Ready for a Cookie Swap?

Cookie swaps are traditionally held for the Christmas season, but you can really do them any time of the year. There's no wrong time for a cookie! That being said, cookie swap parties are a handy way to get a lot of different cookies without having to mix up batch after batch yourself. Here's how to host a successful one.

Invites

Your invitations should have the cookie recipe that you expect your guest to make, plus one ingredient to bring. You may want to make it two or three ingredients, depending on how many guests will be coming, but try to arrange it so everyone ends up spending roughly the same amount. So, a person who is bringing a more expensive ingredient may only have one, while another guest might be asked to bring three cheaper ones.

Setting Up

You need a large baking area to host a cookie swap. This doesn't necessarily have to be the kitchen, although that is certainly the handiest area. A dining room with a sizable table is also handy.

Having plenty of oven space is a must. Two ovens is best, but you might be able to get away with a nice roomy one, instead. Just plan your batches of cookies so only the number that will fit is ready at any one time. Have guests bring mixing bowls and cookie sheets if you don't have enough of your own.

Establish work stations for each person. As the ingredients arrive, set them out on a separate table or at the end of your workspace. Each baker can take what she needs back to her space. Encourage everyone to set up with all their ingredients before they start to mix.

Make Some Cookies!

To keep the cookies going in batches, you may want to have some people start sooner than others, or you may have different types of recipes, with someone whipping up a shortbread that will be done and baked before a more complicated batch of gingerbread men are ready.

Have those who finish first take over the ovens and washing up. As soon as a tray of cookies come out of the oven, another should go in and the finished cookies need to be removed and placed on racks to cool.

Once all the cookies are done, sit down and relax, have some coffee and chat while you wait for everything to cool. You may want to sample the wares, as well!

Finishing Up

If you baked sugar cookies, you can finish the party by decorating these before dividing all the cookies up between the bakers. The recipes given out and made should have made enough cookies so that each baker can take home at least 6. If there are 6 bakers, that means each recipe needs to make at least 3 dozen.

Package each type of cookie in a Ziploc bag and make sure every guest has a sample of each type of cookie before they leave. And there you have it. The perfect way to get a wide range of cookies while having a blast with friends instead of slaving away over the hot oven all day on your own!