Planning a Christmas cookie exchange

[Garden Bug]

Nine month pregnant at the time, I never got around to hosting a Christmas cookie exchange last year and I'm already looking forward to hosting one this year! I got some great ideas on the "old" SLBB . . . thank goodness I copied them into a word doc before the site closed! Anyone have any tried & true suggestions to hosting a cookie exchange? Any thoughts on including other seasonal goodies like candied pecans or bars in the exchange?

[MissMo]

My mom had a cookie exchange several years ago. She invited everyone from the neighborhood. We made little gingerbread men necklaces out of clay. Each person received one when they came in. If you said the word "Cookie" someone could take your necklace. The person at the end of the party with the most won a prize.

We also had each person bring enough for each person to get about 3 or 4 cookies of each kind. ( I think we had around 15 people ) so they went home with around 3 dozen. They also had to bring some that we cut up and each person tasted. We then voted on the best looking and the best tasting.

I know we did other games, I just can't think of them right now.

[JeanW]

It would be fun to ask each person to bring an extra dozen and then take all the "extra dozens" to a nursing home or shelter for abused women.

[Yankee Doodle]

Jean....I was thinking the same thing, what a wonderful gift to those in a nursing home who just love sweets!

I had cookie exchanges many years ago, they were always fun. Eventually it just got too big to handle and I stopped. Maybe I'll do a small one this year.

I always purchased bakery boxes to sort the cookies into when we were dividing up the goodies. It really made everything go faster when getting everyone's goodies ready to take home.

[JeanW]

I always purchased bakery boxes to sort the cookies into when we were dividing up the goodies. It really made everything go faster when getting everyone's goodies ready to take home.
That's a great idea! :)

[scbshell]

When I did mine, I had two games that I did. I found them on the internet. They were Christmas trivia questions. The person who got the most right won a prize. I found this cute little gift set that was a tray, oven mit and a cookie book that I gave as one of the prizes. You could do a whisk or something else.

We also do an ornament exchange at our cookie exchange. Just an ornament under $5. It is a lot of fun.

I think that if there is a tactful way to say on your invitations that all of the cookies have to be homemade, that is something that should be done. The whole point is to have homemade baked goods. If I wanted cookies from the grocery, I could just buy them. I think some people miss the point.

[Garden Bug]

My mom had a cookie exchange several years ago. She invited everyone from the neighborhood. We made little gingerbread men necklaces out of clay. Each person received one when they came in. If you said the word "Cookie" someone could take your necklace. The person at the end of the party with the most won a prize.

What a cute idea!

[Garden Bug]

I like the idea of bringing some to a nursing home. Are bakery boxes available at Hobby Lobby or just at bakeries (trying to maximize my shopping time!)?

SCBShell, I have a whole list of your ideas on my "To Dos" for my cookie exchange! :D I was so glad I copied them into a word doc - I had no idea the old board was closing! One thing I didn't copy though - didn't you use chinese take-out food paper boxes for your invites or am I thinking of something else?

[SouthernStyle]

I love the idea of a cookie exchange/nursing home run! That sounds perfect.

[scbshell]

GB,

Yes. I made fortune cookies and put the invitation inside of them. I got chinese food cartons at a local craft store. They had them specifically for Christmas, so they had holly on them. They were really cute.

If you don't have time to do that, I think doing an invitation in the shape of a cookie would be cute. They probably have scrapbook paper with cookies on it. They seem to have everything else. :)

[magsmom]

The last one I went to, we each brought a $5.00 cookie container & played Dirty Santa. It was a blast!

[Yankee Doodle]

I like the idea of bringing some to a nursing home. Are bakery boxes available at Hobby Lobby or just at bakeries (trying to maximize my shopping time!)?



I buy mine at a cake decorating store but I would bet you could find them at one of those discount party/card stores. I'm not sure if Hobby Lobby would have them but it couldn't hurt to ask.

