Host a Cookie Swap

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One of my favourite parts of Christmas is all the baked goods cookies, cakes, pies you name it. It’s not necessarily great for the waistline, but the once-a-year delights of family favourites are sometimes hard to resist.

One of the problems with Christmas is that there are an awful lot of favourites to bake and not a lot of time to do it all in. So one way to enjoy a variety of Christmas goodies, as well as the pleasure of holiday merriment, is by having a cookie swap.

The purpose of a cookie swap is to have several people make a large quantity of their favourite cookie, then come together for the party, and everyone gets to take a little bit of everything home it’s as simple, and as fun as that.

The first step in planning your party is to set up a guest list and send out invitations. Plan for about seven or eight others, otherwise the amount of cookies everyone has to bake can become too much. Many prefer a ladies-only party no hubbies, no kids.

On your invitation, you want to tell everyone not only when and where the party will be held, but also details about the party, especially if they’ve never attended a cookie swap before.

Request that each person bring half to a dozen cookies per person, plus an extra dozen for sampling at the party. Also, if you want to set any rules for the party, like no no-bake cookies, no store-bought cookies, or no chocolate chip cookies, be sure to set those out in advance. Finally, ask that each person send you a copy of the recipe in advance of the day, so that you can make sure there is no duplication of recipes.

In preparation for the big day, create display cards with the name of each cookie and who contributed them, as well as print out or write out a copy of each recipe card for each person attending, either on recipe cards, or bound together in a miniature cookbook.

You will also want to set up a packing station, complete with small boxes and bags, as well as ribbons, tissue paper, tags and decorations. This way, the ladies can pack their cookies up, ready to give away as gifts.

For the day itself, plan coffee, tea, hors d’oeuvres preferably savories and maybe even a few adult drinks, as well as festive music and decorations. You may even want to plan a couple of games, though most ladies will be more than happy to just sit and chat, and decorate boxes.

You will also want to set out a table with plates for everyone to display their goodies. If you’re not sure you have enough decorative Christmas plates, be sure to ask everyone to bring a plate to put their delectable on.

Finally, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the party with your friends, letting everyone leave with their boxes and bags of cookies and their own copies of all the fabulous recipes.

Want to take your party up a notch?

· Ask each person to bring a cookie cutter something fun and unusual. All the cookie cutters can be collected in one bag and then given away as a door prize.

· Put together a mini gift basket with baking utensils and a festive oven mitt to give as a prize.

· Have each person bring a non-perishable item or two. The items can be collected and given to a family in need.

· Have a contest, with prizes, for the best decorated cookies, best display, best holiday dressed, best tasting, funniest cookie story and most original recipes, or any other items you can think of.

· Plan a theme for your event Country Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Oh Holy Night or Babes in Toyland, are just a few ideas.

· Use tiered platters and silver trays to decorate.

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