You may have heard about cookie exchanges from your mom/aunt/grandma and dismissed it when you were younger. However, once you reach your mid-twenties, you probably need to start bringing things to holiday parties (don’t be that person). If you have a lot of events with the same people, you don’t want to always bring the same thing. And even if the events are with different people, you might not want to keep making the same cookie over and over and over and over again. Enter: the cookie exchange.
Cookie exchanges: how do they work? Everyone taking part makes 1 or 2 dozen cookies for each participant, plus 1 dozen for sampling. If you have 6 or less participants, I would recommend 2 dozen per participant. You package them up according, and bring them to the exchange! I would also recommend making recipe cards to give to each participant- if they are inspired to make some themselves, that way they aren’t trying to track you down at the busiest time of the year. When everyone leaves, they will have a nice variety of desserts to take to different events! (Or eat at home- no judgement here)
When you are hosting the exchange, I would recommend having a few appetizers. I am hosting one soon, and I plan on having mozzarella sticks, veggies and dip, and baked Triscuit snacks. Don’t make any desserts, as everyone is bringing a dozen of their cookies/desserts for samples! Also have a wide variety of beverages available. My other huge recommendation? Have a general idea of what kinds of cookies are being made by each person, to limit the possibility of having every person bring chocolate chip cookies.
What kinds of recipes to choose?
-Things that keep well over time, ie. shortbread
-Things that freeze well, ie. chocolate chip cookies (See this link from Betty Crocker on freezing baked cookies)
-A recipe you won’t mind making several dozen of
-A unique recipe that won’t be seen many places, or even just bars or tarts instead of cookies
Do you participate in any cookie exchanges?? Any tips or stories??
Until tomorrow,
The Historian!
I love the idea of doing this… Except I’m confident it leads to my eating six dozen cookies lol
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I will have to package and label them with the date of the event they are going to as soon as the door closes :/
🙂 good plan
I have never been to a cookie swap!!! I totally wish I lived closer to you to see yours in action, I bet it will be great. My favorite cookies are chocolate chip and snickerdoodles 🙂
I’m *strongly* considering M&M/chocolate chip cookies!! I’ve never been able to make a proper snickerdoodle, though :'(
My mother did taught my sister baking before her marriage last year. She is cooking but no baking, so I may have to wait for cookie exchange
Perhaps next year!
Or when my mom passes the order. You know, an order by mom!!