Tips for hosting a Cookie Exchange requiring pre-packaged cookies (2024)

Tips for hosting a Cookie Exchange requiring pre-packagedcookies
Put together by Robin Olson on behalf of dozens of CE hostesses

Description: Tips for hosting a successful Christmas cookie exchangeusing the pre-packaged method

Girls

who swap with pre-packaged cookies

I asked and you responded...

Thanks to all who took the time to share.

Hi Robin,

This year I held my second cookie exchange and it went off without a hitch.I like the ladies to pre-package their cookies because it makes it easierto grab each package and place them in their bag to carry home. It also helpswith food allergies. Some of my guests have children with food allergiesbut would like to take home a package of each cookie baked. They can stilltake those cookies home with them without a problem. Each package contains6 cookies. The ladies are very creative with their packaging. Some use tins,carry-out boxes, cello bags, small ceramic jars with lids, small loaf containers,etc. (see picture) It's a lot of fun to see what they will come up with.I give prizes to the top three for creative packaging. Everyone has a greattime.

Lysette Toro-Mays
Langhorne, PA

Lysette's pre-packaged cookies

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HI Robin,
This year will be my 5th cookie swap. I have followed your suggestions forinvitations, games, etc. I do prefer that my guests pre-package their cookiesand it has never been a problem. In my invitation I tell them to send methe type of cookie and/or recipe they will be baking so we won't have duplicates.They are given a date to RSVP by and depending on the number who will beattending determines how many cookies they will need to bring. I have thempackage their cookies in sets of 6, along with a copy of the recipe. Forexample, if I have 12 people attending, each person will bake 6 dozen cookies.I usually make 2 different types of cookies. During the swap then, we walkaround the tables, and after admiring and commenting on the cookies, we eachtake 1 bag/package of every cookie except what they have brought. I've askedfor copies of the recipes in advance and have actually had little cookbooksmade up for that day. It's alot of work but a nice touch. The past 2 yearsI have asked that the recipe be attached to each package of 6.

Laura Furderer, FL

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Hi Robin: I have been cookie swapping with pre-packaged homemade cookiesfor the past several years. I usually have a total of 16 people at my party.Each person brings 8 dozen home made cookies divided 6 cookies to a package.As we usually don't eat the cookies at the party, this works out best. Iaward prizes for the most ingredients used and the best presentation or display.

I am amazed at the creativity my guests exhibit each year. One winner packagedPecan Ball cookies to look like snowballs and stacked them in a box witha musical snowman on a sled. The display even had lights! When a guest isunable to attend, they sometimes send their cookies just so they can stillswap. Otherwise, the guests can take their "unswapped" cookies back or swaptwo packages with someone at the party.

See Also

10 Ideas for Hosting the Best Cookie Exchange Party EverRecipe Swaps and Cooking Clubs are Easy and Fun!The Doughboy's Favorite Way to Fill the Tray: Host a Cookie ExchangeHow to Host a Cookie Exchange Your Friends Will Love

One year, one of our regular attendees was having a rough time and couldn'tparticipate so we made a gift basket of the extras and delivered them toher home. Having pre-packaged cookies avoids the issue of handling them toomany times. We prefer this to the open trays. Thanks for all the great ideasand especially posting games. We have some favorites that we play every yearbut it is nice to keep things interesting by trying a few new games too.Happy Swapping, Donna Bush

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Hi Robin!
I do like to have the cookies pre-packaged for the cookie exchange. It'sa lot of fun to see how the women choose to package their cookiesdifferently...and also fun to unwrap! The first year I did this I wasn'tcertain if I would like how they look packaged together on the table...butit's really pretty and festive.

I tell my guests a week prior to the party how many dozen cookies they needin the exchange...plus an extra dozen UNWRAPPED for sampling during the party.I will tell them "bring 7 dozen wrapped treats, 6 pieces in each package- and - 1 dozen unwrapped on a tray for tasting during the exchange". ThenI set them all out on the table. Some years I don't have room to put thesamples w/ the pre-packaged cookies but if I can fit them all in one areait's easy to find your favorites through your taste buds--and then know whatthey are packaged in (so you can hide them from your family when you gethome.) :)

I like to host it this way b/c the actual exchange is a BREEZE, clean upis easy and we get longer to gab about everyone's wonderful creations!!!