[JeanW]

I like the idea of bringing some to a nursing home. Are bakery boxes available at Hobby Lobby or just at bakeries (trying to maximize my shopping time!)?
I think I've seen them at Michael's. You could always use some of those inexpensive Gladware containers that have holiday designs on them. There were some really cute ones last year.

[01grits]

I am wanting to do one this year....have wanted to for years!! Maybe this will be the one!

[luvmyhunny]

I love cookie exchanges - we are doing one this year for our ladies group at church, SO I'll be looking for any and all ideas from you creative ladies on the board!

[Missi]

What foods do you all serve (other than cookies)? My friend just had the various cookies to taste and then drinks - cold drinks, hot cocoa, etc.

Another friend had a light meal followed by cookies for dessert. This is a great idea for the nursing home. Also, maybe for the local fire and/or police depts.

[01grits]

I would think chili or soup would be great!! I am planning on chili when I have one.

[dizzylizzy]

Is there a limit on how many people you invite? Could you do it for 50+? I'm thinking about suggesting it for group I'm in at church.

[01grits]

dizzylizzy...I think that would be great!! I dont think there should be a limit. I am going to have one inviting my Beta sisters and also my Bunko group.

[Craigery'sLadybug]

Could you maybe send or post your word document on the cookie exchange ideas you got off the old board?

I'm thinking that would be a great girls night out with my sunday school class.

Thanks!

[RANDS]

If you have a large group, how many cookies does each person need to bring/take home. The one and only time that I did a cookie swap, we each made 1 dozen cookies per person in attendance with 1 dozen extra to eat.

Thanks for the info.

[luvmyhunny]

The way I've seen it done before is everyone just brought a set number of dozen (ie: 6 dozen cookies total per person). That way, you've baked 6 dozen but you will receive 6 dozen as well. The only this doesn't work is if someone shows up without any cookies at all - but what would the point of that be?

[magsmom]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to
complie something to hold all of the recipes
that are brought? I was wanting to put together
something quick, easy & cute.

[luvmyhunny]

Magsmom - are you talking about everyone bringing the recipes to the exchange with the cookies? What about a simple hole punch in the corner tied with a pretty ribbon appropriate for the occasion? What would be great is if you had someone there to take digital pictures of everyone with their cookies and make up a cook book with the pictures on the back side of their respective recipes. You could give them out later and it will be a good opportunity to remember how much fun you had.

[magsmom]

luvmyhunny -

That is a wonderful idea! Thanks so much :)

[THLCCL]

Ladies,

I've hosted four cookie exchanges and they are SOOO much fun. Each year they get bigger and bigger with more women attending. My party also includes a 7-11 dice ice breaker game, a Dirty Santa Exchange and Right-Left Ornament exchange. You can read about my exchange in the 2003 pictures section of the website listed at the bottom of this message. I haven't submitted my pics for 2004 whoops.

If you are in need of an invitation idea, I have a word document invite that I would be happy to send you via email. I simply print the invitation on some cute holiday paper that can be purchased very inexpensively at Target or Walmart.

Four years ago I discoverd Robin's website and I visit it every year before planning my exchange. The site is FULL of great ideas, pics and directions on how to host a successful cookie exchange.

http://www.robinsweb.com/cookies/

Kate
THLCCL1@aol.com

[out-junkin]

Thanks Kate for the info and link. I've had a few exchanges and I always struggle with the wording (rules etc) on the invite. The site was a big help.

Thanks :)

[shopsticks]

I have always wanted to host a cookie exchange and am hoping to have one this year. We are moving into a new neighborhood and this would be a great way to meet the neighbors. Thanks for all the great ideas!

[shopsticks]

Not sure if this idea has already been mentioned, but I found an idea online that said to have all your guests e-mail the recipes for the cookies they are going to bring so that you can put a recipe booklet together to give as a favor. If I have the exchange this year, I thought I'd do this and write them on recipe cards for my guest. I might even buy recipe boxes to give to them with the recipes inside.

[Heather]

I am planning my first cookie exchange and would welcome any suggestions and ideas !! Just email me with any tips you have !!! I am really excited about this !!!

Thanks !!!

