Have you ever done a cookie exchange? I love the idea of them. Everyone has one cookie/bar recipe that always amazes–and rather than spend HOURS in your own kitchen trying to replicate their recipe, ask them to make ’em, bring ’em, and exchange ’em. If you do the same, you’ll end up with a heaping plate of tastiness to serve holiday guests, give as gifts, and sample yourself.
Here’s a basic guideline for hosting a cookie exchange:
- Decide on an amount. Ask each guest to bring between 2-6 dozen cookies {depending on how many guests you are inviting}. One dozen can be set aside for the day of the party sampling.
- Ask each guest to provide a DIFFERENT cookie/bar, and ask them to keep in mind cookie/bar recipes that travel well. Delicate cookies tend to break after they have been hauled from place to place, so they don’t really hold up to cookie exchanges.
- Buy plates, cookie boxes, etc. for guests to bring their cookies home.
- Remember to buy or have napkins, cups, and small plates on hand for the party sampling.
- If you’re really ambitious, ask each guest to write out their recipe and bring a copy for each attendee.
- As the host/hostess, I think it’s nice to provide tea, coffee, hot cocoa or mulled cider to go with all of the cookies you get to sample.
- If you can get the name of the cookie/bar each person will be bringing, make labels to set next to the cookies on the day of the event. That way, people know exactly what they are adding to their take-home plate.
- On the day of the event, place all cookies out on a large table/counter and let everyone know how many of each cookie they can load up. Put cookies that are for sampling on a different platter {maybe by the drinks?} and then let everyone load up.
Do you have any more tips for hosting a holiday cookie exchange?
~Mavis
Need an amazing cookie recipe for a cookie exchange? Try these Chocolate Hazelnut Orange Biscotti Cookies They are always a crowd pleaser.
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Karli says
I host a cookie exchange every year too. I always have each person share the cookie they brought and a bit about it…was it something their grandma always made? Did they find it on a favorite blog? I love to hear the stories 🙂
Staci says
I’m tired of waiting on #3 Secret plan :-0
Denise says
I love cookie exchanges! We used to have them every year when my mom was alive. The way we did it was we would bake one kind of cookie, as many dozens as there were people participating. We would wrap them up for transporting home, one dozen per package, then we would each take home one package from every participant. Once you get them home you can make up cookie packages to give as gifts with a variety of each of the cookies. Great way to get lots of different cookies and you only bake one kind.
Emily says
We did these in girl scouts growing up. Each person brought 2 dozen. 1 dozen went to the local women’s shelter and the other dozen was for swapping.