Set the date for your cookie exchange
early, before holiday schedules become too hectic. Invite 4 to 10 cookie bakers.
The more guests, the greater the variety and quantity of cookies you will
receive. But keep in mind, the more people you invite, the more cookies everyone
will have to bake. Need invitations? We have Invitations for you.
Ask participants
to bake one dozen "Christmas Cookies" for each person attending, plus an extra
dozen cookies for sampling at the exchange. Have guests bring an empty container for taking
cookies home. Request that your bakers bring their cookies in disposable
containers so there will be no confusion or worry if they are not returned.
Have
guests RSVP so that you can keep a master list of cookies so everyone
doesn't bring the same thing. There's no point in holding a Cookie Swap if you
all bake sugar cookies. Use a Recipe Card to identify each type of cookie.
Provide blank recipe cards for guests who want to take home any recipes of
interest.
When
your guests arrive Ginger has some yummy Beverage
Recipes you might want to serve. Some of Ginger's Favorites can be found in the
Parlor. You might also like to serve some of Ginger's Holiday Desserts.
That way the guests can go
home with their cookie goodies instead of eating them at the party. Depending on
your guests you could also suggest that guests bring a toy or canned goods to be
donated to a homeless shelter.
At the party have everyone tell a
story about the cookie they brought. It could be a story about the cookie's
origin, where the baker learned the recipe or how the particular batch of
cookies was made.
Source for this article:
Clara Silverstein, The Boston Herald, December 15, 1996 and "The Wellesley
Cookie Exchange" by Susan Mahnke Peery
Have
guests RSVP so that you can 
When
your guests arrive Ginger has some yummy 
