One of the best things about the holidays is the delicious goodies! I love baking during the holidays and gifting the goodies to others but sometimes I am over zealous and I bake just a little too much and I run out of time. Hosting a Holiday Cookie Exchange is a great way to focus on baking only one recipe but still have a good amount to gift others! Plus you get to hang out with your friends!
Tips for hosting a Holiday Cookie Exchange
The Party:
Everyone brings 1-2 dozen cookies per person. The objective is to batch bake a lot of cookies, then exchange them so your guests can have a variety of cookies to gift to friends, neighbors, and family! If you are hosting, you’ll want to serve refreshments to go along with the cookies everyone tries!
Baking:
- Find a basic starter recipe. Every type of basic cookie has a basic starter ingredient mix. You could start with one basic cookie dough and add from there. These are mixes that you can add a few extra ingredients to in order to make them into new recipes.
- One of the biggest things to remember is to only bake one to two recipes at a time in bulk. This will make it easier on you! Set aside a day for batch baking such as a Saturday. Plan for all day baking, which usually entails 8 to 10 hours of work. Be sure to read over your recipes while making your grocery list.
- Don’t try batch baking without a plan of action. Be sure to write down your recipes in advance so that you are sure you have enough time to do everything that you’ve planned.
- Your kitchen should be clean before you start, and ensure that you have all the ingredients and appliances necessary to make each item ready to go. If you know, for example, that today you’ll be using about 10 pounds of flour, consider using a large bowl to hold the flour so you can easily spoon the flour into the measuring cup, flatten off over the bowl, without having to get into the bag over and over which usually means spillage.
- Fill your sink immediately with hot soapy water so you can clean as you go. You will want to wash your dishes and other utensils during the baking process so that you can use them again. Set out a towel so they can dry as you continue to bake.
- Organize the kitchen in stations. For example; put a mixing station on one counter and a decorating station on the other. Be sure to have a cooling station too!
- Don’t try to stuff your oven too full as putting too many things in one oven can drastically change the temperature settings.
After the party – gift the cookies in cute bags, boxes, and dishes! Check out my links below for cookie cutters, decorating tools and more!
Holiday Cookie Exchange Party Tools:
Wilton Cookie Pro Ultra II Cookie Press
Old River Road Elf’s Stocking Shape Cookie Cutter
Sweet Creations 3D Gift Tag Cookie Cutter
Fox Run Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter Set
Wilton Gingerbread House Comfort Grip Cookie Cutter
Wilton 3-Piece Christmas Polar Metal Cookie Cutter Set
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookie Cutter
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookie Cutter
Winter Cap / Hat Cookie Cutter
Truck with Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter
Santas Reindeer Face Christmas Cookie Cutter
Wilton Comfort Grip Mitten Cookie Cutter
Cookie Cutter Light Bulb Holiday Ornament
International Giant 7.5 Inch Snowflake Cookie Cutter with Interior Cut-out
Snowflake Cookie Cutters, Set of 5
Wilton Snowman Hat Comfort Grip Cookie Cutter
Truck with Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter
Fox Run 17 Piece Nativity Cookie Cutter Bake Set
Wilton Comfort Grip Candy Cane
Wilton Disney Frozen 2-Piece Olaf Cookie Cutter Set
Wilton Gingerbread Boy Comfort Grip Cookie Cutter
Wilton 3-Piece Christmas Cookie Cutter Set
Wilton 2-Piece Christmas Melted Snowman Metal Cook
Wilton 2-Piece Christmas Santa Face Cookie Cutter Set
Wilton 4-Piece Christmas Reindeer Metal Cookie Cutter Set
Wilton Christmas Cookie Shapes Pan
Fox Run Brands Ugly Sweater Cookie Cutter Set
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Plastic Moose Cookie Cutter
Wilton Penguin/Reindeer Comfort Grip Cookie Cutter
Fred & Friends NINJABREAD MEN Cookie Cutters, Set of 3
Fred & Friends ABC (Already Been Chewed) Cookie Cutters, Set of 3
Decorating Tools:
Gourmet Writer Food Decorator Pens, Assorted Colors, Set of 10
The Cookie Companion: A Decorator’s Guide
AmeriColor Student Soft Gel Paste Food Color
Cookie Craft Christmas: Dozens of Decorating Ideas for a Sweet Holiday
Fox Run Set of 3 Icing Bottles
Artisan Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat – 2 Pack
Baker’s Secret 10-by-16-Inch Nonstick Cooling Rack, Set of 2
Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack
Wilton Christmas Cookie Icing 3-Pack: Red, Green & White –
Wilton 4-Pack Holiday Mega Sprinkle Set
Wilton 6 Color Christmas Sprinkle Mix
Wilton Sprinkles Pearlized Snowflakes Sprinkles
Wilton Sprinkles Peppermint Crunch
Wilton Sprinkles Christmas Tree Mix
Wilton Holiday Sprinkle Sugars Mix
Cookie Exchange Treat Boxes and Bags:
Wilton 4-Pack Sharing Cookie Tray Kit
Creative Converting Cookie Box with Carry Handle, Snowman, 4 Boxes
Truck with Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter
Wilton 3 Count Christmas Holiday Sweet Swap Treat Boxes with Handles
Dozen Gingerbread Cardboard Treat Boxes
Truck with Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter
Holiday Cookie Recipes:
Chocolate Mint Cake Batter Cookies
Old Fashioned Gingersnap Cookies
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Printable Recipe Cards
No cookie exchange is complete without recipe cards! Print these out and handwrite out your recipe for guests. There are 6 cards in all that you can download here!
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