My church's youth group is having an ugly sweater party tonight, complete with a Baking Contest. Since I am a local celebrity and all (you know, the kind of celebrity that you see late at night on the weather channel being filmed during a massive tornado saying something like, "Its like, windy out." Yeah. Thats me.) I was asked to be a judge!
Then Mr. Chris, the Youth Pastor, decided it would be neat if I could make a couple cookies for the winners. Two winners. One for taste and the other for festive-ness.
Seeing as I am cutting edge in terms of fashion* I knew I needed to do some 'ugly sweater' research. I gotta tell ya, it was the best research ever.
*Please tell me that flour and peanut butter covered Hanes t-shirts and jeans are cutting edge.
Here are some of my favorites.
Pics from www.uglychristmassweatersforsale.com
I think I recognize a relative in there. This keen sense of style might run in the family.
But! This is a baking blog so I figure I will show you the two cookies I made.
This is my 'busy'' ugly Christmas sweater.
I am most certainly not saying it is based on anything in my closet.
And this is my 'weird eyed rudolf with a red nose that sticks out way too far and is covered with gravy and mashed potatos by the end of the night' ugly Christmas sweater.
Again, these are not similar to anything that might currently reside in my home.
Since they are supposed to be a prize (I feel sorry for the winners!) I made them big... they are bigger then my hand.
It was so much fun to make, I cant wait to make more!
As a matter of fact, I think I am going to host an "Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookie Contest" next year. With a fabulously awesome prize!!!
Get your creative cap on.. you only have a year to create the most hideous sweater cookie you can think of! :)
I used my favorite sugar cookie recipe and glaze icing.
Merry Christmas!
How adorable! Love the white one
Posted by: Sherrie Taylor | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Oh my gosh...WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think there's anything you can't make!!
Have a very Merry Christmas, Amanda!!
Posted by: Alicia | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:33 AM
HAH!!!! I'm game! Let the planning and plotting begin!!!
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1383896427 | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:33 AM
Oh I love this. These are just fantastic, Amanda. Well done!
Posted by: Shaina (Food for My Family) | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:34 AM
I hardly think these are ugly! Oh my goodness these are absolutely adorable!!!!!!
Posted by: Aimee | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Hehe, sorry, but your sweaters aren't ugly enough. They're too cute!! Ok, maybe not so much on a grown man...
Posted by: ali @ an ordinary mom | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I wish I would have thought of this when my son-in-law held his "Dudes" book club and they all wore ugly Christmas sweaters:) I am going to send him your link, even though I am taking a risk that it will mar his delusion that I am a creative cookie maker!?! :) You are full of good ideas! Love 'em! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Amanda!
Posted by: Sue | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Those are great!! So clever, you are :)
Posted by: Mary C. | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:47 AM
Amazing sweater cookies! and some UGLY sweaters :)
Posted by: Renee | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:03 PM
those are fantastic. i love your personality! ellen needs to see these!! send her some!
Posted by: susan | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Oh my goodness! Your sweater cookies are wonderful and what a great prize for the winners. Love the decorating detail in the white sweater Amanda. Have fun judging the contest, it will be a blast.
Your idea to host an ugly sweater cookie contest next year is an awesome one. Should be hilarious to see the creativity that comes out of it.
Posted by: Paula | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:17 PM
I literally laughed out loud when I saw these! So cute!
Posted by: Ashley from Dallas | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:18 PM
Oh my goodness...you have totally outdone yourself. I love these and want a set of my own! The cute factor is simply killing me! And they look delicious! I want to try one of these sugar cookies of yours.
Posted by: cherylene | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:19 PM
this post is just a hoot!!
love those "ugly" & "sweet" cookies you designed!
Posted by: linda | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:22 PM
This cookie idea is hilarious love it! And I would love to see an ugly Christmas sweater cookie contest.
Posted by: Lora | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Hiiiilarious!!! I love it!
Posted by: Becki D | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:32 PM
super fun! (as usual :)
Posted by: Laci | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Oh my goodness...those are brilliant!!
Posted by: Kristen | Dec 22, 2010 at 12:52 PM
Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!1 Although I have to say yours are a lot prettier than the photos of ugly sweaters! Ugly sweaters will definitely become popular this year thanks to you!\
Posted by: shari | Dec 22, 2010 at 01:18 PM
So funny!!
Posted by: Kathia | Dec 22, 2010 at 01:38 PM
That. Is. Awesome.
Posted by: Lisa | Dec 22, 2010 at 02:28 PM
I cannot believe how amazing these are!! You are hilarious & the perfect baker to make these cookies. I do look to you for fashion. Really :) XO
Posted by: marla {family fresh cooking} | Dec 22, 2010 at 02:36 PM
Hilarious!! So adorable and seriously funny at the same time.
Posted by: Rachel | Dec 22, 2010 at 02:40 PM
haha I love it! I am amazed by your detail work on that first one. They're so funny!
Posted by: megan @ whatmegansmaking | Dec 22, 2010 at 02:45 PM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
I'm lovin' it!
Posted by: Jamie Cooks It Up! | Dec 22, 2010 at 02:47 PM
Hysterical!! I didn't have an ugly Christmas sweater, but was given an ugly sweater at Christmas one year. A gosh awful chocolate milk brown one covered in wooden beads and dangling feathers, plus it was TOO small as I attempted to wear it one time, just to be polite.
