4 Steps to Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange Party

4 Steps to Host a Christmas Cookie Exchange Party – The time of traditional and annual giving is upon us. What better way to spread the holiday cheer to your neighbors, friends, family, colleagues, etc. then with a wonderful box of cookies? Though why should you limit it to just your family? Why not have everybody join you in the spreading of holiday cookie joy. It’s not hard, in fact, once everything gets started it’s a blast. You can do it with a big group or with a small group, it doesn’t matter. Just so long as everyone has fun, there won’t be a problem to speak of. This is a type of party everyone can enjoy; from the bakers to the eaters, there is something for everyone. So put on your Santa hats, gather the cookie dough, and roll up your sleeves because now is the time to plan out your awesome cookie exchange party.

Oh, wait a minute…….Lets 1st answer the quick question of “What is a cookie exchange?” and “Why have a cookie exchange?”

Well, a cookie exchange is a fun way to swap and share an amazing assortment of cookies for the holiday season. Each person bakes a certain amount of just 1 kind of cookie (no duplicates at the party) and then you have a chance to exchange cookies, recipes, ideas, and most importantly FUN! Then, you can walk away with a beautiful assortment of specialty cookies all packaged and ready for gifting, or if you’re like my husband, you’ll be trying a new cookie each night (he wouldn’t dream of giving them away)! To see my article on Cookie Exchange party games go here.

Decide How You Want To Run It – Do you want to host it at your house, or at another venue (like your church or community center)? Is everyone going to bake the cookies at home or at the venue? Do you want everyone to bring pre-baked cookies to the party, or bake them at the party? These are questions you are going to have to answer before you even pick a date for the party. After you decide these questions, then you can decide how many people you will be able to invite depending on the location of your party (size of the venue)
Send Out Invitations – Once the date is set, send out your invitations (approximate 3 to 5 weeks in advance). When telling people how many cookies they need to make, tell them the max amount of people will come. (If you send out invitations for a total of 30 people coming, kids and adults included, inform them that they are going to need to make 5X the amount of people to equal the amount of cookies needed. =150 cookies for the example). To keep others on their toes some people will no “no chocolate chip cookies please” so as to get a better selection of holiday treats. If you think you’ll have families in attendance with nut or gluten allergies than ask attendees to bring an index card of ingredients to display next to the cookies.
Assign each family an item to bring for packaging the cookies at the event: ribbons, scissors,name tags, treat boxes or cookie tins, way paper for lining the box or tin, display cards (you’ll want to have each cookie name displayed at the event so blank display cards or an index card folded in half will do). The idea is that when guests leave they have a beautiful assortment of cookies wrapped and ready for gifting (if they choose to gift them afterwards). If you want to keep it really simple just use sturdy paper plates and a gallon zip loc baggie (and skip the boxes).
Pick A Type Of Cookie – When you send out the invitations have the people who are attending rsvp at least 10 day to 2 weeks in advance with the type of cookie they are making/bringing to the cookie exchange. First responders get the 1st choice, meaning if two people want to do the same cookie, whoever called it first gets it. Remember – you don’t want duplicates at the event. You may also like to suggest cookies that don’t crumble or break up easily.