Christmas Cookie Exchange- yes please!

Ho Ho Ho!!! How fun is a Christmas Cookie Exchange! The hub-bub of Christmas baking all rolled into a fun time of sharing and you walk away with a bounty of cookies. I recently had the opportunity to attend such a function and it didn’t disappoint. It was so well organized, the time flew by, we ate, we judged, we shared and exchanged and laughed. It was a perfect holiday function. Let me share some of the high points you can use for your own exchange along with the recipes for some of these great cookies.

This was a very well thought out cookie exchange. As you may know, I am an organizer at heart, so this was especially nice to participate in. Once invited, we were told how many dozens of cookies we were to bring, how to divide them, to have a presentation / tasting plate, and then also to provide the recipe (before hand). We were asked to come with 5 dozen cookies – divided into 10 half dozen servings to be shared and 1 dozen on a decorative cookie plate to be shared for voting. We received a follow-up email confirming the date, location, commitment and then our assigned number for anonymity. I was intrigued!

Upon arrival to the location (an absolutely beautiful home in the Los Ranchos valley), you entered and were greeted by the organizers. Instructions were given on what to do with your baked goods. We were to place our prepared 1/2 dozen packages on a particular table by our number. The cookie exchange table was lined with beautiful and clever containers. One was in a Christmas Tree display. The cookies were in their cylinders and the top was an original hand painted magnet. Another was in a paper bag – inside were the holiday favorite Biscochitos with a small battery operated light, just perfect to be your luminary! How adorable is that!

Then your prepared plate went to the tasting area as well by your number. The tables were set with plates, silverware. and gifts. Very nice to have was the bottled water as you were tasting several different cookies. Everything was very festive. A coffee / cocoa station was setup complete with little marshmallow snowmen for your cocoa.

Cookie Exchange Place Setting — **Guest Table**

Once guests arrived, instructions were given on the process. We were partaking in a light lunch and then could gather all the cookie samples to taste and judge. Still anonymous, we were each given a voting ballot with several categories – best tasting, most original, best holiday presentation, and best overall. It was hard to judge for sure. All delicious. I came away with a bounty of cookies – all different, all delectable, and all handmade by some very talented bakers! Prizes awarded, gifts exchanged, and we headed out full in our hearts and our holiday spirit.

Cookie Exchange Steps

Determine what you want to do. Answer these questions:
- The usual questions of who, what, where, when….
- Who – how many guests and who
- What – how many cookie types, how many dozens, how to be packaged, how to be presented. Also if you are going to be voting and will it be anonymous? Will you have prizes?
- Where – location of the cookie exchange. Consider size and number of guests along with what you want to achieve – just exchange of cookies or a holiday experience, with conversation. Are you providing lunch or just beverages.
- When – dates and time. Date – closeness to the holiday, considering schedule and availability. Consider the time of day – will impact whether to serve lunch or not. Also the length of time – enough time to enjoy but not to overstay. This will depend on your group of guests.
Develop contact list and dates for contact.
- Initial contact to identify interest
- Followup confirmation via email with “More to come” information, thanking the attendees for participating
- Email details about exchange – how many cookies needed, how to package. Ask for recipe document so it can be shared.
- Email reminder of exchange, location, etc. Include a map.
- Day of send out text reminder with map to location
Setup for Exchange
- Table setup for exchange packages
- Table setup for voting, with name of cookie.
- Table setup for guest to sit
  - Determine if you having a lunch or just cookies. In either case, provide beverages – especially water. If you are tasting the cookies, its nice to have that refreshment in between the tastings.
- Provide beverage station.
When Guests Arrive
- Greet guests and go through instructions for the day
- Facilitate voting and award, as well as any other activities that you have planned

Several points stand out, in addition to all the other very positive aspect. The communication of expectations was critical, it was clear and extremely helpful. The timing helped you to stay on schedule. Though this seemed like a small gesture, I especially liked the water at the table to cleanse your palette in between tastings. We were all gifted something in addition to the cookies – a small bag with an ornament, some treats and special items, and a parting gift of a baked bread. It made the guests feel very special. And since we were all there sharing our baking expertise, a copy of the all the recipes was shared. Overall, the planning helped make this a delightful cookie exchange experience. This made me want to have my own exchange!

My thanks to the organizers, hostess and all the amazing bakers for this cookie exchange.