[shopsticks]

http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel185145&contentGroup=MSL&site=living

I found this link and it helped me get an idea of how exactly a cookie exchange works. I made out a preliminary guest list to get an idea and have 20 girls written down so far (not to mention new neighbors who I might invite as well). How many cookies would you suggest they bring? Most of my girlfriends are the "ordering in type" and may not participate if I have them baking too many cookies. This ought to be pretty interesting for all of us considering most of them don't cook at all. I'm hoping this will work!!

[Garden Bug]

Sorry I am just now getting to this. . . I tried to post it a week or so ago and my computer started acting goofy (cookie party envy, I'm sure!).

from OUISAH
Michelle, One of the ladies in my town organizes a huge cookie swap every other year. I have been one of the hostess in the past and so I will tell you how we did ours.

There are about 6-8 ladies who host this one. Each person compiles a list of people to invite. All of the lists are then combined and checked to see if there are any duplicates. One person makes up the invitations and then gives them to each of the others hostess to address and mail to their list. (This event is held in an antibellum home that has been turned into a bed and breakfast, so there is lots of floor space to accomodate the guests and baskets of cookies.)

Each person (including the hostess) is asked to bring a basket with 4 dozen cookies. The 4 dozen is divided this way: 1 dozen to sample, 3 dozen divided into 6 bags of 6 cookies each with a recipe attached. When people enter they are greeted at the door and hand over their basket to a hostess. The hostess then takes the 1 dozen out and places them on a platter in dining room. The baskets are then set on the floor around the perimeter of the room. The guests mingle and sample cookies and then walk around the room and pick 6 packages to take home.

As a hostess I just had to provide names, and mail my invitations. We all had to bring platters, tea or coke, a bag of ice and maybe some of those clear cups. The price of the Bed and breakfast rental split 6-8 ways was not bad.

Having one this big is really a lot of fun. We live in a smallish town, so just about everyone in town is invited and it's more of an event than a party LOL. Since the responsibilities are shared with so many other people it's really not overwhelming. You probably were not thinking of doing one this big, so I don't know if this has helped any, but I hope you have a good time doing it.


from SCBSHELL
Hey there. I did host our cookie exchange last year and we had fun. What we do is send out the invites and then ask everyone to rsvp by a certain date. Then what I do is call everyone who is coming and tell them how many cookies to bake. We bake 1 dozen per each person coming, plus another dozen and 1/2 to sample. Everyone brings their cookies already wrapped up. Most of the time you as hostess have some kind of drink and then maybe just a few other things to snack on. I think I did a dip with crackers and veggie tray. Tried to stay away from sweets since we had the cookies.

I also had 2 games that I played and gave out prizes. One prize was perfect. It was a tray, cookie cookbook and pot holder all in one gift pack I happened to spot at CVS pharmacy.

We also make this an ornament exchange and everyone brings an ornament wrapped under $5. What we do is draw numbers to determine the order everyone picks. It is just like what they call a Chinese auction where you can steal from other people. It is fun.

I picked a Monday night last year to do mine and did it fairly early in the month. That way people had both Sat & Sun to bake their cookies. Also, most Christmas parties don't seem to be on a Monday night so there weren't as many conflicts.

Hope you have a great time and do one. Our exchange is with ladies who live on our street and it is fun.

I have another invite I made up that I'll post below for you. You are welcome to use it and to tweak it so the dates and time will work for you.

The way we are doing our exchange is everyone needs to r.s.v.p. to me by December 8th. After that I'll call everyone and tell them how many cookies they need to bring. We've done this neighborhood exchange two ways. One is everyone brings 1/2 dozen cookies per each person attending, plus one more 1/2 a dozen which are plated and everyone eats. If we have a small number of people coming, we will make one dozen per each person attending plus one more dozen to be sampled. Since I am the hostess, I need to have trays out for people to put their cookies on. Usually you serve just a few other things. I'll probably have a veggy tray, so soda, and hot cider. Maybe a few other appetizers, but I haven't decided yet. We also do an ornament exchange. I put on the invite for everyone to bring a
wrapped ornament, under $5. Then we do a chinese auction/dirty santa to exchange them. I am spicing things up this year and giving out an award to the person who is dressed the best in holiday attire. I am also including a recipe card and asking people to make enough copies of their recipe for everyone who is coming. I may also do a door prize.

