Choose a date.
For me, this Sunday after Thanksgiving is perfect. It might not be perfect for you, so choose one that suits you and your needs.
Choose your attendees.
You don't want a huge swap for the first time. We limit ours to 12 and bake a dozen cookies for each participant. That's 12 dozen cookies! Whew! Sometimes we choose to bake just 6 cookies for each participant. You get to decide!
Choose the type of event you want to have.
For example, I feed my participants a light dinner of soup and salad. We visit and then swap cookies. You don't have to do it like this, but I love having the opportunity to feed my friends.
Send out your invite.
Call on the phone, send a physical invite, email or set up a Facebook event page. However you do it, be sure to be clear on the expectations.
Choose your decorating theme.
I love to do a different theme every year and this is when I rely on the good folks at Oriental Trading. I can go into the website and see what's new or cute or pretty. I get my decorations, paper products, and my participant gift all from Oriental Trading. They make it so easy and I am always impressed with how awesome the service is! I love their cookie box choices and so will you!
Choose your food.
Choose your soup, salad and the cookie you are going to exchange! I bake mine the Friday after Thanksgiving, and shop for my salad and soup in the morning of the exchange. I cook around noon and the exchange starts at 3:00. We eat around 4:00 and exchange shortly after.
After the exchange.
I send a quick thank you via the same way I invited, through a phone call, email or Facebook invite. I am always sure to upload a few pictures of the cookies. We all have a such a great time and the best part, we walk away with 11 dozen of different cookies! Woo hoo! I use these cookies to mix and match up all kinds of gifts, for teachers, the mail lady, whomever I need to take a small treat.
If you have hosted a swap before, I would LOVE to hear how you do it! I am always looking for ways to improve the swap, so be sure and share your experiences with me! Look for my cookie recipe later this week!
My friend and I used to host a cookie swap each year. We had appetizers, always a game which included little gifts for each participant, and a "thank you for coming" gift. Each participant was given a holiday tin and they walked around the table taking 6 of each cookie (yes, we went with each participant bringing 6dozen cookies). We loved the event and we looked forward to it each year.
ReplyDeleteYour table is beautiful and I love love this idea !!
Cookie swaps are one of my favorite things at Christmas. I don't know why we only do them at Christmas actually, but either way I love them!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to do a cookie swap. I live way out in the country so hosting one is nearly impossible but Would so love to attend one to find a place to host one.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved the idea of doing a cookie swap. I've never actually participated in one. But I'd love to start.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever heard of a cookie swap before. Sounds like a lot of fun with friends or family.
ReplyDeleteThis is so great! I wished that we could participate in something like this. My daughter has several food allergies, and swapping cookies is one thing we can't do.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great thing to do this time of the year! I love being able to enjoy everyone's family recipes!
ReplyDeleteI've tried participating in a cookie swap before! That sounds like a lot of fun. I think it's great that you're sharing these ideas!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea, helps bond and have fun with the people. Thanks for the tips, I'd like to try this with my friends someday.
ReplyDeleteI always thought these cookie swaps seemed really fun, but I never have done one. I may have to just try it this year though!
ReplyDeleteI really need to do this! I been going to do it for awhile but never got around to it, which is sad because I love cookies so much!
ReplyDeleteI really need to start participating in something like this. It always looks like it's so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI love cookie swaps, they are so fun! These are all such great tips to make it a successful swap!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of such a thing as a cookie swap. I have done a clothing swipe, which isn't exactly the same, but it's lots of fun. I'm sure it's great to bring home all those cookies.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a cookie swap but it seems like such a cool idea! Love all the cute Christmas-y decor you picked out!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done a cookie swap in so long. I really miss them because it was always so much fun to try out new recipes and see all the creative cookies other people made.
ReplyDeleteThis would be so fun. I've never done one and have always wanted to, but wasn't sure on the whole process.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea for the holidays! I need to start making more friends so that I can hot a cooking swap!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried participating a cookie swap before and I think it's a great Christmas idea.. I should try it with my friends
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of a cookie swap.
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