Tips for Hosting a Christmas Cookie Exchange

Host the most amazing Christmas cookie exchange party with these tips to help you prepare and really wow your guests!

Hosting a Christmas cookie exchange is a great way to get together with friends and family during the holidays and to amass some yummy treats at the same time. Even better, it doesn’t have to be just cookies, if you want to branch out. Any dessert that travels and stores well will do.

The premise behind a cookie exchange or swap is this. Each guest brings along a predetermined number of cookies, brownies, etc. These treats will then be divided equally among all of the other guests. So, when the party’s over, everyone takes a slew of cookies (or whatever) home with them to enjoy throughout the rest of the holiday season. Keep reading for a few tips that will make your cookie exchange a huge success. Your guests will love you for it!

How to Host the Best Christmas Cookie Exchange Ever

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Send Out Invitations Early

For best results, send out invitationstips-for-hosting-a-christmas-cookie-exchange early, as much as a few weeks in advance. In addition, ask everyone to RSVP and to also let you know what they’re going to bring to the event. This helps to ensure that you won’t end up with four different batches of chocolate chip cookies or other popular variety.

Try to find out if any of your guests have food allergies, before sending out the invitations. This helps to ensure that no one will be subjected to a possible allergic reaction. If you’ve set forth any rules such as “only home-baked cookies” or “cookies must be made by an adult,” include that information in the invitation as well.

Get Prepared

You no doubt want to set a festive table for your swap. So, before the big day, determine whether or not you have enough platters and trays to accommodate everyone’s offerings. Make a place card for each type of baked good, so your guests know exactly what they’re taking home with them. You can even go one step further and ask everyone to bring copies of their recipe to hand out to each guest.

To avoid having everyone touch all of the cookies with their fingers, provide spatulas or tongs for them to transfer their cookies from the platters to their take-home containers. You can either supply inexpensive bakery boxes or ask everyone to bring their own plastic storage containers.

Serve Snacks and Refreshments

Of course, there is no rule that says you can’t eat cookies at the party. However, it’s traditional for guests to take the majority of their bounty home with them.

Consider offsetting the sweetness of the cookies with savory snacks and appetizers such as  cheese and vegetable trays, chips and dip, pasta salads, deviled eggs, etc. If you’re hosting the event in the evening, you may prefer to serve festive mocktails. Any other time of day beverages to include coffee, cocoa and some type of punch will probably do the trick.

These are just a few suggestions to help make your cookie exchange a success. It’s a wonderful way to sample new cookies and baked goods, without going to all the trouble of making them yourself. Chances are, once you host your first swap, you’ll have so much fun you’ll want to make it an annual tradition. And, there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

Ready for a really fun and tasty Christmas recipe for kids? These Candy Cane Peppermint Kisses cookies are so much fun to make together!

Need an idea for cookies to make for a Christmas cookie exchange party? Our Peppermint Kiss Cookies are super easy and look beautiful when they’re done!

Do you have any favorite tips for hosting an awesome Christmas cookie exchange party? Share in the comments!

 

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