All of my best tips and tricks for how to host the perfect cookie exchange. I’ve included the cookie exchange rules, free printable invites, cookie labels, voting ballets and more!
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Favorite Holiday Tradition
One of my favorite things about Christmas time is all of the holiday baking. What better way to showcase all of the wonderful Christmas cookie recipes than a cookie exchange?
I’m excited to be sharing one of my favorite holiday traditions with you: hosting a cookie exchange! I look forward to cookie swaps during the Christmas season and have so much fun baking and trying all the delicious cookies. It’s such a fun way to celebrate the season with friends and family.
If you’ve never hosted a cookie exchange before, you may not know where to begin. I’m laying it all out here for you so that hosting your next cookie swap is a breeze. I even have some free printables that will add a cute and more festive touch to your party.
Supplies
Wondering what you’ll need for the big cookie day? Check out my list of essentials below. This includes everything you’ll need to make your cookie exchange a success!
Party Planning Printables
- Invites: Just fill out the date, time and place and send to your guests! Or use an evite to make it easier.
- Rules template: An easy list of guidelines to send to your guests along with the invite. No need to follow the rules though.
- Cookie labels: Place a label next to each plate of cookies so they’re easily identifiable. List any allergies.
- Recipe cards: Have a handful available so that guests can write down any favorites. Or you could have your guest bring a printed copy.
- Voting ballots: Have everyone vote on the top cookie to win a fun prize!
Other Supplies
- Boxes for guests to pack up cookies to take home (or tell guests to bring their own).
- Serving tray to make a Christmas dessert board with any extra treats for guests to munch on (M&M’s, peppermint bark, etc.)
- Festive decorations like garland, etc.
Cookie Exchange Rules
One of the first things you have to decide on are the rules and guidelines you want for your party. I’ve laid out a general guideline of 10 rules below, but you can always alter this based on your preference. Keep it as simple as you’d like.
- All cookies should be homemade.
- Please bring at least 2 dozen cookies (or more if you’d like!).
- Print out copies of the recipe to share.
- Arrange cookies in a basket or platter (be creative!).
- Bring a large container to carry away your cookies.
- Christmas attire is encouraged. Pull out those jingle bell earrings.
- RSVP as soon as possible with the type of cookies you’re bringing (so we don’t have duplicates).
- If you encounter a baking mishap or don’t have time to bake, please bring 2 dozen cookies from your local bakery, or simply grab a box of Peppermint Jo Jo’s if you really need to.
- Prizes included for the tastiest cookie, most creative, most festive and more!
- Have fun and eat delicious cookies with friends!
Things to Consider When Deciding on Rules
Do I want this to strictly be a cookie exchange, or am I fine with all homemade treats?
I wanted mine to be strictly a cookie exchange, so I specified as such in the invitation and I also excluded no bakes and mixes. I wanted homemade cookies, not lemon bars or chocolates. I found you have to be super specific in the rules as, but you can also leave it open. :)
Will I allow for duplicates?
For voting purposes, I don’t allow for duplicates. The first person to email me and dibs their cookie is the winner.
How many cookies do I want each person to make?
I’ve found that 2 dozen cookies is a good amount. It’s enough for guests to both enjoy at the party and then also take home. Plus, most cookie recipes make at least 24 servings, so 2 dozen is perfect.
Will there be prizes? What will they be for?
This is a heck yes in my book! It’s fun to vote for a winner and let’s be honest…doesn’t everyone like to be told that their baking skills are awesome? :) My voting ballet is for best overall, best tasting, prettiest cookie, most creative and most festive. Best overall always wins a handmade apron.
What does someone do if their cookies burn or the recipe doesn’t work out?
Let’s face it, sometimes things just go wrong and you have to have a plan for your guests if something doesn’t work out. If so just head to a bakery (Costco has some great options too) and buy homemade cookies. If you really need to, grab a box of yummy store bought. It’s better to just have the guests come!
Easy Christmas Cookies for Cookie Exchange
You don’t have to be an experienced baker to host or attend a cookie exchange. There are plenty of easy holiday cookies that are perfect for beginner bakers. Below are a few of my favorites.
- Ginger molasses cookies
- Pistachio cherry meltaways
- Mexican wedding cookies
- Peanut butter blossoms
- Soft sugar cookies
- Gingerbread man cookies
- M&M cookie bars
- Snickerdoodles
- Shortbread cookies
- Cinnamon roll cookies
- Chocolate peppermint cookies
- Macadamia nut cookies
A Few Other Things to Keep in Mind
- Give your guests plenty of notice. I think 3-4 weeks is perfect.
