Have you ever dreamed of having so many different cookies at Christmas and you didn't have to bake them all yourself? Well, here's were a Cookie Exchange comes into play. With a bit of planning ahead, you can have a great exchange with little effort.
Begin by thinking of the number of people you would like to attend and ask them to bring 1/2 dozen bagged or boxed cookies for each one invited. Have them bring extra so that you serve them with punch or any other beverage you choose.
I always try to come with a theme for each of my Cookie Exchanges. An example would be a Winter Wonderland, with white, silver and blue decorations, another would be an old fashioned Christmas, with vintage ornaments, handmade ornaments and strings of popcorn on your tree. Have fun with your decorations, mix and match over the years and you'll have many options for themes.
During our evening together, my guests always look forward to some games. I supply small, inexpensive gifts as prizes and everyone goes home with a prize. One of our favorite games is trying to figure out what the Christmas song title is by only having the first letter of each word available. An example would be, JB = Jingle Bells. It looks easy, but it can be challenging if your guests aren't up on their Christmas music. Christmas BINGO and Christmas movie trivia are always a huge hit too.
Why not make a small cookbook of the cookie recipes that everyone brings. I've done this every year with great success and anticipation by my guests. You can either make the booklets up right after the party and send them out, or wait until next year and hand them out at the party. Either way, your guests will appreciate this gesture.
Last, but certainly not least, is to have fun! I tell my guests that it's not really about the cookies it's about sharing some time with friends around a plate of these tasty morsels! If you feel it's too much work for you during the holiday season, why not ask a good friend or relative to co-sponsor the event with you. This way everyone has a great time and no one is stressed out. Whatever you choose, have fun and eat a cookie for me! - 30241
Begin by thinking of the number of people you would like to attend and ask them to bring 1/2 dozen bagged or boxed cookies for each one invited. Have them bring extra so that you serve them with punch or any other beverage you choose.
I always try to come with a theme for each of my Cookie Exchanges. An example would be a Winter Wonderland, with white, silver and blue decorations, another would be an old fashioned Christmas, with vintage ornaments, handmade ornaments and strings of popcorn on your tree. Have fun with your decorations, mix and match over the years and you'll have many options for themes.
During our evening together, my guests always look forward to some games. I supply small, inexpensive gifts as prizes and everyone goes home with a prize. One of our favorite games is trying to figure out what the Christmas song title is by only having the first letter of each word available. An example would be, JB = Jingle Bells. It looks easy, but it can be challenging if your guests aren't up on their Christmas music. Christmas BINGO and Christmas movie trivia are always a huge hit too.
Why not make a small cookbook of the cookie recipes that everyone brings. I've done this every year with great success and anticipation by my guests. You can either make the booklets up right after the party and send them out, or wait until next year and hand them out at the party. Either way, your guests will appreciate this gesture.
Last, but certainly not least, is to have fun! I tell my guests that it's not really about the cookies it's about sharing some time with friends around a plate of these tasty morsels! If you feel it's too much work for you during the holiday season, why not ask a good friend or relative to co-sponsor the event with you. This way everyone has a great time and no one is stressed out. Whatever you choose, have fun and eat a cookie for me! - 30241
About the Author:
Want to find out more about Cookie Exchanges, then visit Marion Wilkinson's site on how to choose the best recipes for your needs.
