Cookie swaps are genius: You get to try a ton of different types of Christmas cookies without having to make them all yourself, plus you get to show off your decorating skills to friends, family, and neighbors! But what's the best way to go about hosting one? With some thoughtful planning, delicious and festive cookie recipes, and a big pot of hot chocolate (and maybe even some Christmas co*cktails and Christmas appetizers thrown in!), you can pull one off easily. "I love making Christmas cookies, and usually do it on a day when I’m making an assortment for cookie platters," says Ree Drummond. Just turn on your favorite Christmas music and get planning!
When planning your exchange, think ahead. Clear off a large table or countertop so everyone has a place to drop their cookies right when they arrive, and if you're feeling ambitious, set up a festive activity. Marveling over everyone's festive cookie creations will certainly be entertainment enough, but a cookie or ornament decorating area, or wreath-making station would surely make everyone merry and bright. You could even combine your annual secret Santa gift exchange with this year's cookie swap!
Read on for helpful tips and ideas on how to host a flawless cookie exchange. Find out how many cookies you need, what to serve, and how to package up everyone's haul. What better way to close out the year than with a whole bunch of cookies?!
What kinds of cookies should you bake for a Christmas cookie swap?
Here’s the beauty of a cookie exchange: You can't go wrong! If you have a personal favorite that you want to share, a family recipe that you think people will enjoy, or even a cookie that you've been dying to try, go for it! Just keep in mind that the cookies should be easy to transport—you don't want something super fragile that will break or crumble the minute someone tries to take it to go.
If you're a real planner and want to get ahead of the game, choose a slice-and-bake cookie recipe, freeze the dough, and bake the cookies fresh the night before the swap. To avoid duplicate kinds of cookies, ask family or friends to let you know what they plan on bringing so that you have a variety of goodies to swap. "When I make an assortment of Christmas cookies, I try to make sure each cookie is different," Ree says. "Christmas cookies should be a celebration of color and texture!" (Don't forget to ask if anyone has a food allergy, like nuts, in case you need to accommodate their needs!)
Here are a few of Ree Drummond's favorite holiday cookies—they're all great for swapping!
Bake These Cookies for Your Holiday Cookie Exchange
Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprints
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Sugar Cookie Stars
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Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies
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Gingerbread Cowboy Boot Cookies
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How many cookies do you need for a Christmas cookie exchange?
Some people bring just one or two cookies for each guest, while others make a full dozen for every person! This is totally up to you, and it really depends on how many people you’re having and how many cookies you want everyone to leave with.
Speaking of number of attendees, don't go bonkers with you guest list. About 8 to 10 people is plenty. Remember you'll have to bake enough cookies so that every guest gets at least a few of yours, and you don't want to be stuck in the kitchen for days baking dozens of your favorite Italian Christmas cookies. So opt for a handful of close friends who love to bake rather than inviting the whole neighborhood! Just make sure to give guests a clear number ahead of time so that they all know exactly how many cookies to bake and bring.
Should you serve food at a Christmas cookie swap?
You want guests to leave with their cookie loot—not just eat it all!—so it's a good idea to have some little noshes and bites. Put out some prep-ahead snacks like puppy chow, candied pecans, and Christmas chex mix. Or, since there will be plenty of sweet cookies on hand, go the savory route with goat cheese balls, a few party dips, or a big, festive charcuterie wreath. You can also keep it super casual and fill up a basket with snack-size bags of chips, nuts, or pretzels for everyone to munch on.
What about drinks?
co*cktails can make any party more fun, but it's also a good idea to have some non-alcoholic beverages or mocktails for your guests. Make sure to have enough water and/or soda for everyone to sip, plus a fun festive drink like winter sangria or mulled cider to get in the holiday spirit. (You may also want to have a big pot of coffee brewing once everyone starts digging into the sweets.) You could also choose a batch co*cktail to make ahead of time, so you're not mixing drinks the entire party. Think three-ingredient pomegranate sparklers or hot buttered rum for an evening cookie exchange.
These Are the Tools You'll Need to Host a Successful Cookie Swap
The Pioneer Woman Storage Containers
The Pioneer Woman Sweet and Cookie Jars
The Pioneer Woman Serving Platter
Do you need to decorate for a Christmas cookie swap?
Chances are that your house is already decorated for the holidays, but make your home even more inviting by lighting some Christmas candles and turning on some Christmas music to set the mood. If you're doing the party outside, a fire pit and some twinkly lights are festive enough! No matter where you set up your space, be sure to clear an area so that guests have a place to set up their cookies.
How should you package the cookies?
You'll either want to ask guests to bring their own container, or you can provide boxes or tins for everyone. (Even if you're asking guests to BYO, it's a good idea to have some supplies on hand just in case anyone forgets.) Stock up on zip-up bags, tins, or bakery boxes, plus some ribbon and fun tags so that everyone can put together their own portions. Visit a local craft store, order your containers online, or check out Ree's cookie storage containers!
What's the best way to share the cookie recipes?
One of the best parts of a cookie swap is getting to try lots of treats—which means you may find a new favorite in the mix! Ask each of your guests to print out or email you their cookie recipe ahead of time, then make copies so people can take them home as a homemade food gift. (You can also email the recipes to everyone the day after the event as a "thank you" for coming.) If your cookie swap is an annual tradition, assemble a small cookbook to keep the recipes in one place year after year. You'll enjoy looking back on them for many years to come.
Georgia Goode
Senior Food Editor/Writer
Georgia Goode is the Senior Food Editor/Writer at ThePioneerWoman.com. When she’s not editing recipes and sneaking bites from the test kitchen, you can find her scouting out the best eats around town and dreaming up dinner party menus with friends.