- Host it early in the month. December is busy and it gets harder and harder to get people there the closer you get to Christmas.
- Consider having other activities like a white elephant or favorite things game. They are always so fun and full of laughs.
- You could also serve a few savory snacks and drinks. Just advise your guests not to eat before they come.
- Request a final RSVP at least one week before the event. This way those that are coming will know exactly how many cookies to bring.
- Have fun!
Categorized as: Christmas, Miscellaneous
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Can you give me an idea of how to do voting when you have 32 people coming? Last year was the first time that I hosted in my new neighborhood and we had 11 come. I just invited the ladies on my street. Word got around and it has grown to 32 people. I had to cut it off on Thanksgiving so that it wouldn’t get any more out of control! Last year, though, it was a lot of sugar to taste each cookie and it was only 11…now there is 3 times that many. Help!
Hi Norma, I would probably split it into 3 different groups (so there is no more than 12 per group). Then there will be 3 winners. Or you could always do 1 winner from those top 3. Then I would just cut the cookies into small slices for tasting :)
Thank you for the free copy I appreciate it .
You are welcome, Carol! Glad you found the information useful.
If each guest brings 2 dozen cookies, how many would each one take home in their take away packages? For example, if I have 12 guests, would they each take 2 dozen cookies home? Thanks in avance!
That’s correct! If you think that’s too many, you can always have guests bring 1 dozen instead :) Also keep in mind that guests will likely enjoy some of the cookies at the exchange, so it will probably be a little less than 2 dozen that they are taking home.
Thank you for this printable!! I’m a graphic designer and didn’t want to go through all of the work while in the middle of planning the party. Plus what you came up with was cuter anyway! I was able to tweak it to make it absolutely perfect for what I need for my party. I’m so excited for it. Thank you!!
Oh good, this makes me so happy to hear! I hope you have a great party :)
Can’t wait to try the cookie exchange ideas. So cute! Thank you for posting!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you can use them! :)
How beautiful they were! Thanks for sharing! Do you use edible dye to decorate the cookies?
I use Wilton food coloring to dye the frosting!
Why did you change the printables from the green and red with the free banner, tags, and cookie boxes? I had planned my whole exchange around that printable and now that I need to print they’re different?
This was great! Thank you for the great ideas. I love cookie exchanges because you get to try so many different cookies.
I’ve never hosted a cookie exchange, but you have some great tips here and now I totally want to!
These are great tips!! Love the printables! They are so cute! Cookies are so fun & yummy!
This is so great! I was looking for a way to to put together a cookie exchange. I loved all your ideas It made hosting the party very easy!
Okay if i have a guess of 9 people do they bring 10 dozen cookies? 9 for each guess and One dozen for tasting???????
This is a great and relatable post, though I didn’t see a link back to Robin’s original site where the bulk of the rules are from. Here is the link so that your readers can see where you got your info from. I’m sure you’ll appreciate a link back to you when I share your site! :)
From Robin’s site:
If you’re a writer, journalist, blogger or posting to message boards (ie; anything online or in print publication) using the CE rules, (in part or whole) please give credit where credit is due, and create an active link on the bottom of the same page that says:
“Some content courtesy of Robin Olson, Cookie-Exchange.com.”
Hi Irene! Thanks for your comment. This was a guest post that I *assumed* she created. I will definitely add a link to the cookie exchange. That is a great list! Thanks for letting me know. Have a great night!
Thanks for posting this great idea!!! I want to have one too!!
So do people bring enough cookies to sample and to take home? So if I had 6 guests they would have to bring a dozen cookies which would be one for tasting for each person and then another for taking home? Or would they bring more than that? I don’t get how the sharing of the cookies goes.
I LOVE this idea!! Thanks so much for sharing this party and all of the ins and outs. I think a cookie exchange/ornament exchange would be fun to pair together also!
I’m hosting my first Christmas goodies exchange this year as a way to get to know my neighbors in our apartment building! I can’t wait!! :) loved this post.
I would love to host a cookie exchange. And I’m like you, no store bought cookies. or the kind where you melt butterscotch chips and pour them over those Chun King noodles.
Crikey, you’re hard core – I’ve never heard of a rule book for a cookie party before. One of my friends throws an amazing one every year. We all just bring as many as we like of whatever we fancy baking and she mixes up signature cocktails and all kinds of yummys. Its always one of the best holiday parties!