Cookie Exchange Post Collection (repost)

Hello,

Here's a compilation of posts to the various message boards here at TKL describing how to hold a holiday cookie exchange. If anyone has cookie exchange experience or info to share, please post!

Thanks to all that contributed.

Happy Holiday Baking,

Betsy

When saving or copying, please keep these credits with the information:

HOW TO ORGANIZE A HOLIDAY COOKIE EXCHANGE
From The Recipe Link Cooking Club Messsage Boards
/wwwboard/tklcc.html
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Posted by: Brenda on Monday November 2nd 1998 09:52:34 PM

We packed them up in individual bags with a dozen cookies in a bag. Then everyone went home with alot of different cookies and they did not get mixed together. For refreshments, how about a nice punch with sherbet and 7 up, and we had finger foods, like chip and dip, veggies, veggie pizza was a big hit. Have fun.
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Posted by: page on Tuesday November 3rd 1998 06:36:46 AM

This is how i have done it before and it seemed to work well.
I asked each gal to bring 7 1/2 doz. we had 7 gals total .... they were to bring them in some sort of take home container -- but that was not too important-- AND i asked them to bring 7 copies of the recipe ifthey were willing to share it.

then at the party we sat and visited about this and that and had coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and the extra 1/2 dosen cookies each gal brought-- I had seperated them out to a different tray -- that wasy we could taste them and enjoy! Great for instant compliments.

once we also brought some Christmas craft to share our ideas as well.

after we finished visiting we then boxed up the balance of the cookie with each getting an equal amount -- of what was brought to "exchange" I have had extra boxes and colored plastic wrap on hand for those that needed it.

once one gal brought hers wraped up on a paper plate with pretty plastic for each gal to bring home she put a bpw a top that was kinda nice but more work for the bakers and i know how somtimes i'm in a hurry and would rather just bring and share .....

they are quite fun!

page<><
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Posted by: MED on Tuesday November 3rd 1998 08:47:26 AM

Every Christmas for the past ten years, we have participated in a Mother-Daughter cookie exchange. It is held the first Sunday afternoon in December. Everyone wears her holiday dress. We bring 3 dozen homemade cookies with the recipe. These are served on a dining table on the hostesses platters, or on the dishes on which the cookies are brought.

The hostess provides punch and the guests fill their plates from the cookies brought. Each guest then takes home a Chinette-type platter of at least two dozen cookies that they choose. The hostess provides the foil or plastic wrap. No fuss!

There is a photographer there who takes pictures for a nominal fee. This has been a highlight of my daughters' holiday memories and a good way to keep current photos. These are especially fun for the grandmothers of the group, or the mothers who have all boys to bring their mom or favorite aunt.

This is more a painless way to have a party than to actually acquire a great deal of holiday cookies, but it is great fun. Good luck with your party plans. Keep us posted!
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Posted by: Jil on Tuesday November 3rd 1998 08:58:49 AM

I've participated in several of these - and always enjoyed the results. Sometimes (if your guest list gets long), the logistics get a bit confusing! If you have a small #, it is best to have them pack up like 6, 8, or a dozen cookies. As long as you've figured out that all attending will get 1 package from each. If you have more guests, it is sometimes easier to just have everyone bring them on trays, plates .... and then figure out how many .... (have sandwich plastic baggies on hand!) and tell them to go around the table and take 4 of each, (or however many) and then ... later, if there are extras, say so many total more. We always had them the week after Thanksgiving and it was nice .... could taste and decide if wanted to many any!

Our invitation usually stated HOME MADE cookies (and how many) and how you wanted them presented (wrapped, plain, etc.) plus we usually said NO CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. We figured everyone makes those.

For snacks, etc. ...ours was usually about 11 or 11:30 -- we would have wine, punch, hot cider/hot chocolate - and of course coffee. There would be a table in another room with snacks .... dips, with veggies, easy finger food, etc. And the party would go on for several hours.

