Who Has Actually Done A Cookie Swap? Cookie Swaparama

Who has actually done a cookie swap?

jett2whit 15 years ago

I signed up with Better Homes & Gardens to host a cookie swap party at my house. It sounded fun and especially when they will even send a "Cookie Swap" package from sponsors such as Land O Lakes and Ziploc. This was something I got in an email a few weeks ago. It is National Cookie Swap Day December 6, 2008. Has anyone heard about it before? I have never done a cookie swap before......how hard can it be? I like to bake cookies and hosting parties.....We'll see....

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m2googee 15 years ago said:

Well. that is something new on me, I have never heard of National Cookie Swap Day before!
The best advice I can give you on a cookie swap is try and find out what type of cookie your guest are bringing. You want some variety and not 10 Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie recipes; I am not saying chocolate chip is a bad thing, it is one of my favorites. We have always made one dozen of the same recipe per guest and attached the recipe to the container. That way next year, if they like it, they have the recipe.
Hope this helps........good luck and send me some cookies! "-)

Patti

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conner909 15 years ago said:

Two of my friends and I do a cookie exchange (or swap) annually...this year it is on Dec. 17th. We do a light brunch and invite about 20 women. An invitation is hand-delivered about a month early (last year we bought inexpensive (cheap) brightly colored plastic rolling pins with the invite wrapped around it and a small box of baggies ). Those people who r.s.v.p. provide us with their cookie recipe in advance, so we can make a Xmas cookie booklet to be handed out at the party. Each person brings a plate of cookies as well as 20 sandwich bags of 2 cookies each (20 people=20 bags of 2 cookies each). We line up Xmas baskets that we buy at the Dollar Tree, and as each person comes in the house, they drop off their bags of cookies in each basket. The recipe booklet is also in the basket. We usually have mimosas, coffee, cider or punch, an egg dish and a fruit plate. We sample each other's cookies (note I said "sample" as 20 cookies is waayyyy too much to eat at once) and each goes home with a basketful of cookies. We also give out door prizes such as Xmas cookie cutters, cocoa mix, xmas kitchen towels etc. Ideally a cookie swap would be comprised of 8-10 people. Since this is such a busy time of year for people, the good thing about having a brunch is that after about 2 hours or so, people are free the rest of the day to run errands, shop, etc.

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conner909 15 years ago said:

Jett, when we first started having our cookie swap, I googled "cookie exchange" to get ideas, and we really liked the idea of having a lite brunch, so we wouldn't be tying people up all day. It's usually from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The Dollar Tree has cute xmas baskets for, of course $1.00 each. We only put 2 cookies in each baggy, because cookies don't stay fresh for very many days, and we don't want to spend hours and hours baking dozens of cookies only to have them dry out and get tossed after a couple of days....of course we are senior citizens, so we no longer have large families at home.

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notyourmomma 15 years ago said:

Jett, our group started as a fund raiser for the ice skating club. It wasn't a traditional swap in the beginning. We decided to do our swap on the day of the "holiday" ice show. Each participant would package a dozen cookies to "sell" at the show to make money for the club. The prettier the packaging (with attached recipe) and most delicious cookie would get our homemade trophy. Entrants vote via secret ballot and we announce the winner "Survivor Style" at the party. We would bring at least two dozen more cookies to share during the "after show party" for parents and children alike. As the kids got older, and skating involvement decreased, our swap became more traditional and we met at a home (rotating basis) and have the cookie tasting and voting. We pack our cookies in a six pack, so we don't have to make as many as in years past. Still very competitive in packaging, however. I'm always looking for different ideas. Our trophy is sent home with the yearly winner to be handed over the following year to the next winner. It is pretty beat up and missing the nameplate but it is a treasured tradition of a group of friends.

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jett2whit 15 years ago said:

Conor909 and notyourmomma thank you so much for your input!! Sounds like a lot of fun. I guess I get a little anxious about having people over. With all of these suggestions I shouldn't have any problems!

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jett2whit 15 years ago said:

Thank you m2googee too! I didn't mean to leave you out!!

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conner909 15 years ago said:

Jett,
Today we canceled our cookie exchange due to serious illness of one of the hostesses. We may end up having a non-xmas cookie exch in Feb. or March. I'm going to return the xmas baskets I got at the Dollar Tree, mostly due to space...don't want to store them for another year. You can simplify the cookie swap by just having something to drink, and maybe some fresh fruit (it's so refreshing when people are sampling gobs of sweet cookies). Also having a smaller group will ease your stress level.

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michellem 15 years ago said:

Ahhh sorry about your friend conner 909...I was so getting excited about your cookie exchange details! WOW girl you throw a party...I wanted to be invited! SO sorry you all can't have it this year.
I have been to about 5 different cookie exchanges over the year. My husband was not thrilled with the cookies I would bring home. He always thinks I make the best ones ever(guess he hasn't met you all)! Soooo we always end up throwing them out. My kids would not even eat them. I will never forget one C..E. about 3 of the ladies had store bought ones...talk about a disapointment..most of us worked our rear ends off baking some great cookies...after that one I havn't been to anymore. I really like the CE that have good food like Connor talked about. At least if the cookies are crap you have the food!! HA!

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michellem 15 years ago said:

oh for got to say I like Pattis idea of getting an idea of who is bringing what and tell them no cookies from the store..like oreos , chip ahoys...etc....+) Hmmm this is making me want to party at my house with cookies.

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conner909 15 years ago said:

We have "rules" re: our c.e. No one can bring store-bought...all must be homemade and we see that we do no have duplicates. I know what you mean, Michelle, about getting some not-so-good-cookies! We also decided not to accept candy, 'cause one lady was miffed that she couldn't bring peanut brittle 'cause another lady had already signed up for it!

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notyourmomma 15 years ago said:

We had "rules" too. NO storebought allowed. Whenever we had surplus cookies come home, I took them to work and shared the bounty. They would vanish. As a matter of fact, my co-workers always give broad hints about when is the ice show? They can expect a treat the next day. LOL

We didn't do a lot of other foods, it made it too cumbersome for the hostess. Lots of beverages are usually offered, along with a warm glogg. The fun is in the voting and we are quite competitive for top prize.

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gemmee 15 years ago said:

My daughter has had a number of cookie exchanges over the years having 8-10 people invited each time. Most of us do up our cookies and refrigerate them several days before, and then they can be put into the freezer until Christmas after the exchange. We too had rules-- i.e. no storebought, etc... we allowed candy as it is also easily frozen and keeps well for several weeks. Ours was a little different, as each person made a dozen for each person attending, so if there are 8 people, you make and package 8 dozen cookies. Each person went home w/8 dozen cookies totally. I think I prefer the 2 cookies/'person--- 8 dozen cookies takes a LOT of time.

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gemmee 15 years ago said:

Which are/were your favorites, and can you share the recipe?

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trigger 15 years ago said:

My neighbors swap cookies every year for Christmas. We each stop by and chat for a while during the week before Christmas and talk about our Christmas Eve plans.

I never heard of Cookie Swap" package from sponsors before now Jeanette thank you for the tip.

The party idea sounds fun maybe I can start one with my family.
Limiting the recipes to cookies only sounds like a good idea and no store bought cookies sounds like a good idea but one of my sisters bakes cookies that resemble rocks rather then cookies.

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