Host a Cookie Swap

MyRecipes.com

Plan a cookie swap and share a bounty of baked goodies with friends and family. Here's your guide to a foolproof party.

Cookie Swap


As holiday traditions go, attending or hosting a cookie swap is a great way to multitask: offering a chance to get together and exchange tokens with friends during the busy season, as well as a way to shortcut your holiday baking.

It's an easy party to throw, especially when you follow our tips and advice.







Party Planning


Plan early. People are more likely to attend if you give as much advance notice as possible and schedule your party early in the season.

Cookies for a Crowd: Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2/3 cup dried tart cherries
3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
Cooking spray

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture. Beat just until combined. Fold in cherries and chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or just until set. Remove from oven; cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.



Invitation List


Track guests' responses. Invite friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, or anyone who loves cookies. In this case, more is better-you'll have that many more kinds of cookies to swap. Ask everyone to tell you what type of cookies they'll bring. It's the host's job to keep a running list to avoid duplications. Remind partygoers to bring a few extra empty tins or zip-top bags to take their cookies home in.

Get Recipe: Swedish Almond Cardamom Stars





Cookie Count


Determine the number of cookies guests should bring. One suggestion: Ask each guest to bring six dozen cookies from a single recipe-about two to three batches of an average cookie recipe. If you opt for this approach, each guest should leave with six dozen cookies, no matter how many people attend.

Get Recipe: Maple-Walnut Spice Cookies







Recipe Cards


Get copies of the recipes. Each guest should go home with a copy of all of the cookie recipes. Ask guests to bring enough copies of their recipes for all. Or, for a more creative approach, ask each guest to email you a copy of his or her recipe a few days ahead of time. Print the recipes on recipe cards. For a souvenir, bind them into a cookie swap cookbook complete with the year and date.

Get Recipe: Orange-Walnut Tassies

Keep Reading: Cookie Swap 101


More Cookies from MyRecipes:
100 Hottest Holiday Cookies
No-Bake Holiday Cookies
7 Ways with Sugar Cookies