Tips on How to Host a Cookie Swap

Hosting a Cookie Swap

For a few years my mom and I hosted a cookie swap with about 30 of our family and friends.  It was always interesting to see what cookies people would bring and we always had lots of fun.  If you want to plan your own cookie exchange, here are some things to help you have a success event.

Party Planning

Food – You may want to have some snacks for people to enjoy like fruit, veggies and a cheese and cracker tray and some drinks of your liking.  Keep it simple.  Have this off to the side.

Cookies – Depending on how many people you have coming, you will need space for them to place their cookies. Everyone will be going around and getting cookies. I suggest putting tables together so people can walk around them easily.

Guests – Invite guests 3-4 weeks in advance.  Explain to them they will need to bring 6 dozen cookies to share and then also a container to take their cookie swap cookies home in. Ask guests to provide you with the recipe and kind of they want to bring (we had no duplicate recipe rule).

Recipes – We suggested people provide the recipe of the cookies they received, so that others could make them again.  Yes make, one of our rules, which I’ll explain in a bit, was that the cookies had to be made, not store bought.

peanut butter cookie recipe

Things you need to do before the party:

• you will need to have place cards and markers for people to write down the name of their cookies.
• Name tags (but optional) would be nice if everyone doesn’t know each other too.
• Have zip bags for people who forget to bring a container for their cookies they are taking home.
• Consider making 2 varieties of cookies.
• Print out copies of the recipes of the cookies for guests to take home.
• Have plates, cups, napkins and silverware for the snacks.
• Decorate for the festivities!  We would use our Christmas decorations and decorate early or have lights and festive tablecloths.
• Have slips of paper for people to vote for the contest.
• Buy 2 small gifts for the winners of the contest, expect there may be a tie.

Cookie Exchange Rules

There should be some sort of rules for everyone to know what is expected. You can certainly have no rules, but I would be ticked if I made cookies and went to a party to find 5 people just grabbed something from the store to be a part of the party.  But, your party, your choice.  Here are some rules to consider having:

1.  All cookies must be homemade.  Cookies cannot be bought at the store, please make them.
2. Determine if you will allow bar cookies or not.
3. You must bring cookies to take cookies home.
4. No burnt cookies please.
5. Please bring 6 or 8 dozen cookies to the exchange.  This will allow everyone to take home as many as they bring.
6. Bring a container to take your cookies home in to enjoy.
7. Ask guests to RSVP and share what kind of cookies they are making.
   1. Explain in your invite there are no duplicate cookie recipes.  So if someone is making that kind already, they need to make something else.

Have a Contest!

If you want, have a contest (explain in your invitation) for the best tasting cookie and best cookie display.  You may want to give people a space limit or you will run out of space.  Be sure to note this information on your invitation for the cookie swap. If space isn’t a problem, don’t limit them!

Most of all enjoy the time with your friends and family.