How to Host A Cookie Swap

Do you love homemade cookies at Christmastime, but dread the endless baking? Enjoy a variety of holiday favorites this year with less time in the kitchen, by hosting a good old fashioned cookie swap.
Have guests bring a few dozen of their favorite home baked cookies to your cookie swap, and you will have an array of cookies to sample and share. Put away the scale and enjoy!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Guests
• Cookies
• Coffee/Tea/Milk
• Paper lunch bags

1. 
    

   Decide on a date and time for your cookie swap. Make it during a non-lunch or non-dinner time so the focus of the event is the cookies.

2. 
    

   Invite guests and ask them to bring 3 dozen of one type of homemade cookie. Write down what kind of cookie each guest is bringing so you don't end up with all sugar cookies, etc. Make sure you tell guests what kind of cookies are already spoken for to avoid this problem and ensure a good variety. Don't forget to 'assign' a cookie to yourself, for your contribution.

3. 
    

   On the day of the cookie swap, make sure your home is decorated for the holidays(tree up, lights strung, wreath on the door, etc.) and have some holiday music playing in the background. If you have a fireplace, a crackling fire is a nice touch or if not, scented candles placed around the room(up & away from small children, of course),will do fine as well.

4. 
    

   Have a large table or two set up for the cookie 'buffet'. Dress the table with a festive tablecloth and stack some paper holiday dessert plates and napkins at one end. As guests arrive, place their cookies on the table. Use tiered stands to display cookies vertically as well.

5. 
    

   Have coffee, tea and of course, milk available. In addition to the cookies, you can put out a platter or two of fresh fruit, which goes nicely with cookies.

6. 
    

   After your guests have enjoyed their cookies and beverages, divide the remaining cookies into paper bags for those who want to take a few home. Don't forget to put some away for yourself!

Tips & Warnings

• The key to having a successful cookie swap is variety. Its ok if two guests bring chocolate chip, but make sure half the guests don't show up with chocolate chip.
• A festive holiday atmosphere is a must--music, decorations, candles and of course the delicious aroma of those cookies, will enhance any holiday event.

[eyeopening]

on 1/21/2009 This sounds like fun. :-)

[tikrit01]

on 1/10/2009 FUN! *****

[scottmitzi]

on 12/16/2008 We are planning our swap this weekend. Thanks

[Written1st]

on 12/4/2008 We are planning a cookie/candy swap for our family celebration this year. Thanks for the tips, especially about serving the fruit.

[Sumia]

on 12/3/2008 Such a yummy sounding idea!