Hope this helps.
Suzanne Montee sumontee@juno.com
"I get paid to sparkle...you can too!"
Premier Designs Jewelry

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I love the pre-packaged cookie swap! Each of my guests bring their cookiespre-packaged in packages of 1 dozen. Some bring them in fancy containers,others on a plate in a freezer bag. It is not about the presentation forus, it is about our friendships. We have lunch and visit, eat cookies andthen at the end, it is so easy to gather up a plate of cookies from eachpile. There are 12 ladies that attend, they can bring 11 or 12 dozen, dependingon if they want to take a plate of their own home. (many times they alreadyhave a bunch at home!)

Amy

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We just have each guess tell what kind of cookie they made and why they madeit. They then go around and hand every one their cookies. Sometimes thereare leftovers and they are handed out to whom ever wants them.

Brandy

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Hi Robin

We swap in prepackaged cookies. We started that way and it has just beeneasier for us.

Some of us don't like certain ingredients to touch so. We tally up how many1/2 dozens we need and they come wrapped in a cello bag or some ladies havegotten pretty crafty and put them in little tins or takeout type boxes.

See Also

10 Christmas Cookie Packaging Ideas You Haven’t Thought of Yet

Colleen Cannatelli, Howell NJ

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Robin -

We are doing it your way this year due to the numbers, however, when we weresmaller we did it like this: There were 8 of us total.
Each person brought 7 packs of cookies w/half-dozen cookies and a copy oftheir recipe - the packaging got very creative - boxes w/bows, decoratedbags, etc. Each person also brought a small plate to "sample" Every personleft with 7 packs of cookies.

Jody Militello, Farmington, MI

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My cookie party (4th year now) is a pre-packaged exchanged. Each guests bringstheir cookies all ready wrapped and ready to go. There are 6 cookies perpackage. My friends buy all sorts of fun things to put the cookies in. Itis almost a contest in itself- who can find the most inventive way to presenttheir cookies.

I do it because we find it easier than everyone having to handle the cookies.

But pre-package does not mean pre-packaged baked goods…only home-madecookies only. No mixes, no refrigerator cookies from a package allowed.

-Michele Favaro, Ronkonkoma, NY

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Hi Robin,

First of all, let me tell you how much I enjoy your newsletter!

I started a cookie exchange eight years ago, and even though I've moved fromthat city, the first Saturday in December always finds me on the road fornearly 3 hours to attend!

We do the prepackaged method of swapping cookies. We each bring 3 cookiesfor each person attending. These are wrapped in saran wrap, baggies, etc.

Then we each place a container on the countertop and take turns walking aroundand putting our packages of cookies in each container.

Hope that's clear! We also bring an extra 1/2 dozen to put on the table toshare as dessert!

Susan

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Robin,

I give each person 6-12 bags, depending on how many people are coming tothe party. They divide their cookies evenly into the bags, either 6 or 12cookies per bag. They bring the bags to the exchange, we lay them out withthe recipe cards in front of them so everyone knows what is in the bags.We all take a bag from each person's pile. I serve appetizers etc so thatno one is eating all the wonderful cookies, yet. I find I like this way becausethen they are all prepackaged and nobody is handling all the cookies whiletrying to get them divided up.

Emily

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Hi Robin,

This will be the fifth year for my cookie swap! People are looking to geton my list ~ The way we exchange our prepackaged cookies is ~

First, I clear out my dining room cupboards to make enough room for eachguest to have a shelf to place their prepackaged cookies. It looks like alittle country store! After we have tasted the cookies from the table displayplatters and vote on the "best", I supply all my guests with a large brownpaper (or holiday) gift bag and let them go shopping ~ They get to fill theirbags with a prepackaged cookie gift from everyone else. Hope this helps!

Cathy Fini

Chester, NY

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