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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Christmas ·

On the 1st Day of Christmas: I meal planned, ate Cranberry-Orange Cookies and shared Christmas cheer!


On the 1st Day of Christmas, this mama was super excited and reallllly busy!  It’s the first Monday in December!  I’m having a HUGE party at my house tomorrow night, I have Christmas on the brain, an Elf on the Shelf to move about, presents to wrap, carols to sing, movies to watch, lights to view, and lots of Christmas cheer (with a tiny bit of anxiety thrown in!).  I can hardly contain my excitement!  
First things first…
…a simple, quick and yummy cake cookie that you can mix and match a million different ways this holiday season!  I made mine with dried cranberries, orange zest and pecans but seriously people…this little method should be your go-to the entire month!  You can have these prepared, baked and eaten in 15 minutes.  I promise!  
Here is my Cranberry-Orange version and then at the bottom, some mix and match options…
Shopping List
1 box of yellow cake mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon orange extract
2 tablespoon orange zest
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup dried cranberries
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, vegetable oil and eggs with a mixer until combined.  Beat in extract.  Stir in your zest, pecans and cranberries.
Drop by the tablespoonful onto a greased baking sheet (I lined mine with parchment paper for a quick clean-up).  Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until slightly browned.  Remove from oven and let rest on pan for 5 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to finish cooling. 
Store in an airtight container.  This recipe makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.
So simple, right?!?!  And let’s talk about this versatile method!  I found the original method in one of my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks and started playing around with combinations.  Here you go…mix and match this method all season long for guaranteed delicious cookies (and go ahead and throw some store bought frosting on there if you’re really feeling festive!).
And those are just 4 options!  Go nuts creating your own cookie versions all season long!

And…it’s Monday, that means we need a little Meal Planning Monday, right?  During the 12 Days of Christmas, I’m keeping things really simple!  I don’t know about you, but I’m not cooking every night during December.  
Here are 3 great recipes plus a bundt cake and an extra dessert!
Here we go…
Mexican Meatballs are the perfect busy mom’s dinner!  Your family will love this supper too!
I’m putting my Chicken and Dumplings back on the menu because they will save your life during the busy holiday season!  Make them!  This week!
And a bowl of Lasagna Soup will make your cold day disappear.  Yummy!
My Bundt Cake #17 Candy Cane is the PERFECT way to kick off December!  Have you made one of my bundt cakes?  They are so, so, so simple and moist every.single.time.  You have to try this one!
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies.  Did you read that?  Red Velvet Whoopie Pies!  My husband flips out when I make these.  They look fancy but they’re so, so, so simple!
This is going to be the best month!!  Crank up Nat King Cole, put on your cozy socks, grab the cocoa and let’s dive into December!  For my other Christmas recipes, click here.
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Comments

  1. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    I CANNOT WAIT to try the cranberry orange cookies for myself. They are right up my alley for sure!
    And meal planning Monday is awesome as always!

  2. Anonymous says

    I love cake mix cookies and will have to try this combo! One of my favorites this time of year is to use the Betty Crocker cherry chip cake mix with chocolate chips – it's like chocolate covered cherry cookies, lol.

  6. jagard says

    Hi Shay! Love your blog!!! Looking forward to making many of your Christmas recipes this holiday season!

  8. Anonymous says

    I am so excited for these recipies!! I think I will be making the cake AND the cookies for family gatherings and the lasagna soup for my husbands birthday weekend this coming weekend! Thank you so much for the help and the giveaways!!
    -Jessie Smith jessiesmith353@gmail.com

  10. Jill Clavin says

    Cannot wait to see all the recipes for the 12 days of Christmas! Starting out looking delicious 🙂

  14. Loris Ayoub says

    This looks delicious, comfort food is the best!!!
    Thanks for the 12 days giveaways too….♥♥

  17. Amy K says

    LOVE the cookies! I float between different departments and work and the cost to buy gifts for all individual coworkers would be crazy. Instead, I'm going to mix and match your cookies all month long to take in to say a heartfelt Merry Christmas! TY soooo much!

  26. www.sharkyfamily.blogspot.com says

    Can't wait to try more of your recipes. We tried your chicken and dumplings last week! Very yummy!

  27. Beve says

    I made the gingerbread pancakes for my family on Saturday morning. They were a little skeptical until One of them took the first bite…..that's all it took. They all completely ignored the plain pancakes!

  34. A year of Change says

    I love those mix & match cookie ideas! And your Meal Plan Mondays have been making my life so much easier…thank you!

  36. Katie Dacus says

    I am convinced that my family wouldn't eat if it weren't for your foodie blog…. so thanks, Shay!!

  40. Courtney says

    Chicken dumplings and red velvet whoopie pies are going into the rotation ASAP! ! Thanks for the awesome food and awesome giveaway! Merry Christmas!!

  43. Christy says

    Hello, I have made a few of the bundt cakes and they have been AMAZING. My only problem is once I take it out to cool, it deflates and isn't completely cooked. DO you know what could be causing this? Thank you!

  46. Alisa says

    Dear Shay,
    I went to gap like a crazy person to find the cozy plaid scarf b/c it was sold out online after the 10 dollar thing. I LOVE THIS SCARF. thank you.

    I also love your recipes, and appreciate the recipes all the time. My husband LOVES everything I make from your site. I think it's because he's southern… (i'm not!)

    Thank you!!!

  47. lisa saheb says

    The chicken and dumplings looks delicious! Beautiful pictures! Cannot wait to try these recipes!! Thank you!

  51. Unknown says

    I love your blog! You have so many awesome things! Thanks for taking the time out to help the rest of us out.

  60. Kate Gilbert says

    What an awesome giveaway! THanks to you guys I'm spending way too much time scouring Nordstroms website every day!!

  68. Ditto That says

    I have tried orange cookies before but not with cranberries… Sounds delicious!

    Patrice
    Dittothatstyle.blogspot.com

  72. Prudence Blond says

    The cookie recipe looks delicious; can't wait to make them this year and have something new for my cookie swap!

  77. Shoshanah says

    I think the first version with the peppermint chips, and the second with spice cake are probably the ones I'd enjoy the most. But all sound delicious!

  81. SouthernGirl says

    What an awesome recipe! I love orange and cranberry together and am always looking for new (easy!) recipes. Thanks for sharing!

  85. Planned Style says

    Thanks for the fabs giveaway. Your Mexican meatballs recipe sounds easy to do and yet delicious!

  87. Pamela says

    Love ANYTHING with orange zest…especially with a cup of coffee to bring out the orange after-taste!

  89. Mama Relle says

    I LOVE winning things. Crossing my fingers and toes I've been good enough this year to be lucky!

  91. Chelsie.Swanson says

    I can't wait to try those cookies…and ALL the mix and matches! They all sound so good!

  93. Rebecca and Aric says

    Thanks for the giveaway chance, and I think I'll be trying to make some of your goodies…yummy.

  94. Keisha Dawson says

    I had some cranberry orange cookies a few years ago that I absolutely loved, and I have yet to recreate that delicious taste. Can't wait to try these!

  96. Joanie says

    I've made several of your recipes and they have all been a hit. Love the weekly meal planning. 🙂
    Joanie

  97. Kate says

    I can't wait to try this recipe! I love the combination of cranberry and orange, especially around the holidays.

  100. Rob & Michelle Eberly Family says

    I made these cookies for a Cookie Exchange party I went to. I got the most creative award. I gave the credit to you, of course. So yummy. Thanks.

  103. Anonymous says

    Made the cookies into bars tweaking the recipe a bit. Turned out great! Also made the gingerbread chocolate bars. Yum.

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