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Post by **Angie** on Nov 11, 2015 21:07:28 GMT
I'm holding one this year. Give me your best tips, please!!
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Post by littlemama on Nov 11, 2015 21:24:43 GMT
Set the guidelines early - do they have to be homemade or are store bought or made from a package ok? Are Choc Chip, regular peanut butter and oatmeal raisin excluded (because those are more everyday cookies)? Are you going to worry about duplicates (frosted sugar cookies come to mind)? How many are needed for each participant - is it a half dozen or a dozen to give away? Are you having people bring an extra half dozen or dozen to eat during the exchange? Will you serve dinner also, or just do the exchange?
The one that I attended where someone was a smoker - their cookies tasted exactly like stale smoke. Nasty.
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Post by leannec on Nov 11, 2015 21:40:28 GMT
I held one along with my Book Club a few years ago that was really successful I sent out rules in advance ... look them up on Pinterest ... I was fine with chocolate chip so that wasn't an issue ... who the hell doesn't like chocolate chip I made sure that I had a lot of large Ziploc bags available for ladies to take their goodies home in ... We also included the recipes of our cookies so that if anyone wanted to do them at home they could I certainly didn't fall into that "Cookie Swap Nazi" category ... it was just a fun evening
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smginaz Suzy
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Nov 11, 2015 21:56:34 GMT
We included copies of the recipe we brought so that everyone had all the recipes along with the cookies. We did this at work and so we had homemade and store bought, depending on the person, and any participation was ok per our group. The funny recipes were along the lines of "go to store, buy cookies" and "go to spouse and ask them to make cookies for a cookie swap" but we all like each other and that was fine with us. It was about the spirit of participation more than the actual cookies. We actually buy large containers for everyone and so people can take them home that way.
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LeaP
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Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
Jun 26, 2014 23:17:22 GMT
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Post by LeaP on Nov 11, 2015 21:57:24 GMT
We (my girls and I) had one for kids. Not a lot to take home because they ate a ton at the party. It was a lot of fun. I do, however, get way too much enjoyment from reading cookie Nazi rules.
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Peal
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Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
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Post by Peal on Nov 11, 2015 22:04:19 GMT
Keep your expectations low.
I find a lot of cookies that are brought to cookie exchanges just aren't very good. But that could be because I am very particular when it comes to cookies. I find I'm happier just making the kind of cookie I like and not sharing than making the kind of cookie I like and trading them for 4 dozen cookies I wont eat.
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Post by scrapsotime on Nov 11, 2015 22:10:20 GMT
We allow most anything - including homemade candy - mmmmm candy.
I have everyone package stuff before they bring it. It's much easier that way.
The one I host is all family. We do a theme every year. This year is Christmas pajama party.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 11, 2015 22:18:37 GMT
I held one along with my Book Club a few years ago that was really successful I sent out rules in advance ... look them up on Pinterest ... I was fine with chocolate chip so that wasn't an issue ... who the hell doesn't like chocolate chip I made sure that I had a lot of large Ziploc bags available for ladies to take their goodies home in ... We also included the recipes of our cookies so that if anyone wanted to do them at home they could I certainly didn't fall into that "Cookie Swap Nazi" category ... it was just a fun evening This is my biggest thing, make it fun and include people that will enjoy the spirit of it just as much as the actual cookies. No one wants to go to social events that are so strict that all the fun is sucked out of them
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Post by katiekaty on Nov 11, 2015 23:09:16 GMT
I was in a cookie exchange year that was fun and successful. There were twelve participants. Each participant brought a dozen cookies for each participant in a Ziploc including the recipe attached (12 dozen) and 1/2 dozen for a tasting platter. We also did pot luck and a significant other was invited. We had a great time, mingling, eating potluck, tasting cookies, playing games, and got to bring 12 dozen cookies home for the holidays. No kids were allowed. We did have wine there. Adults only. Done the second week in December, early enough to have cookies over Christmas, but not too early to interfere with getting ready for the holidays as a whole. It was great!
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Loydene
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Post by Loydene on Nov 12, 2015 0:09:06 GMT
A friend of mine is taking a vacation this year, solely to avoid the cookie exchange from hell.
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milocat
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Mar 18, 2015 4:10:31 GMT
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Post by milocat on Nov 12, 2015 0:21:04 GMT
I sent out rules in advance ... look them up on Pinterest ... I was fine with chocolate chip so that wasn't an issue ... who the hell doesn't like chocolate chip What I've heard is when someone makes something cheap and the next person makes an expensive cookie or square it's not really a fair trade. Cheap being that it only has 4 chips in each cookie or Rice Krispie squares. Expensive having nuts, coconut, raisins, lots of chocolate chips. Also some might think chocolate chip cookies are too plain and they might expect something fancier for a holiday exchange.
