How to Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange

One of the most delicious treats associated with the holiday season is homemade cookies. Many people have a favorite holiday cookie recipe that they make particularly well. A great way to make sure that you end up with a variety of different cookies in your home throughout the holiday season is to host a Christmas cookie exchange.

What is a Holiday Cookie Exchange?

The idea behind a holiday cookie exchange is simply to swap cookies with your friends so that each of you ends up with a nice assortment of holiday cookies without having to make several different recipes. Instead of making a huge mess in your own kitchen trying to make a number of different types of cookies, simply make multiple batches of the same type to share with your friends.

Of course, as an added benefit, to pull of swapping cookies with several people at once, you have to hold a get together. What better excuse to throw a holiday party for your circle of friends? It's a great reason to get together and catch up in the midst of the hectic holiday season, and you'll come with treats to share with the entire family!

Planning Your Event

Pick an afternoon or evening to set aside for a fun evening with your friends. Ask each guest to bring several dozen over his or her favorite homemade holiday cookies to the get-together. During the get-together, you'll get to sample several tasty cookie recipes, and create an assorted tray of baked goodies of your own to take home.

Some people assign guests to bring specific types of cookies, but I prefer a more relaxed approach to planning a cookie exchange event. Simply ask each guest to prepare his or her favorite cookie recipe to share. It's highly unlikely that every person who attends will bring the same type of cookie. The end result is usually a unique and delightful assortment of delicious holiday treats.

If you want, you can spice up the party by making it a cookie and recipe exchange event. In addition to asking guests to bring enough of their favorite recipe to share, invite them to bring enough copies of their recipe to pass out to the other guests.

The Cookie Exchange Event

The day of the event, make beverages that will help set the holiday mood for everyone to enjoy during the get-together. Set out enough disposable trays or plates for each guest to use to create their own take home trays.

When the guests arrive, have them place their cookie contributions in a central location, such as the dining room table. Serve beverages and allow them to taste test the cookies. Give each person one of the take-home trays so they can put together a cookie exchange take home tray. Be sure to provide plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or some other type of way to seal the cookie tray.

Do you have any other fun ideas for exchanging holiday cookies or other goodies with your friends? Feel free to post your ideas in the comments section below.