Depending on the number of cookies, I ask everyone to bring their cookies prepackaged. It is best if you have 1/2 a dozen to put them all in one bag. I"ve found great cookie bags at the Dollar Tree and they will even hold 1 dozen cookies. It is easier if everyone brings their cookies already packaged.

from HOKIEGIRL
I love your poem. I was on the fence about whether to have a cookie exchange, but now that poem is really making me want to do this. Do you mind if I tweak it for mine also??

This will be my fourth cookie exchange. Here is what I've learned from the previous 3:

1. It's nice to have a variety of cookies. My first year, no one made cookies, and everyone made the "bar type" that you cut into squares. In order to monitor the variety (and create a take home assortment for everyone) the next year I asked everyone to submit their recipe to me so that I could compile a cookbook as a party favor for everyone to take home. That also avoided the temptation to use the slice and cook type. If I found that we had too many chocolate cookies, I would ask that person to consider another favorite. MOST people were cooperative.

2. I asked everyone to have their cookies divided and wrapped in the amount that would go to each individual (1/2 dozen or 1 dozen). I provided the take-home container. I found that the 9 x 13 aluminum pan with plastic lid worked well. I found them at Costco and I stenciled a Christmas or Hannukah theme on top of each plastic lid (this was much easier than it sounds). Some folks advised that they put their container of cookies in the freezer to save until after Christmas.

3. As people came in, they placed their large container of pre-wrapped cookie bundles on the dining room table. Then we all went around the table and took 1 bag from each container.

4. We had extras left over (everyone made more than they needed to) and we made up a plate for the retirement home and one for the men at our local fire station.

OK, now I'm psyched about doing this exchange. I would certainly understand if you don't want this poem going public.

[Heather]

Thanks so much for posting that !!! It was a big help !!!!

[funsinc]

I like all of your ideas, but I'm needing details. How many cookies should each person be instructed to bring? There will be approximately 16 people, teachers, and I don't know the sequence of the party. Help!

[funsinc]

What is Dirty Santa?

[LisainVA]

I like all of your ideas, but I'm needing details. How many cookies should each person be instructed to bring? There will be approximately 16 people, teachers, and I don't know the sequence of the party. Help!

Whenever I was involved in an exchange like this, we always cooked a dozen cookies for EACH person that was attending. So if you have 16 people, you would have to cook 16 dozen cookies. Everyone then swaps (and they cook 16 dozen also) so everyone comes home with 16 dozen different types of cookies. We tried to hold it to a limit of 8 people because it got to be too much. When others decided they wanted to join, we seperated off into two groups of 8. Cooking 16 dozen cookies is quite a bit considering how much else you have going on during the holiday time but it is fun. We always made a big party of it with the exchanging (lunch, drinks, etc.) It was great!

[Rather Be Camping]

Hi! I'm new here- I actually googled "planning a cookie exhange" and found this mb. I like a lot of the ideas here.

I have hosted my own CE 4 years now- ever since we moved and I now have a bigger kitchen with adjoinging dining room. It's been a lot of fun although we don't have it as elaborate as some do. We try to keep it simple, but I tweak it every year to make it better. There are always some things that stay the same though. For example, everyone brings 1 dozen cookies per person participating (if there are 8 people, then they bring 8 dozen). We exchange the 7 dozen and we have a table where the remaining dozen are placed. This table is for the pastors at our church and I have cards there for everyone to sign. (We had 4 pastors). I then make up platters with these cookies and bring them to the church the following day and deliver them to the pastors (who by now have come to look forward to this tradition as this will be our 5th year doing this). Since the ladies that attend my CE are all from my church, thus we have the same pastors, everyone really likes this part. Last year we did also bring a platter to a family that was having major medical issues, huge bills as the dad couldn't work and was very sick and the mom was having to work full-time and support the family with 3 very young kids. We knew she wouldn't have time to make any cookies, so we included them last year as well. (It was so worth it too, to see their faces when the tray was brought over- they made me cry right along with them.)