Your cookies are fab!!!
Posted by: BethieofVA | Dec 22, 2010 at 03:11 PM
Your white sweater cookie has got to be THE cutest things I've ever seen! You are just too talented!
Posted by: Kelli | Dec 22, 2010 at 03:44 PM
That's cool. Friends of mine just did an Ugly Sweater Christmas card that was the coolest!
Posted by: Becky | Dec 22, 2010 at 03:45 PM
these are the most fantastic things I have ever seen.
Posted by: Sara Tea | Dec 22, 2010 at 03:49 PM
You are so hilarious! I love your posts, I always get such a chuckle and this one certainly doesn't disappoint!!!
But the sweaters are waaaaay too cute to be called ugly!!
Those photos are hysterical. The one with the woman panicking/crying to get off the man's lap leads me to believe it may NOT be her husband as we would assume!!
xMB
Posted by: MamaBear | Dec 22, 2010 at 03:56 PM
This is hilarious, I'd love a contest! My Nanny has a whole closet full of.prizewinners, lol! What a great idea!
Posted by: SweetSugarBelle | Dec 22, 2010 at 04:24 PM
LOL!! These are the best!
Posted by: Jessica @ How Sweet | Dec 22, 2010 at 04:26 PM
Coolest cookies ever!
Posted by: Maria | Dec 22, 2010 at 04:42 PM
this.... is genius. GENIUS I SAY. aaahaha I was just dusting off my ugly Christmas sweater from my closet last night. I still haven't had a chance to put it to use at an 'ugly sweater party' but I literally bought it on sale for like $8 at Sears 2 years ago with that fateful day in mind.
Or, you know, the day I realize I'm actually wearing it, buying puffy paints and glitter at Michael's Crafts.
Posted by: Lesley | Dec 22, 2010 at 04:51 PM
You've won the prize for the best Christmas cookies. EVER!
Ugly sweater cookies could be a trending twitter subject.
xoxo
Posted by: Gail | Dec 22, 2010 at 04:55 PM
These are too cute and would have been perfect for the ugly sweater Christmas party I went to last weekend. Love your research photos too, funny enough the first picture above is the one that was used for our party invitation only with one of my friend's head on top. I took some pictures of the sweaters at our party, so come over to my blog and check them out, they were great! Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Lauren @ Crave. Indulge. Satisfy. | Dec 22, 2010 at 07:00 PM
hahaha! these are awesome!!! i love all your ideas & have linked back to you on several occasions. can't wait to see what you're baking next :)
Posted by: Maggie @ Black and White {Side by Side} | Dec 22, 2010 at 07:25 PM
TOO FUN!!!! You are SO amazing coming up with creative ideas for cookies, they are pure perfection!!!
Posted by: Jennie @ Oh, Sweet Day! | Dec 22, 2010 at 08:11 PM
I love this sooooo much! I don't have any ugly Christmas sweaters, but I know my sister does! (And, more notably, she has a hideous Christmas vest... she's twenty-four people! That shouldn't happen!)
I hope you DO host an ugly sweater cookie contest next year! I just may borrow her vest... lol
Posted by: Jenni | Dec 22, 2010 at 08:21 PM
hahahahahahahahaha!!! Amanda! These are just AWESOME!!! I think you did Bill Cosby proud. (And I dating myself here? Cosby Show?)
AnyWAY....love, love, love! YOU AMAZE ME with every post!
Posted by: bridget {bake at 350} | Dec 22, 2010 at 08:40 PM
These are so adorable! We must have been thinking alike because I decorated a few of my gingerbread men with reindeer sweaters this year. Yours are much cuter, though!
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | Dec 22, 2010 at 08:41 PM
Those cookies are by far the best christmas cookies I've seen! Great attention to detail
Posted by: Matt | Dec 22, 2010 at 08:42 PM
Total cuteness!
Posted by: Amy | She Wears Many Hats | Dec 22, 2010 at 09:10 PM
Lol! I would love to see the side-by-side comparison of the cookies w/ the actual sweaters. Oh wait, you claim they're not based on anything in your wardrobe. ;) These are clever and cute! Your church's youth group is a lucky bunch.
Posted by: Rachel | Dec 22, 2010 at 09:36 PM
these are hysterical!
Posted by: melissa | Dec 22, 2010 at 09:43 PM
What a fantastic idea! If I ever host/get invited to an Ugly Sweater Party I would certainly have to make ugly sweater cookies. Or cupcakes...Hmm, the possibilities!
Posted by: Stephanie Keeney | Dec 22, 2010 at 09:58 PM
I think I may have burned a sweater I had like one of the models was wearing! ;) Your cookies looked fabulous though!
Posted by: Nancy Larma | Dec 22, 2010 at 10:09 PM
pictures and cookies were awesome! Well, just the cookies were awesome! Those sweaters in the pictures, oh man! LOL
Posted by: Joy | Dec 22, 2010 at 10:15 PM
He he!! Loving it!
Posted by: Amy's blah, blah, blog | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Genius! These are hilarious!!
Posted by: Stephanie | Dec 22, 2010 at 11:27 PM