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LeaP
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Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
Jun 26, 2014 23:17:22 GMT
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Post by LeaP on Nov 12, 2015 1:12:08 GMT
A friend of mine is taking a vacation this year, solely to avoid the cookie exchange from hell. Please, please share the rules with us. Inquiring minds want to know...
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Post by originalvanillabean on Nov 12, 2015 1:15:27 GMT
Provide gloves for everyone. One year as we were going around filling our plates, one of the ladies licked her fingers and kept on going around the table. As soon as I got home, I dumped them all in the trash.
Other that that......I love cookie exchanges.
One rule, must not be store bought.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 12, 2015 1:20:22 GMT
My experiences have been BAD.
I don't want chocolate chip cookies. It is just me, but I put a lot of effort into making my cookies look pretty. I guess I am kind of fussy. I have received some really bad cookies.
A friend and I used to go to a continuing education event to make cookies. We would leave with 12 types of cookies, one dozen each.
My kids are grown, so I just bake a few now.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 12, 2015 1:21:27 GMT
Provide gloves for everyone. One year as we were going around filling our plates, one of the ladies licked her fingers and kept on going around the table. As soon as I got home, I dumped them all in the trash. Other that that......I love cookie exchanges. One rule, must not be store bought. That would be my MIL. I never let her serve dessert.
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calgal08
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Jun 27, 2014 15:43:46 GMT
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Post by calgal08 on Nov 12, 2015 3:26:43 GMT
I went to one for years, and always ended up tossing the cookies. A huge waste I know, but, when you know for a fact one other guest is not the most hygienic when it comes to her kitchen it totally skeeved me out. Yeah, I know, I'm zero help.
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luvnlifelady
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Jun 26, 2014 2:34:35 GMT
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Post by luvnlifelady on Nov 12, 2015 3:53:07 GMT
We do one with Bunco in December. We skipped last year and I think everyone was bummed so we're bringing it back this year. When I ran it, I just said to bring 1/2 dozen per participant and 1/2 dozen to share. Now it's 1 dozen per participant. DD and I are both going this year so that's a crapload of cookies for 16 people!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 12, 2015 4:00:12 GMT
I've been hosting a cookie exchange for about 25 years. It started with DS's soccer team moms and has dwindled with some moving out of town. BUT, the 6 or 7 of us left still love getting together to catch up and share goodies.
We bake a dozen for each person attending. We package them really nicely ~ it has become a *thing* to find new and inventive/Christmasy/fun ways to display and deliver them.
We have no guidelines but everyone home makes their goodies. I always make pralines.
Have fun!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 12, 2015 4:57:36 GMT
I don't do an exchange, but my brother and I get together on a couple weekends before Christmas and do marathon baking. We divide the list of what we want to make, and then make the dough at both houses ahead of time so any that need to be chilled can be refrigerated. Then he comes here, we kick out my family and we use my double oven to bake, bake, bake all day long. It's brutal.
We usually each choose about 4-5 kinds to make. It's a crapton of cookies, but we give some to two of our other brothers, he gives some to his ex and son (who sometimes helps) and I give some to my neighbors and a few friends that don't bake. What stinks is that I end up making an extra batch of one or two kinds before they get shipped off because DH has his favorites and they seem disappear fast...
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Post by auntkelly on Nov 12, 2015 13:05:22 GMT
To me, it's not much of a party if there are a lot of rules to follow.
I always make homemade cookies, but I don't really care if someone else doesn't. I certainly don't care if someone makes bar cookies or homemade chocolate chip cookies. I'm attending the party for the fellowship, not to stock up on picture perfect cookies.
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Post by leannec on Nov 12, 2015 13:05:52 GMT
I sent out rules in advance ... look them up on Pinterest ... I was fine with chocolate chip so that wasn't an issue ... who the hell doesn't like chocolate chip What I've heard is when someone makes something cheap and the next person makes an expensive cookie or square it's not really a fair trade. Cheap being that it only has 4 chips in each cookie or Rice Krispie squares. Expensive having nuts, coconut, raisins, lots of chocolate chips. Also some might think chocolate chip cookies are too plain and they might expect something fancier for a holiday exchange. My belief is that this activity should be more about having fun spending time with your friends ... the actual cookies are just a bonus Frankly, in my house, the "fancy cookies" would probably be eaten last ... my family are fans of the old standbys
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Deleted
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Sept 20, 2024 22:15:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2015 13:11:36 GMT
I have only been to one cookie exchange and I didn't love it, I agree with whoever said that I felt like the cookies I received weren't great. I just made this up, but maybe it exists already - I was thinking I'd prefer a "Cookie Night" without the trade aspect. Everyone makes a whole bunch of their best cookies to KEEP/use for the holiday season. And then they bring 1/2 dozen or so to the Cookie Night, the purpose of which would be to get together with friends to drink and laugh and sample their best work and EAT ALL THE COOKIES. No one leaves with anything, except a few extra pounds.
