I believe that it’s important to create tradition during the holiday season and one of my favorite pastimes is hosting a cookie exchange for the special ladies in my life. It’s a great way to get friends together to celebrate the holidays while sharing delicious homemade baked goods and recipes. The idea of a cookie exchange is that each guest (plus the host) brings a set number of their favorite homemade holiday cookies. During the exchange, each guest gets to select from all of the provided cookies and brings home a beautiful assortment of the same amount they came with which they can share, serve and gift during the holiday season.

The internet will tell you to keep your guest list manageable, under ten, for a cookie exchange. But for those of you who know me, you know that I like to go BIG! And there is no reason why you can’t too! If you’re going to entertain, you’re going to put in the work regardless, so the way I feel is that you may as well get the most out of your efforts. I invite friends from all different aspects of my life. It makes the celebration festive, fun and a great way for lovely ladies, who may have been unfamiliar to each other upon arrival, meet and make their own connections. I incorporate a “best cookie” and “most creative display” contest as well. It’s amazing what a little competition can do to amp up the creative atmosphere. I’ve had woman who complain that they can’t bake come up with award-winning recipes, and some who put on their engineering hats and create some amazing displays.

Food is the center of so many of our holiday events. Having a beautiful tray of assorted homemade cookies to serve throughout the season is a big plus. (they freeze well!). I also use these cookies as hostess gifts and neighbor gifts. And not to mention that I like to send some in care packages for college kids just in time for finals! It’s a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season for you and your guests, and for any recipients of the cookies as well!

Guidelines For Hosting a Cookie Exchange

Invitations

Send out invitations at least a month ahead of time. Don’t limit yourself to a small number unless you are confined for space. The more, the merrier and the bigger the spread of cookies for your guests to choose from! In your invitation, explain the process and clarify your expectations. Make sure the invitees know you would like the cookies to be homemade, specify how many, and ask for a firm RSVP. I recommend sending a digital invitation so you can update your guests with relevant details. They are all going to be smiling and so happy they came!

Dietary Restrictions

Dietary restrictions are a thing for all of us these days. While I don’t accommodate every restriction, I set up different areas for traditional, gluten-free and nut-free cookies. Have your guests let you know what kind of cookie they will be bringing and what category they fall into. This will allow you to make labels ahead of time, as well as, update your expected guests on what type of cookies are coming (this helps avoid duplicates and provides baking motivation!). I recommend asking your guests to bring a copy of the cookie recipe to display. That way, during the exchange, other guests can simply take a picture of it with their phones if they want it. This helps create a paper-free recipe share and also provides ingredient details for those who require that.

Cookie Packaging

Provide all bakery boxes and packaging materials for your guests. In addition to the bakery boxes, this should include wax paper box liners, small wax paper bags, and plastic freezer bags (all for those who want to keep their cookies separated). I like to wrap the bakery boxes in a decorative ribbon after they are full. All of these supplies can be ordered on papermart.com. Let your guests know ahead of time that you will be supplying all of the packaging materials.

Food and Drink

It’s important to feed your guests during your event. Again, it adds to the festive atmosphere. Food and drink makes it a soiree not just an activity. I like to serve savory bites like my nutty olive tapenade and my three-cheese fondue with easy chickpea bread. Serve a cheerful and refreshing signature cocktail like my pommy fizz, sparkling smooch or a hot toddy! A good non-alcohol beverage choice is my healthy hot chocolate or pumpkin pie latte. As for timing, I typically choose a Saturday afternoon in December. I like a time frame where guests can enjoy themselves but still get out for holiday events that evening.

Cookie Competition

Definitely incorporate some competition into your cookie exchange! Believe it or not: some friendly competition encourages comradery and connection among your guests. I do a ‘Best Cookie” and “Best Display” contest. I find this boosts the quality of the cookies and complements the jovial décor with all of the beautiful displays. Other contest ideas are “Most Creative Cookie”, ‘Best Dressed Cookie” and even “Best Holiday Outfit”.

Make sure that you have prizes for your winners! You can make your own by giving away my do-it-yourself bath salts, or even jars of my healthy pancake and waffle mix. Alternatively, I like going to Anthropologie and picking up some of their unique decorative baking utensils like their pretty rolling pins, whisks, measuring cups and measuring spoons. These make great prizes!

Holiday Helpers

I hire a few high schoolers to help me with my event. Historically, this has been my daughter and her two friends. I call them my “elves”! They set up at a welcome table where, upon arrival, each guest gets their label to place next to their display and their bakery box for collecting cookies. Each guest also leaves a cookie at the welcome table for judging. As each guest is done collecting their cookies, they bring their box to my helpers who wrap it with ribbon and an ornament, label it, and put it aside so the guest can enjoy the festivities. In my case, I have my elves judge my contests as well. They are quite the experts!

Set-Up

If you have a large number of cookie displays coming, you’re going to need to utilize as much of your existing table space as possible and then add some more. Plan ahead where you want to serve your drinks and appetizers, and then use your other tables (dining and kitchen) for cookie displays. Bring in banquet tables for additional cookie display space. Borrow or rent! I like to use matching cream-colored tablecloths on all the tables, with decorative, creative centerpieces dispersed throughout. If your entertaining space allows, plan a separate area for your gluten-free and nut-free cookies. I have my packing materials disseminated among the display areas for easy access. Make sure you set the tone with a fun holiday playlist and a designated bar area for your signature cocktail. It’s nice to have someone passing out appetizers so guests can enjoy while exchanging, My elves help me with that!

Party Favors

As an added touch, I like to send my guests home with a simple ornament that will commemorate this special event. These can be homemade but I prefer to buy mine in bulk from Etsy or Pier1. Etsy can personalize and Pier1 is always having sales throughout the season. Choose what works for you, and attach them to the bakery box with the ribbon. This isn’t a necessity but it’s a great way to send your guests home with your own sentiment for the season.

Be Creative!

Don’t hesitate to be innovative with your party. There are all sorts of twists you can add. Some clever ideas include bringing in a guest bartender, guest judges, making it a couples’ event, or attaching a charitable cause to the celebration. Whatever you do, make sure you prepare ahead of time so you can enjoy and relax for your event!

Cookie Recipe Ideas

I am providing you with some wonderful cookie recipe ideas for you to make and enjoy during the holidays. Because this is a gluten-free and clean recipe platform, all of my cookie recipes will be gluten-free. I’m providing some recipes of my own that are relatively clean. My chewy chocolate healthy cookie drops are delicious and their main ingredient is chickpeas! My chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons are to die for, seriously! I’ve come up with some holiday rum balls that you just have to try and I also took the old classic Neiman Marcus cookie recipe and cleaned it up for you.

In addition to my recipes, I recommend you check out Ambitious Kitchens gingerbread cookies and Lexi’s Clean Kitchen’s cut-out cookies. Both recipes are absolutely delicious! Enjoy and happy & healthy entertaining!!

xox,
Susan

Susan’s Cookie Recipes