How to Host a Cookie Exchange

Choose your theme. Decide what mood you'd like to set with your party. For a classic and elegant Christmas shindig, you may want to choose a more refined color palette for your decorations (like black, white, and gold), and create an upscale menu with items like meringues or fruit tarts. You can always go with the traditional Christmas colors of red and green and include holiday favorites, like sugar cookies, thumbprint cookies, and tasty gingerbread men ideas. A full-on winter theme of silvers and blues is a great way to transform your party space into a winter wonderland or choose a wacky holiday theme, like Christmas goes Tropical, to include new and unusual desserts.

Create your guest list.  A guest list of between 7-10 people is ideal, so that there's a good variety of cookies and still keeps an intimate feel for your gathering.  Choose invitations that compliment your theme.  If you're going with a stream-lined chic look, you may want simple invitations with gold or silver leafing or red and green envelopes with Christmas stamps and designs for a traditional holiday theme.  Make sure to state that guests should bring copies of their recipes and should be prepared to bake a dozen cookies for every guest in attendance.  Guests can also bring supplies for pretty packaging, like ribbon, handmade gift tags, or boxes and bows.

Decide the date, time, and rules, and send your invitation. After creating your guest list, choose a date and time that works best for your guests and their holiday schedules. Your guests should send their recipes ahead of time to avoid cookie duplicates. Give your guests a set of clear and simple instructions like the following:
- Cookies should be homemade and seasonally appropriate.
- Cookies should be able to last several days after baking.
- Cookies should be made by an adult.
- Please keep allergies in mind.
- No burnt cookies, please.
- Please bring recipe cards with your cookie recipe listed to share with other guests.
Stumped for ideas on what to bake?  Check out this list of cookie ideas:
- Snow Colorful Homemade Cookies
- Oh So Simple Snickerdoodle Recipe
- Sweet and Easy Spritz Cookie Recipe
- Iced Gingerbread Cookie Tower

Decorate your table. You've sent out your invitations and created your tasting menu, so now it's time to decorate your table. Gather festive dishes, bowls, and cake stands to hold everyone's tasty contributions. So that everyone knows the chef and type of cookie, create personal placecards that echo your theme for each attendee. You can even create a chalkboard menu to list each type of cookie.

Set up a cookie packaging station. Even though you've asked guests to bring materials, it's always good to have some extra gift wrap on hand. Be sure to include every element of festive wrapping, including name tags, ribbon, sturdy paper plates, cellophane, and any other trimmings. You can even provide inexpensive bakery boxes to give your guests the ultimate special experience. 

Set the mood with food, games, and music. Create a themed playlist to match your overall party theme. You can choose classic Christmas carols for a more traditional party, jazzy tunes for a chic party vibe, or even Carribbean music for a tropical holiday theme. Even though you're sure to have plenty of delicious cookies on hand, cookies at exchanges are actually meant to be taken home and shared with family, so make sure your guests don't go hungry with appetizers, savory foods, and a great list of mixed drinks. As for games, traditional games like Secret Santa or White Elephant are always a fantastic go-to activity and, of course, your guests can vote on their favorite cookie of the evening. For little ones attending, a sugar cookie decorating station is a fun way to occupy kids while letting them design their own tasty treats.

Get your party on! You've worked super hard on this cookie exchange, so have a blast relaxing with friends and family. By following these steps, your holiday party is sure to be the trending topic among your acquaintances for months after you've thrown your bash.

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