How to Host a Cookie Exchange
How to Host a Cookie Exchange
I just love Christmas! Holiday cheer, Hallmark movies, parties, and COOKIES…COOKIES…COOKIES! And I can’t think of a better way to get together during this season with your girlfriends, than to HOST A COOKIE EXCHANGE party!
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Hosting a Christmas cookie exchange party is a perfect way to get together with a group of your girlfriends. It’s such a festive way to kick off your Christmas merriment. When hosting a cookie exchange or a cookie swap party you will get to sample many delicious cookies — and you won’t have to do ALL of the baking yourself!
Here you will find some tips for throwing your own holiday cookie exchange party. After hosting one, this could very well become one of your favorite Christmas traditions.
With the hustle and bustle of the season, I know it is hard to organize a party on your own. That’s why I have created a super awesome party package to take the stress of planning off of your plate. And the best part…IT’S AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD NOW!
This package will make party prep easy and keep you the envy of all of your friends after they attend your adorable party!
The party package
The Homefire Cookie Exchange Party Kit
Everything you need to host it, except the cookies: a four-week party plan, the guest list and cookie math, fill-in invitations and texts ready to send, cookie labels with allergy boxes, recipe cards, take-home tags, signs, a COOKIE SWAP banner and a little ballot game. Printable, fillable and an app, all for $9.
What is a cookie exchange party?
Well, it’s pretty much just what it sounds like. It’s a gathering (or a party) where you eat and swap cookies. Think potluck but with cookies! But the best part (yes, it gets even better), you get to take cookies home with you! How can you beat that?
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The short answer: A cookie exchange works like this: invite six to twelve people, and have each one bring a dozen cookies per guest plus copies of the recipe. Everybody goes home with a full tin of variety instead of forty of the same cookie. Ask folks to claim their cookie in advance so you do not end up with five plates of chocolate chip, and remind them to bring a container. The whole how-to, invitation wording included, is below.
Hosting more than one night this season?
The Homefire Holiday Season Planner
The cookie exchange is one night. The season is nine weeks. I keep all of it in one planner: one season number, every name on the gift list, the November and December calendar, and who brings what to every table. It’s 35 pages, printable and fillable, plus an app that does the math, for $17 for the whole season.
How to Host a Cookie Exchange Party that your Friends will LOVE!
We are all busy, especially during the holidays! Because of this, I want to take all of the guesswork out of planning and hosting a Cookie Exchange.
Pick a date and get to work on a guest list.
How many people do you want to invite? A cookie exchange is the perfect “get together” party for small numbers. So think of about 6-10 of your closest friends…you know the ones you never skip a beat with–YOUR TRIBE…and let’s start planning!
Set a date and send invitations a few weeks in advance. This is a busy season so you want to be sure your tribe can make it! You also want to give everyone enough time to come up with their best cookie creation.
How many cookies should each person bring? Well, you want to make sure everyone leaves with a nice amount of cookies, but you don’t want to cause stress by putting too much on their plate. I feel 1/2 – 1 dozen of cookies per guest is a good amount to sample and share…this means if you have 8 guests attending each person will bring either 4 dozen or 8 dozen, whichever amount you decide is best.
Make sure everyone knows to RSVP and inform you of the type of cookie they plan to make. If you have duplicate cookies, ask the second person if they wouldn’t mind bringing a different type.
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Do you want to ask everyone to make something from scratch? You could make rules if you want homemade or only Christmas-y cookies, but remember that everyone is busy. Being a little laid-back and foregoing rules and requirements will make it easier for non-bakers and busy friends to still feel like they can participate. Remember this is actually about the get-together and merriment…the cookies are a BONUS!
Dress code? Christmas attire? Don’t leave your guests confused and wondering! A cookie exchange can be as detailed or relaxed as you want. This could be the perfect time for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Night or Flannel Christmas PJs!
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Get the invitations, labels, tags and banner in the Cookie Exchange Party Kit →
Decorating & Hosting
Again, this can be as detailed or relaxed as you want. If you are like me, your home will be full of beautiful Christmas decorations already. Just add a few extra touches like this sweet little Santa’s Village Cookie Jar
Make sure you have plenty of drink options available. Great options are:
Cold Milk
Eggnog
Coffee
Tea
Hot Chocolate
Maybe you want to serve wine or cocktails. It just depends on your group!
Make sure you clear ample room for the cookies and use serving trays and displays of different heights, Cookie labels are always a great addition to the table, along with the recipe cards. And make sure you have plenty of cups, plates, and napkins on hand!
Don’t forget to amp up the festive atmosphere with some holiday tunes. Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial
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How to make the swap
You can do this a few ways. One is to ask everyone to bring their own container to grab their favorite cookies before they leave.
But I prefer to have a cookie packaging station with boxes like the ones in my Amazon shop for everyone fill. This way you know no one will leave empty-handed. I also like to include a little party favor on my packaging station for everyone like these adorable Christmas cookie cutters (I keep my favorites in my Amazon shop). Pair this with a nice thank you will definitely put a smile on the faces of your guests.
How to Organize a Christmas Cookie Exchange (My Quick Checklist)
If you want the whole plan on one screen, here it is, y’all:
- Three to four weeks out: pick the date and invite six to ten friends.
- Set the number: half a dozen to a dozen cookies per guest, and say it right on the invitation.
- Ask for an RSVP with the cookie name, so you don’t end up with five plates of chocolate chip.
- Ask for recipe cards (or have everyone text the recipe the week before).
- The week of: set up the cookie table, the drinks and the packaging station.
- The swap: everybody walks the table, fills a box, and takes home a little of everything.
Hosting a Cookie Exchange at Home
You don’t need a big house for this. Clear your kitchen table or island for the cookies, set the drinks somewhere else so folks spread out, and put the packaging station by the door so the boxes get filled on the way out. Turn on the Christmas music, light a candle, and let the cookies do the decorating.
Need a cookie that holds up for a few days before the party? These 12 make-ahead Christmas cookies that actually store well can be baked the weekend before.
Cookie Exchange FAQ
How many cookies should each person bring to a cookie exchange?
Half a dozen to one dozen per guest is plenty. With eight guests, that means each person bakes four to eight dozen. Decide the number when you send the invitation so nobody guesses.
How many people should I invite to a cookie exchange?
Six to ten is the sweet spot. Fewer than six and the tins look thin; more than ten and everyone is baking for days. If your list is bigger, lower the count to half a dozen per guest.
Do the cookies have to be homemade?
Not unless you want them to be. Store-bought or bakery cookies keep busy friends and non-bakers in the fun. The get-together is the point; the cookies are the bonus.
I hope this becomes a Christmas tradition with you and your friends! Let me know in the comments below if you’ve ever hosted a cookie exchange and what your tips are!
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Free printable
One number for the whole season
The Holiday Budget Worksheet gives you one number for Thanksgiving through New Year’s, and the weekly amount that gets you there, before the sales get loud.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.
Want a little more help with this? Grab my free Kitchen Reset Kit over on the Free Resources page — and when you’re ready to plan the whole season, the Homefire Holiday Season Planner keeps your calendar, the who-brings-what list and the gift budget all in one place.
