How to host a Cookie Exchange Party.

How to host a Cookie Exchange Party.

The history of a Cookie Exchange  c

ookie swap

There is a book called,"The Wellesley Cookie Exchange" and it has a guide to hosting a cookie exchange. "So there is no reason why you don't do a cookie exchange like they do in the book". "You can sample dozens of cookies that you don't have to bake!" This can become a holiday tradition that you will keep going year after year!  So you don't have to go out and buy that book, right here, right now I'm going to share the information to do this yourself.

 

The Rules  cookie swap

Everyone is entitled to make up their own rules, so here are mine.
Also, you can host a "girls only" party -- no husbands or children are allowed! You don't eat the cookies, you swap them, and eat hors d'oeuvres and buffet style food, drink adult beverages!
It's a nice break from the stressful Christmas season. I hold this party for myself as much as for everyone else, it really gets me in the holiday spirit -- and away from the malls, the traffic and the hustle bustle of being Santa's lil' helper. It's also makes me decorate my house early and then it is done!

How to do the Cookie Swap

After everyone has eaten and socialized a bit, you call the swap to order by ringing a bell and then gather into the dining room where the cookies have been laid out on the table as people arrived.
The table looks beautiful with all the colors, fragrance and arrangements of the cookies. **Take turns and everyone introduces themselves and their cookies and any story that might accompany the cookie. For example; "My grandmother's, grandmother passed this recipe down...." or 

I burned the first two batches, then switched recipes..." or "When I was a child, my old next door neighbor, Bertha, used to make this for all the neighborhood kids..."  This part is fun, it is a favorite time of the party -- because there is always a story....and there's always a lot of laughter.

Swap 'til you drop!

      When the actual cookie swap happens, we all get elbow to elbow with our cookies and everyone comes & leaves with the same amount of cookies. 

For example:

You can set up the exchange for 1 dozen or 1 half dozen cookies for every person invited.  i.e. 12 women will leave with 12 dozen or 12 half dozen different cookies.  Tip: Tell everyone to print out the recipe for their cookies and add it to each plate of cookies, so not only do you come home with all your cookies for Christmas you have the recipes for all the new cookies you received. (Just make sure everyone brings different kinds of cookies!)

      Don't forget to take pictures of the table before everyone dives in!

Important Cookie Exchange Planning Tips!

1) Send the invitations out a month before the party. Everyone's calendar fills up fast in December! Sunday afternoon is a great time. All the dads can watch the kids from the sofa in front of the football or hockey game. For your first exchange, take a poll and see what your attendees prefer.

2) Tell everyone to bake their cookies at least three days in advance. The biggest reason for no-shows is that they didn't have time to bake their cookies. This is the busiest time of year. Don't be upset if people that RSVP and say they are coming don't show up. I always invite way more than I expect to show.  Usually two or three days before the exchange I say to myself "If this wasn't my party, I probably wouldn't go, I'm too busy!"

Another reason to bake the cookies early is so that they can "dry out" a bit. A freshly baked cookie is not a good cookie to transport. When we're swapping, we're piling different types of cookies on top of each other and the fresh ones crumble terribly, especially if it's a fragile cookie to begin with. After the cookies have been baked, they should sit out all night on a rack to cool and lose their moisture, with a piece of wax paper over them. Then you can put them into a cookie tin, or any kind of container with wax paper under and over them and between the layers.

A note cookie swap

For all you high powered business women that think you don't have time for such domestic tomfoolery. It can be a great networking party and you will meet new people. Many of these women work and/or own businesses. Encourage people that say "I don't bake" to attend. They're the ones that seem to enjoy it the most!
Have a great time and Good Luck!