Hosting a cookie exchange is an easy (and delicious) way to gather friends and family during the holiday season—and walk away with enough cookies to last you through Christmas! Here are three expert tips to make sure your next cookie swap party goes as smoothly and sweetly as possible. And be sure to check our favorite cookie recipes below.
Make your cookie exchange a certified event! Email holiday-themed invites for the party, asking guests to bake a different cookie recipe. Each guest should bake about a half dozen cookies for every person attending. For example, if you’re inviting eight people, everyone should bake four dozen cookies to make sure there’s enough to keep the exchange going. In the invite, be sure to ask guests to respond by a date with the recipes they’ve chosen so you can print them out for each guest to take home, or make it extra easy by asking guests to bring their own print-outs.
Tip: Spark your guests’ inspiration with some of Betty’s very best holiday cookie recipes below.
Want to be the cookie exchange hostess with the mostest? Be sure to have plenty of serving utensils, napkins, to-go containers and packaging materials on hand. After all, those cookies have to get home somehow! You can always keep it simple and inexpensive by providing clear plastic containers, which are found at most grocery stores. If you want to spruce them up with a seasonal touch, add some colorful tissue paper or festive holiday napkins to separate the layers of cookies within the containers.
No one can live on cookies alone—although it’s not against the cookie exchange rules! No matter which way you roll, it’s always nice to have an assortment of appetizers and drinks on hand for guests to enjoy while the exchanging and merrymaking is happening. These holiday appetizer ideas will get the party started and keep it going until the last cookie crumb is exchanged!
Need a little sweet inspiration for your cookie exchange? Here are some of our most fun, festive and crowd-friendly recipes to get you started.