We have sampled cookies in the past, but last year we started something new that everyone liked even better. I ask everyone to bring different things (veggie trays, fruit platters, crackers and cheese, etc.) and I provide the punch and coffee and we eat together and they can sample cookies off of their own trays if they want to, although we always have a dessert there, so most people save their cookies for home.

I also ask that each dozen be pre-packaged on a plastic plate in a ziploc bag which has made everyone happy and we have eliminated any cookies from falling off the plates or tipping in the baskets/bags that they bring them in.
I have tried all different days and times, but the most popular and least conflicting night that we now stick with is Monday night. Like someone else said, that way everyone has all weekend to prepare cookies. I do call all of the local schools in advance to make sure that the date I pick is not conflicting with any programs they have, in hopes that everyone invited will be able to attend. (My friends seem to like that, too.) If the exchange gets too big, I do have the option of having it at the church and instead of making 1 dozen for every person attending, I could do 1/2 dozen to exchange. That way we would still have lots of cookies and even more varieties. I haven't asked to know the kind of cookies that were being made in the past, but I think I will this year as I liked the idea of having everyone email me their recipe and making up one organized list of them. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to do this? Although I didn't ask, we've never had any duplicates- which was fortunate. We do have a pastor who is allergic to flour, so I always ask that if someone is going to be making something without flour, to let me know as I want to make sure we give him something he can have. Last year it was church window cookies (chocolate and marshmallows), peanut butter cup bars and something else that he had a plate of- I give him more of those types of cookies and I separate what is for him and what his family can eat.

I do provide the cards and trays for the families we are giving cookies to and I always have a little gift for each attendee (a small candle, etc.) and we had a door prize last year as well. It was a lot of fun and my 16 year old daughter wants to have one for her friends this year, too.

I would love to read anyone else's ideas for planning a cookie exchange along with any ideas or documents for creating a recipe booklet for everyone.
Thanks,
Kara

[Rather Be Camping]

Nine month pregnant at the time, I never got around to hosting a Christmas cookie exchange last year and I'm already looking forward to hosting one this year! I got some great ideas on the "old" SLBB . . . thank goodness I copied them into a word doc before the site closed! Anyone have any tried & true suggestions to hosting a cookie exchange? Any thoughts on including other seasonal goodies like candied pecans or bars in the exchange?

Garden Bug
Do you still have that word doc that you copied those ideas to? Would you be willing to share? I would be interested in getting that. Also, what is this poem that was mentioned? I would be interested in reading that as well, if possible.
Thanks very much,
Kara :)

[LoveToBake]

Hi Scbshell,

I'm hosting my first cookie exchange, I wanted to know if you would be willing to let me know the website(s) that you found games. All the ones I check don't have good games. Also later in the forum you said something about a poem, could you give that to me also. And any other ideas you have.

Thanks so much!
Jean

[THLCCL]

Hi Scbshell,

I'm hosting my first cookie exchange, I wanted to know if you would be willing to let me know the website(s) that you found games. All the ones I check don't have good games. Also later in the forum you said something about a poem, could you give that to me also. And any other ideas you have.

Thanks so much!
Jean


Games and Poem can be found here:
http://www.robinsweb.com/cookies/index.html

Click Party Games at the top of the page.
The left right Christmas poem is there also. You can find tons of different versions of left right poem by doing a search on Google too.
:)
**Kate**

[THLCCL]

Games and Poem can be found here:
http://www.robinsweb.com/cookies/index.html

Click Party Games at the top of the page.
The left right Christmas poem is there also. You can find tons of different versions of left right poem by doing a search on Google too.
:)
**Kate**

Be sure and check out the message boards on Robin's site also!
There are TONS of good ideas there too!
**Kate**

[happytobehere]

Bumping