So you want to host a Cookie Swap, but you don't know where to start? It really is a great way to celebrate the holidays with friends, family, neighbors or any group that is up for some baking. Sharing the task of making your cookies is also a great money saver. Better yet, you will have a large variety of cookies and you won't have spent weeks in the kitchen trying to get them all done!
Below are very simple directions on the "Basics" of hosting a Cookie Swap. I even found some great printable invitations, recipe cards, checklists, name cards and labels over at the Domino Sugar website.
Pick a Day: It's usually best to pick a weekday because many people are busy with their families on the weekends during the holiday season. When you set your date, remember to give people enough time to make their cookies.
Send out the Invitations: Make sure the instructions are clear. Let everyone know they are to bring homemade cookies, and how many cookies they will need to bring. If you would like participants to share their recipes, make sure you specify how many copies of the recipe they bring. Every guest should bring the same number of cookies. I found this great printable invitation you can use (from Domino Sugar). It is perfect!
What Guests should bring: This is tricky. The hostess needs to decide if cookies should be pre-packaged for trading or if they will be set out for people to make cookie trays. There are several different ways you can run your swap. It really depends on how many people you invite. You can layout all the cookies on a long table - this is the perfect time for everyone to marvel at their hard work and even take pictures.
I like to ask that each person bring 1 dozen cookies times (x) the total number of people coming to the party (i.e. if 8 people are coming, each person brings 8 dozen). 8-10 guests is generally a good number to invite to a cookie exchange, you could do more but it may get a little overwhelming. Guests should line up and take a certain # of cookies based on how many people came, and how many cookies you have (it is usually a dozen of each, but if a participant doesn't show up, you may have to improvise). Also make sure each participant brings their own containers to take home their treats!
Decide on Beverages: Totally up to the hostess. You can serve coffee which is always a winner, hot chocolate and hot cider are also good choices.
Extras:
You can ask guests to share their holiday cookie recipe (if they will, sometimes it's a secret). Here's another great helpful printable recipe labels so guests will know the name of cookie they are taking.
Another spin on the recipe cards would be if the hostess has a scanner, have everyone bring the recipe card and scan them which will only take a few minutes. You can either e-mail or print copies of all the recipes so everyone has a mini holiday cookie cookbook keepsake from your event!
Other helpful printables available at Domino:
Guest List
Name Tags
Mailing Labels
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