Hosting a Christmas Cookie Exchange

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Y’all, one of my favorite holiday traditions that my family eagerly anticipated was mom and grandma’s Christmas cookies.  However, now that I am grown, I have found it is also one of the most time consuming traditions if you hope to bake big enough variety to assemble attractive cookie platters for your holiday parties. With time in such a  short supply for almost all of us these days, this can turn a beloved tradition into a dreaded chore. But you know what?  There’s a solution to this holiday problem that will keep the fun in your baking, and minimize the time pressure.  Host a Christmas cookie exchange party.

Now when you host a cookie exchange party, you invite your friends who also enjoy holiday baking to bring a large batch of one type of cookie to the party. Now of course you can expand upon the idea of this party to include other treats such as home made candies, chocolate covered pretzels, or other festive sweets. Then all the guests get to share their treats. This will give all your guests a great variety, and yet only requires baking one or maybe two recipes.  Ask everyone to bring a little extra for the party table to serve to your invited guests!

10 Easy Tips for a Great Cookie Exchange

1. Ask each friends to bring either a dozen or half dozen cookies for each guest, plus a dozen for the party.
2. You will want to provide plastic storage bags or maybe paper plates and foil just in case friends do forget to bring a container for transporting their cookies home, and some will. Remind everyone to store each cookie variety in separate containers until serving.  Mixing cookie varieties will allow them to lose their flavor and texture.
3. Request that everyone bring copies of their recipe to share with others. That will avoid the necessity of emailing or snail mailing out copies at a later date after everyone inevitably requests them at the party!
4. Prepare a large table for everyone to set out their cookies. Spread a festive cloth on the table. Place one large basket, tray or plate on the table for each guest to place their cookie contributions.
5. Place an extra platter on the table for the cookies that will be enjoyed during the party.
6. Play Christmas music throughout the gathering.
7. Prepare your party room has some festive Christmas decorations.
8. A cookie exchange can be held any time of the day, but mornings are a great time during the holiday season because your guests will have the remainder of the day for other holiday activities such as shopping, wrapping, their own decorating, or other parties.
9. Plan to serve a variety of other snacks that can be prepared in advance and merely reheated at the party. You shouldn’t spend all of your time fussing in the kitchen during this party. It’s more important to keep the cookie exchange flowing. For a morning party, overnight egg casseroles work very well. Here’s a link to my Christmas Breakfast Casserole.  You might want to make an evening cookie exchange part of a festive holiday cocktail party.
10. Serve at least one holiday beverage such as eggnog or hot mulled cider along with coffee, tea, juices and, of course, milk!
11. Most of all, enjoy this time with your family and friends.  It will become a holiday tradition that will be filled with memories for years to come.