A few years ago I started hosting an annual cookie exchange, and it’s quickly become one of the activities I look forward to the most during the holiday season. Some of my favourite ladies get together and swap their homemade cookies (or store-bought favourites, baking isn’t for everyone) and we all fill our freezer with an assortment of sweets, while only being responsible for making one variety.
So, how does an old-fashioned cookie exchange work? It’s pretty easy really. Invite a group of friends and ask each of them to bake enough of one cookie to share 10 to 12 dozen is usually a good number. At the party, sample the cookies, then swap them ensuring the guests leave with as many cookies as they brought. Everyone takes home an assortment of holiday sweets and several new recipes to try.
Here are four simple steps to hosting a holiday cookie exchange:
1. Send the invitations
- I like to get these out 3 to 4 weeks before the event. I don’t bother sending proper paper invites, but prefer to do it online via an e-vite or Facebook group. This way people can share which type of cookie they are bringing, which helps to avoid duplicate varieties, and guests can keep track of how many people are coming in order to know how many cookies to bake.
- Ask guests to bring 1 dozen cookies per guest, plus an extra one for sampling. This works best if there are less than a dozen people in attendance. If you’re expecting a larger group (15 or more), ask guests to bring a maximum of 12 dozen total. Place the cookies on platters and guests will take only as many as they brought (for example, if you brought 10 dozen cookies you leave with 10 dozen, if you bake 12 dozen, you get to take 12 dozen home). Remind guests to bring copies of their recipe for sharing after the swap.
2. Bake the cookies
- Choose a favourite family recipe (this isn’t the time to try a new recipe in case it doesn’t work out) and bake up several batches. Make sure the cookies are able to travel and freeze well’sturdy cookies work best.
- Package them in a large container separated by sheets of parchment or wax paper.
3. Plan to host
- This is one of the easiest gatherings to host because the guests provide most of the food. I like to offer something savoury since we’ll have the sweets covered and usually pass around mugs of soup or assemble a platter of cheese and crackers. Less is more here, so don’t go to too much effort as the cookies will definitely be the star of the show.
- Take care of the beverages: coffee, tea, cider and hot chocolate work well. If you’re hosting your event in the evening, consider serving wine as well.
- Prepare display cards. Set them out on a large table with assorted platters so guests can plate their cookies and label them with the cards when they arrive.
- Offer a door prize. A new baking cookbook or assortment of cookie cutters works well. Draw a name for the prize or ask guests to vote for the crowd favourite cookie and award the prize to the winner.
- Set up a simple packing station complete with ribbon, twine, labels, sturdy paper plates, cellophane bags and parchment paper for guests to package up their goodies.
4. Taste, swap and share
- Use the extra dozen cookies brought by each guest to assemble a few sampling platters. Set them around the room and taste the goodies.
- To swap, begin having each guest take half dozen of each cookie. When everyone has filled a container, go back around the table taking another half dozen until all of the cookies are gone. Guests should have as many cookies as they brought, only now they have a variety instead of a single flavour.
- Share recipes. Pass out copies of the recipes to each guest, ensuring they can make some of their favourites from the swap at home.
Recipes to Try:
Cranberry White Chocolate Shortbread
Soft and Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies
Easy No-Bake S’mores Fudge
For more cookie exchange ideas, check out our Savvy: Holiday Cookies Pinterest board.
Tagged under: holiday party,holiday cookies,cookie recipe,cookie exchange,holiday exchange
Category: seasonal-faves