I've been planning to try to start one here since our last move .... but haven't had the time ..... and I guess I'll ait until next year. Good luck with yours.
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Posted by: BrendaTX on Tuesday November 3rd 1998 09:19:50 AM

I started hosting a cookie exchange about 8 years ago after reading about one in a magazine. It has come to be a special time over the years. The guest list doesn't vary much, although a few have come and gone over the years.I use this opportunity to try out a bunch of new recipes that I've found over the year. I usually have it on a weekday evening and urge them to come hungry. I'll make a variety of party foods, both sweet and savory. Last year I really found some neat ones. We've brought 4 dozen cookies each and everyone does bring a container to put the ones in to take home. Some have even started bringing baggies in case there are some cookies that they want to keep separate. How many each gets depends on the total number who are actually there. I've gotten decorative containers and we use the surplus to make up little gifts for some of the older folks at my church. That way we get to "share the blessings". Last time on the invitations, I think I called it "A Time of Sweet Fellowship." It really is, because in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we take a brief time out for ourselves to enjoy the friendship that we treasure so much.
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Posted by: Char/ca on Wednesday November 4th 1998 01:07:50 AM

What a lot of great ideas for cookie parties here! I especially like the one about sharing leftovers with the elderly. We did holiday cookie parties in our neighborhood for years when the kiddies were little - and the children were part of the party. It was a zoo, a dozen or more moms and three dozen kids. Sometimes Santa even showed up! There weren't very many leftovers for us moms to take home (I learned that no matter how many cookies you think kids will eat, you're wrong; they'll eat till the cookies are gone, when moms are too busy chatting to watch!) But we all brought copies of our recipes and came home with a batch of recipes instead of cookies (usually got a FEW cookies to share with Daddy though). We started doing our parties after we'd meet each other heading to each other's houses with plates of Christmas/Hannuka cookies! The kids who wanted to got to help make them and were proud to bring a recipe saying "Johnny's Jumbles" or whatever.
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Posted by: Pam/Canada on Thursday October 8th 1998 12:07:43 AM

One thing that was mandatory in the last exchange I participated in was that you had to use "real" stuff. No margarine -- had to be butter, no sweetner -- had to be sugar, etc. Hopefully, that ensures quality stuff. There are always a few "cheats".
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Posted by Lynnette Nagle on 08:09:59 am 12/13/97:

I'm hosting a Holiday Cookie Exchange next week. This will be the second one. Last year's was a huge success. I have 16 guests coming so each one will bring 1/2 dozens. I have prizes for 3 different categories: Most Creatively Packaged, Most Labor Intensive, and Yummiest Cookie. I am also an avid rubber stamper, so this year I'm including a rubber stamp make and take session at the exchange. Everyone will stamp a special folder that will include a copy of everyone's recipe. In addition to tasting cookies for dessert, we will have lunch. Some of my friends and family roll their eyes at me when they hear 16 -1/2 dozens, but it really will be such an enjoyable afternoon. I think it is exactly what is needed during such a busy holiday season. Hope someone out there will be inspired by my efforts. I'd love to get some different ideas for my 3rd annual exchange next year.
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Posted by: Jil on Thursday October 1st 1998 03:01:35 PM

I've participated in many an exchange over the years - some good and some not so. The best ones were held in the last state I lived in .... but they were SO O O O large. Sometimes as many 60 - 80 gals! We were asked to bring 8 dozen cookies ....(and perish the one who brought hers on a large tray that took up half the table!). This was a late morning/early lunch thing. There would be wine, mulled cider, coffee, etc. .... plus a table with appetizers, breads, snacks. Naturally this was held in a house much larger than mine! After everyone was there ... the hostess would do some calculating and say 'you can go and collect 3 of each kind of cookie' -- and we'd go around the table - past the sideboards, etc....and sometimes on into the next room. Then ....after everyone had gotten 3 of each ... they'd have us go back for so many more. It worked out pretty well. After the first year, we learned to supply and/or bring small sandwich baggies ... not wanting a mint cookie next to a very dainty sugar one, etc.

Previously to that, in yet another state, our newcomer's club gourmet group had cookie exchanges. WE Were a certain # - and were advised to package our cookies in groups of 4 or 6 (it's been awhile) .... had to do with the # I am sure.

Also, in both of these, we were advised that NO CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (I guess everyone knows how to make those) and no purchased cookies. Ocassionally, we'd spot someone who cheated ... but it was still fun.
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Posted by Kathy Kinman on 11/18/97

The most fun we had for a cookie exchange, was that everyone brought two of their most favorite decorative pieces to either decorate the table, or the surrounding area.

We had several types of rolls and salad, because we wanted to leave room for the tasting.

The invitations were sent on a recipe card.

Everyone was to bring two dozen cookies so everyone could taste it, plus copies of the recipe.

Then, if you wanted to exchange, you brought however many cookies you wanted to exchange. Some brought homemade candies, some cookies, and some breads. It was a lot of fun.

We all dressed up, and invited a makeup consultant from Lamonts to do a make over on a volunteer, just for the holidays. Lots of fun.

Keep it simple, and light so everyone will be relaxed and can enjoy the evening.
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