How to Host a Christmas Cookie Swap

Reduce stress, have fun, and score lots of delicious cookies this Christmas season by hosting a cookie swap. It's a fun way to reduce baking time and money spent while still enjoying a variety of homemade treats.

Here are a few tips on hosting a successful cookie swap.

Inviting Guests

1. Decide how many people to invite. This will determine how many cookies each participant needs to bring. Remember that too few participants yield only a few cookie choices, but too many makes more work for both the guests and the host.

2. Assign a number. Once the guest number is chosen, assign that many dozen one-recipe cookies to each guest (including yourself) plus one more dozen for sampling. In other words, if six people are attending (including you), each person brings seven dozen one-recipe cookies to share.

3. Send invitations. Give plenty of notice, at least two to three weeks in advance. The holiday season is busy and calendars fill up quickly. Consider hosting your exchange the first week or weekend in December. Ask guests to bring their special recipes for the other participants.

4. Set cookie rules. Each guest makes only one cookie recipe to share. This reduces both the need for many different ingredients and time in the kitchen. Ban the usual cookies: chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar, and oatmeal. This event is for special holiday recipes only.

5. Request an RSVP. When guests get back to you, ask what they are bringing to avoid recipe duplication, and remind them to bring their written recipe to share. Request they bring containers for all the goodies they'll be taking home.

Swapping Cookies

1. Sample the goodies. Display the extra dozen cookies each guest brought so that everyone can taste the delectable creations.

2. Provide beverages. Make sure you have milk available for your cookie-nibblers. Consider providing holiday beverages such as spiced cider, hot chocolate, or Irish coffee. A salty snack or two is also a welcome contrast to all the sugary goodness.

3. Choose cookie swap method. There are a few ways to do this. Have your guests pre-divide each set of cookies onto plates or into containers and bring to the party. Or present the cookies on a festively decorated table and have guests choose a dozen of each kind, placing in containers they brought to the event. Provide wax paper so cookies can be separated.

4. Share recipes. You may want to have your guests share stories or tips about their recipes as they hand them out. Maybe great grandma Matilda brought the recipe straight from Europe, or using margarine instead of butter is a no-no.

Other Ideas

1. Keep it ladies only. Give yourself and your friends a break and send husbands and kids to the mall, out to dinner, or to a movie.

2. Make it an evening. Go all out and decorate for the holidays. Prepare a full meal, have others bring potluck items, or order catering. Include adult beverages such as Peppermint Cocoa or other hot alcohol drinks. Play holiday music or watch holiday movies.

3. Keep it simple. The holidays are already busy, so make it a quick swap during lunch at work or a Sunday afternoon at home.

4. Make recipe cards. Have your guests provide their recipes before the party and make recipes cards yourself. Present recipes to guests in creative ways: small photo book with pockets, bound together with ribbon, or in small recipe box.

Possible Pitfalls

1. No-shows. If six people RSVP, but only three show up, you will have a surplus of cookies to swap. Some people may not see this as a problem!

2. Allergies. One of the most common allergies is to nuts. This is another reason to share recipes so that guests are aware of ingredients.

3. Weather. 'Tis the season for snowstorms. Make sure you have guests' phone numbers handy in case you must reschedule the cookie swap. Discuss a back-up plan with your guests as you call to cancel.

4. Ruined recipes. Some guests may come to the cookie swap without goodies because of a kitchen mishap like burned cookies. If this is a concern, add the following to your list of cookie rules and include in the invitation: all guests must provide bakery cookies if recipes do not turn out.

A cookie swap is a fun way to celebrate the season with your friends while enjoying a variety of homemade treats. Whether you make it a big evening or keep it simple, a cookie swap can become a wonderful yearly tradition. Happy holidays!