How to Host a Cookie Swap Party

Hi friends, today I'm bringing you some tips on how to host your own holiday cookie swap party!

I am no party planning expert, and these photos are by no means Pinterest worthy.  However, everyone at our cookie swap party had fun and went home with lots of delicious cookies to eat and share. So, here we go!

1.) Plan a fun decorating activity that guests can do at the party.  I had a smaller cookie swap party with 6 guests, so I wanted to plan a fun activity that we could do together. I thought about decorating gingerbread houses, but I quickly realized that was too much work. Instead, I baked Deb's Spicy Gingerbread Cookies  and prepared icing and sprinkles. I used the tips from this post and put the colored icing into into plastic squeeze bottles for easy decorating. My friend Steph's were the prettiest.

2.) Buy pretty packaging for the cookies. Some people took their cookies home in the tupperware they brought them in, but it was also nice to have these little gift bags ready. (I bought mine at Michael's for a couple dollars.)  Everyone made a few different bags. These can be great gifts for neighbors, teachers, the mailman.....anyone!

3.) Decide how you want to collect the recipes. Part of the idea behind a cookie swap party is that everyone can go home with some new cookie recipes. I had guests email me their recipes beforehand, and I printed them in this super simple booklet. To make it easier on yourself, you could also just ask guests to bring printed copies of their recipe for everyone.

4.) Invite awesome people. Yay friends!  Evite and Paperless Post are great options for online invitations. 

5.) Have some non-sweet snacks for people to munch on. Because too much sugar=the shakes. :)

I had our cookie swap party at lunch time, so I made a broccoli cheddar quiche and put out veggies & hummus and grapes.  Keep it simple.

6.) Keep the Christmas tunes flowing.  We even broke out the NSYNC Christmas album, which did not disappoint...

Other ideas: If you're inviting a lot of people, it might be helpful to make little name cards so that people can label their cookies. This is especially helpful if anyone has a food allergy.

That's pretty much it, friends. I hope you'll host your own holiday cookie swap party.  Enjoy a sample of the cookie recipes below!


Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies 

Cake Batter Cookies

My Friend Nikki made up the recipe! First whisk together 2 boxes of white cake mix and 2 teaspoons baking powder.  In a separate bowl, whisk together 4 eggs, 3/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add 1 cup sprinkles and 1 cup white chocolate chips. Bake tablespoon-sized dough balls at 350 for 9-10 minutes.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

And another variation on the peanut butter blossom with snowflake chocolates. One can never have too much peanut butter, in my opinion.

Snowball Cookies

Chocolate Almond Bark

White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels 

I also made a few pretzels with dark chocolate for those who don't like peppermint.

Hot Cocoa Cookies with Marshmallows 

I want to know--have you ever been to a cookie swap party before? If so, what have I missed? Or, what holiday cookies would you bring?