Cookie Exchange

My last cookie exchange I had everyone bring 1 dozen cookies for each person attending (6 people = 6 dozen) and no one was allowed to bring Spritz type cookies. I supplied the tray they took their cookies home on, bought them at Walmart for $1.00 each and plastic wrap to cover them. Almost everyone brought extra cookies for sampling during the party.

Before the party I had everyone email me their recipe and if they had a picture that too. I made up very cute "cookbooks" with pictures and they were a big hit.

Good luck and have fun...
Renee

I would have each person bring 2 dozen cookies and a tray. bring the cookies in a tupperware container or shoebox or whatever. then set them out on the table. have each person take their empty tray and fill it with 18 cookies (dozen and a half) then leave the other 6 of each kind out on a community tray that you will share while your visiting. you could provide a roll of saran wrap for them to wrap up at the end. you can make more per person and take more home. if your having 10 people then they could each make 10 dozen and bring home 10 dozen. I myself would start smaller the first time some people are great cookie makers and some are not lol and really don't think i would want to go home with a dozen of something awful lol.

My only experience with cookie exchanges is with my old co workers. I think how we did things was a little unique, we set our own rules. We did it during the work day so we usually just come around at some point during the day and drop cookies off at each others cubes. It was fun to get a “gift” delivered to your desk… kinda like secret Santa. Sometimes we would get together over lunch, carter in and reserve a meeting room? People have some much going on during the holidays we didn’t want to take it outside of work.
We determined the amount each year based on the number of participants. If it were only a few of us than a whole dozen but if there were more than a few usually only a half dozen. Most of the ladies do tons of cooking/baking/ entertaining ect so we didn’t want to interfere.
We always packaged ours individually. Some did just tissue paper with curling ribbon, cello bags, tins, boxes ect. Most can be purchased inexpensively at the dollar store, Wal-Mart or use those 40% off coupons for Michaels/ Joann’s.
We all brought our own bags to bring items home in but you could buy some of those .99 - $1.99 bags that most stores carry now the “green” reusable ones? Some stores have ones that are printed patterns for each season like ToysRus? They would be big and sturdy enough. We all worked within different departments so some of us would share with those within our own department, so honestly most cookies didn’t even make it home.
Because we had been doing this for a few years we and everyone usually made their “special” cookie each year we didn’t usually print of recipes unless the recipe was new or we had a new participant
So really you can make up your own rules or get the input of some the others who are participating? Let us know how it goes. Holiday Cookie exchange is one of the few things that I miss about working and my old job….

This can be a great way to get together before the holidays. Try to set the date earlier enough so there are not a lot of conflicts with the date or send out "save the date" cards or emails. You got some good ideas to have people bring extra cookies to share as part of the refreshments. I would also have something "non-sweet, non fattening" like a veggie tray or cheese and crackers so you all do not get a sugar overload (or if someone is on a diet) Serve coffee tea or your choice of beverages. I have been to some cookie exhanges where we are asked to bring 10 copies of the recipe. I have a copier at the house so I usually just tell them to bring 1 copy or email 1 copy and I print out the copies. have fun!

I have been to two different types of cookie exchanges. If you are going to do the one where everyone gets some of each type of cookie, then:

Definitely have everyone pre-package.
Have people bring a separate plate for sampling (and this cuts down on refreshment requirements for you!)
Have everyone bring 10 copies of their recipe, or have them bring one copy and assemble them into a cookbook to distribute later (this is more work for you)
I would look for cute paper gift bags or some other type of bag that fits your theme and send them home with that.

The other type of cookie exchange that I went to (and attend each holiday season) is one where everyone brings a copy of the recipe and a holiday or other type of dish with cookies on it. This has evolved over time away from cookies to other types of recipes as well. Everyone also brings some of their recipe to be sampled by everyone. Then we draw numbers and do the gift swap thing where each dish of cookies is chosen by someone, then can be taken two more times. Honestly, though, this type of swap became more about the dish than the cookies, and the traditional type would be fun and everyone would have a variety of desserts to take home.

They are a lot of fun!

I did one with some of my MOMS club moms. We all brought our cookies prepackaged and taped the recipe onto the plate or bag. I like the idea of bringing some extra to try out that night.

Well I went to one once. You do one batch of cookie dough and each person does one cookie and you take turns walking around the table till they are all gone. They bring a tin or whatever they want to put their cookie in and they bring recipe cards with the recipe on them for people to choose the cookies from. Some people have allergies so it's best they bring them. The recipes you know may not be the ones they use or they may dress the cookies up more which is what makes then unique to them. I took my cookies in a tin ansd the hostess provided trays and then I put my cookies I wanted back in them. How many people are invited? That will tell you how many they should bring. 8 people then ask for cookies each.