon – Candied Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies – https://thewoodandspoon.com/candied-walnut-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Floating Kitchen – Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies https://www.floatingkitchen.net/peppermint-chocolate-thumbprint-cookies/

Brewing Happienss – Mint Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies https://www.brewinghappiness.com/mint-chocolate-gingerbread-cookies-calmandbrightcookienight/

The Vintage Mixer – Ginger Creams with Browned butter Icing https://www.thevintagemixer.com/2016/12/christmas-cookies-ginger-creams/

Wu Haus – Raw Vegan Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches https://www.wuhaus.com/blog/2016/12/12/raw-vegan-gingerbread-cookie-sandwiches

The Almond Eater – Homemade Almond Biscotti https://thealmondeater.com/2016/12/homemade-almond-biscotti/

Chocolate + Marrow – Brown Butter Gingerbread Madeleines https://chocolateandmarrow.com/2016/12/12/brown-butter-gingerbread-madeleines-recipe

Hungry Girl Por Vida – Lemon Pistachio Linzer Cookies

Lemon Pistachio Linzer Cookies

Honestly YUM – Ricciarelli (Italian Almond Cookies) https://honestlyyum.com/18212/ricciarelli-italian-almond-cookies/

Husbands That Cook – Chocolate Sugar Cookies https://www.husbandsthatcook.com/2016/12/chocolate-sugar-cookies/

The Judy Lab – Sea Salt Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies https://www.thejudylab.com/recipes-blog/sea-salt-chocolate-chocolate-chip-cookies

Gather and Dine – Chocolate Almond Spelt Cookies https://www.gatheranddine.com/chocolate-almond-spelt-cookies/

Betty S Liu- Cardamom Persimmon Cookies with Olive Oil Dark Chocolate Ganache https://bettysliu.com/2016/12/12/cardamom-persimmon-cookies-olive-oil-dark-chocolate-ganache/

Harvest and Honey – Milk & Cookies https://harvestandhoney.com/2016/12/12/milk-cookies/

Bakerita – Chocolate Rugelach (gluten free + refined sugar free) https://www.bakerita.com/chocolate-rugelach-gluten-free/
The Fauxmartha – Snowball cookies https://www.thefauxmartha.com/2016/12/12/snowball-cookies/

The Kitchen Paper – Soft Toffee Cookies https://thekitchenpaper.com/soft-toffee-cookies/

Life Is But A Dish – Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cookies https://www.lifeisbutadish.com/chocolate-peppermint-cream-cookies/

Oh Honey Bakes Pomegranate Pistachio and Almond Biscotti https://ohhoneybakes.com/pomegranate-pistachio-and-lemon-biscotti/

The Brick Kitchen – Coconut Raspberry Wagon Wheels https://www.thebrickkitchen.com/2016/12/coconut-raspberry-wagon-wheels/

Alexandra Cooks – Classic Cream Cheese Cutout Cookies https://www.alexandracooks.com/2016/12/11/classic-cream-cheese-cutout-cookies/

Hello My Dumpling – Ginger Viennese Whirl Cookies with Matcha Passion Fruit Filling https://www.hellomydumpling.com/ginger-viennese-whirl-cookies-matcha-passion-fruit-filling

Snixy Kitchen – Peppermint Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies https://www.snixykitchen.com/2016/12/12/peppermint-chocolate-marshmallow-cookies/

Tending the Table – Almond Macaroons with Satsuma Marmalade https://tendingthetable.com/2016/12/12/almond-macaroons-with-satsuma-marmalade/

Milly’s Kitchen – Grapefruit Fennel Shortbread Cookies https://www.millys-kitchen.com/millys-kitchen/2016/12/12/grapefruit-fennel-shortbread-cookies

PDX Food Love – Chocolate Bourbon Swirl Meringues https://pdxfoodlove.com/chocolate-bourbon-swirl-meringues-for-calmandbrightcookienight/

Lasting Ingredient – Lemon Lime Shortbread https://www.lastingredient.com/2016/12/12/lemon-lime-shortbread/

Heart Beet Kitchen Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies https://heartbeetkitchen.com/2016/recipes/type/dessert/chocolate-peppermint-crinkle-cookies/

Carly Diaz Dark Chocolate Pistachio Shortbread Cookie https://www.carlydiaz.com/blog/2016/12/12/dark-chocolate-pistachio-shortbread-cookies

Cloudy Kitchen – Early Grey Shortbread https://www.cloudykitchen.com/blog/2016/12/11/earl-grey-shortbread

Lena’s Kitchen Blog Shortbread Cookies Three Ways https://www.lenaskitchenblog.com/shortbread-cookies-three-ways/

I hope you enjoy these meringues – I used to not be a big fan of this type of cookie, but I think the ones I’ve had in the past were overcooked. And they weren’t chocolate. They were all crunch and  sugar and no balance. This batch will stay soft on the inside, and that swirl of chocolate plus the little bit of bourbon I snuck into the recipe will provide more of a balance (but if you want it to be 100% grain free, just skip the bourbon!).  I’m a huge fan. You might even say I’m a convert. Let me know if you are too.