How to Host a Cookie Swap Party

This holiday season, host your first cookie swap party. A cookie swap party is simply a party with the intended purpose of swapping cookies. Each party guest brings a different type of cookie to exchange with the others. A cookie swap party is great for mingling, playing games, and cookie contests, but most importantly, it is a chance to try out and get a new cookie recipe.

Hosting a Holiday Cookie Swap

Planning a cookie swap party starts with the same steps as planning a regular party. 

First, secure a day and time as well as a location for your cookie swap party. Securing the area is essential, even if it is your house or work office, to prevent overlapping Christmas activities that are already planned. 

Next, plan your guest list. About 5-10 people is acceptable, it gives variety and prevents cookie overload. However, it is your party, so invite as many people as you like. Just remember, the more people, the more space you will need.

Invites, Rules, and Cookies

When sending out invites, be sure to communicate the rules of the cookie swap party. Let them know how many cookies to bring. The number of cookies will depend on the total number of people. They should make enough cookies for each person to get half a dozen.

Let guests know if cookies outside of homemade cookies are acceptable. Also, ask guests to pre-packaged cookies and include a recipe if possible. When informing guests of party rules, include whether anyone with a food allergy will be attending, this gives time to adjust their recipe if needed. 

The fun option is to let your partygoers choose their own cookie. Even as the host, it will be a surprise to see what cookie you receive.

To avoid guests bringing the same cookie to your cookie party, assign cookies and go a step further by giving them the recipe as well. Everyone’s baking level is not the same, so giving them the recipe is a big help, especially for a cookie they have not tried or made before.

Fun Beyond the Cookie Table

Now it is party time! Cookies are the star, but you are still throwing a holiday party. You want guests to enjoy themselves and offer them food and drinks outside of cookies.

Play music, play party games, and let guests socialize until the main event. A fun contest idea is a cookie decorating contest. Judge the cookies they brought to the party, or give them the tools to decorate a cookie on the spot.

The Main Cookie Event

Time to swap cookies. If the event is low-stress and has a small crowd, place the cookies on a table. Each baker should have a station with their own cookie name. Hopefully, the cookies are already packaged, and guests can grab and collect before they leave.

Again, it is a cookie swapping party; make this the grand event. Let each person present their cookies and describe their cookie like a cooking competition. If there are not enough cookies for everyone to have one of each kind of cookie, play a game that allows guest to swap cookies so everyone gets a chance to get their favorite cookie. 

Tis the Season for Cookies

Planning is important but remember to have fun. Throwing a cookie swap party is one last way to gather with friends and family before Christmas. And eat all the cookies you want without judgment in the name of Santa. Remember, it’s the season for giving and cookies.