Every year, our family is invited to participate in holiday cookie exchanges and each year, I’m overwhelmed by the idea, since I never seem to have my holiday act together like anyone else. This time, we did join in at the last minute with our neighborhood exchange and I’m so glad we did. It was a fun and simple way to organize the exchange so it wasn’t very taxing on the bakers, and we had time to chit chat as well.
Here was the plan initiated by my very smart neighbors:
1. The husbands and kids went to one house, with snacks to share and beverages.
2. The wives went to a house directly across the street, with beverage and six dozen cookies, in half-dozen packages (so each woman arrived with 12 small bags containing six cookies each.)
3. We put our cookies on the table and opened one package as a sampler. This left 11 bags of half-dozen cookies to be exchanged.
4. We enjoyed conversation, wine and snacks and when the hostess rang the bell, we each chose three baggies from the table. About 10 minutes and lots of laughter later, she rang the bell again. We each chose three more baggies. And so it went until most the cookies were gone.
There were probably 15-20 women at the gathering and we stayed for about three hours. But the system would work no matter how many women attended. Thanks to my very smart neighbors for creating such a perfect and fun way to host a cookie exchange!
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8:49 pm
Sounds like fun! Our ladies cookie exchange got rescheduled to next Tuesday because of the snow storm. Our ladies are asked to bring 3 dozen cookies, and then a few are put on each plate so everyone gets a variety of cookies to take home. We also eat cookies at the exchange and do some other fellowship activities. Let the baking begin!
11:47 pm
What a great way to do a cookie exchange! (and how nice to include the whole family!!)
12:20 am
I really like this idea! I like how you don’t end up having to make a dozen for each person or something like that. Thanks for sharing!
9:38 am
I love this organized method, although I don’t love baking. I just might have to try some recipes between now and the new year and pull together a little exchange party of my own!
10:58 am
Fun and cookies… You can’t beat that.
1:26 pm
Now that sounds like a ton of fun.
4:03 pm
What a great idea! Thanks for simplifying the process.
9:44 pm
I’ll bet it’s fun with a large group like that. My friends and I tried it probably 15 years ago (goodness…) but with only 4 of us, well – we didn’t get many cookies.
6:43 pm
Good GRIEF!! I’ve been so busy working and trying to find my Christmas ornaments for the tree that I’d have had to start my cookie baking around Halloween! Then I’d have to have someone ELSE go and participate in the exchange. Oh my goodness…….I was thinking of Craig for that job, but on second thought……..
8:04 pm
That sounds like loads of fun! Thanks very much for sharing!