How to Set Up a Christmas Cookie Exchange
Last Updated on October 27, 2022 by lydiaf1963
A Christmas cookie exchange is a fun way to get together with friends to learn about their family holiday traditions. Enjoy each others company while having cookies and wine.
I have so many memories associated with holiday cookie making!
In our house we made a ton of cookies. My mother had a huge, 2 gallon Tupperware container that we’d fill with layer upon layer of cookies.
We all had our favorites. Mine were Rangers, my brother liked chocolate chip, my dad oatmeal. My mother and sister loved nut snowballs. Plus we had others that rotated in and out each year.
Mom liked to make the dough ahead of time and store it in the fridge whenever possible. My sister and I would bake the cookies on the weekend and layer them in the container. It was so gratifying to watch it get filled to the top!
It was a point of pride to my mother to be able to have cookies to give to friends and family, plus we had plenty to nibble on all through December into January.
Even though we didn’t bake every day, it still took us a couple weeks to make all the batches of cookies we’d planned.
A cookie exchange is much easier!
What is a Christmas cookie exchange?
Also known as a cookie swap, a Christmas cookie exchange is a gathering of friends where each guest brings enough cookies to share with the others. Instead of making several batches of different cookies, which can be time consuming, you only have to make one large batch. In return, you’ll bring home a nice variety of cookies.
How many cookies do you need to bring to the party?
A good rule of thumb is for each guest to make a dozen cookies for all the participants plus an additional dozen to share at the cookie exchange. So, if there are 6 guests, each needs to make 7 dozen cookies.
Some cookie swaps also ask the guests to share their recipes and the story behind the cookie. It’s always interesting to me to learn about family recipes.
How to host Christmas cookie exchange
Send out invitations a week or two before the party. You’ll want time to coordinate with everyone and make sure there’s a variety of cookies to be made, otherwise you may end up exchanging one batch of chocolate chips for another!
Remind the guests how many cookies they need to bring.
If exchanging recipes, ask them to send the recipe to you via email so you can make/print copies OR have them bring their own copies.
Follow up with guests a few days before to make sure they will be ready.
Plan to serve beverages and other snacks to your guests in addition to the cookies they’ll bring. It’s fun to plan a couple of party games as well.
Provide a way for each guest to transport their cookies back home. This can be as simple as sturdy paper plates covered with plastic wrap, or more elaborate boxes with ribbons and bows.