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Post by Scrapbrat on Nov 12, 2015 13:16:02 GMT
Keep your expectations low. I find a lot of cookies that are brought to cookie exchanges just aren't very good. But that could be because I am very particular when it comes to cookies. I find I'm happier just making the kind of cookie I like and not sharing than making the kind of cookie I like and trading them for 4 dozen cookies I wont eat. This has been my experience, as well. I put a lot of effort and "specialness" into Christmas cookies, but there are many who do not.
The thing that's "wrong" with chocolate chip cookies is that, for many people, the term "Christmas cookies" denotes special cookies, special recipes, that you ONLY make at Christmas or on holidays. While chocolate chip cookies taste great, they are an "everyday" type of cookie. But, this is one of the key things that people disagree on with respect to cookie exchanges -- some people see no reason why chocolate chip cookies and no-bakes should be excluded, while others think those kinds of cookies aren't special enough for a Christmas cookie exchange.
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Post by PenandInk on Nov 12, 2015 13:24:40 GMT
Our cookie exchanges are always pretty easy. Bring a dozen of your cookies for each guest, plus a dozen for the party. Pre-wrap each dozen in ziplock bags before the party. The hostess buys large sturdy gift bags for each guest, labels them, and stands them up around a table. As guests arrive, they walk around the bag table and drop their prepackaged cookies into each bag. Then the party starts. Easy peasy.
The beauty of this plan is, if one type of cookie sleeves you out, it's wrapped separately and doesn't ruin the rest of the cookies. And nobody touches the cookies.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 12, 2015 15:06:04 GMT
Keep your expectations low. I find a lot of cookies that are brought to cookie exchanges just aren't very good. But that could be because I am very particular when it comes to cookies. I find I'm happier just making the kind of cookie I like and not sharing than making the kind of cookie I like and trading them for 4 dozen cookies I wont eat. This has been my experience, as well. I put a lot of effort and "specialness" into Christmas cookies, but there are many who do not.
The thing that's "wrong" with chocolate chip cookies is that, for many people, the term "Christmas cookies" denotes special cookies, special recipes, that you ONLY make at Christmas or on holidays. While chocolate chip cookies taste great, they are an "everyday" type of cookie. But, this is one of the key things that people disagree on with respect to cookie exchanges -- some people see no reason why chocolate chip cookies and no-bakes should be excluded, while others think those kinds of cookies aren't special enough for a Christmas cookie exchange.
This is what we do. Both my brother and I bake pretty regularly anyway throughout the year, so when the holidays roll around we only pull out the recipes for the more time consuming holiday favorites that don't get made any other time of the year. They are the traditional ones our mom and aunts made when we were growing up so it's a bit of bittersweet nostalgia for us too. We're both pretty picky and we only want to spend our limited time on the BEST recipes that we never seem to have time for otherwise, the ones that not only look pretty but taste amazing too. I guess it's for those reasons we do it all ourselves. That way we know exactly what we're getting. I can get a nice looking tray of cookies that taste like sawdust from the grocery store!
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Post by littlemama on Nov 12, 2015 15:19:38 GMT
I held one along with my Book Club a few years ago that was really successful I sent out rules in advance ... look them up on Pinterest ... I was fine with chocolate chip so that wasn't an issue ... who the hell doesn't like chocolate chip I certainly didn't fall into that "Cookie Swap Nazi" category ... it was just a fun evening No one said that people don't like chocolate chip - they are an every day cookie, not so much a Christmas cookie. To me, a Christmas cookie is one that you don't make year round - it doesn't have to be fancy, just not the cookies you might make on a random Tuesday in July. Do I care is a swap allows or disallows them? Nope. It's just something to think about.
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Post by mikewozowski on Nov 12, 2015 15:24:09 GMT
"And nobody touches the cookies."
They touched them at home!!
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Post by myboysnme on Nov 12, 2015 15:32:50 GMT
I like cookie exchanges but I don't bake so I rarely go to any. One year I went to a church bake sale and bought enough of someone's homemade cookies so that I could participate. Other years I did no bake cookies and believe me, I put as much effort into those as people who are more skilled bakers.
At the cookie exchange I went to there was always at least 3 people that do that cookie with the Hershey kiss in it and someone who makes some kind of gooey thing.
So my comment on this is that not everyone is a baker, either with talent or time. So is your exchange really so you can take home different cookies or is it to have a festive occasion with friends?
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Post by PenandInk on Nov 12, 2015 18:23:19 GMT
"And nobody touches the cookies." They touched them at home!! True....hopefully you know the other participants well enough to know which cookies you wouldn't eat. LOL
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2015 18:32:49 GMT
Well , look at this way, The cookies from the "dirty" kitchen usually are the best and the baker (and family) is actually alive and healthy.
Worst cookies I get are from my dear friend and his spotless kitchen. And he and his wife ( and the kids when they lived at home) are constantly sick. Um those cookies go to the dog who loves them.
Anyway just enjoy your party!
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