How to be sure you and your friends have plenty of cookies for the holidays: host a cookie exchange!

Judy Collins Griess seems happy with her haul from the cookie exchange

Judy Collins Griess seems happy with her haul from the cookie exchange

If you believe, as I do, that more cookies equal less grumpiness, you should consider hosting a cookie exchange. We have done it for seven years and each year the cookies get better and better. From time to time during a particularly busy holiday season, we suggest that we might skip a year. But the outcry is so strong that we always do the cookie exchange no matter what.

Our 2009 cookie exchange was yesterday and here are some scenes from it. At the end of this post, I’ll share with you some tips we have learned over the years so you can incorporate them into your own plans.

This is a great holiday tradition that often involves more than just the baker herself. Although our group is all women, the husbands, significant others and children in our lives are very supportive. After all, they are the beneficiaries!

The most controversial part of the cookie exchange is the number of cookies you have to bake: six dozen. But you really need that many if you have a group our size (about 25), so everyone can get a few of each.

Non-baker Susan Brown is our bartender

Non-baker Susan Brown is our bartender

Not everyone bakes. But everyone wants to come. So we make exceptions. Susan Brown compensates for not bringing cookies by volunteering to be the bartender each year. Believe me, it is a big job! Other people cheat (we don’t care!) and have someone else bake their cookies. Some even go to a bakery. We have a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy when it comes to that.

With a group composed of so many “Type A” personalities, you can expect to get a million questions. “Does fudge count as a cookie?” “Do you have to bake it for it to be considered a cookie?” Our answer to these and many more such inquiries: the cookie police will not be present. Nobody is going to kick you out if your “cookie” is not technically a cookie! We do try to avoid duplications (you don’t want six different kinds of chocolate chip cookies, for example) by asking folks to e-mail in what kind of cookie they will make. Then we can let them know if someone else is planning to make the same kind. This strategy is only moderately successful as people forget to send in their cookie selection or they change their minds at the last minute. But at least we can say we tried!

Sheena McCall transfers her cookies to a platter upon arrival

Sheena McCall transfers her chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies to a platter upon arrival

Phyllis Nichols, right, shows Annette Winston her "Michael Jackson" cookies. (She'll have to tell you why she calls them that!)

Phyllis Nichols, right, shows Annette Winston her "Michael Jackson" cookies. (She'll have to tell you why she calls them that!)

The stars of the show

The stars of the show

First comes socializing, natch! A light lunch is served. Yesterday it was three kinds of quiche, salad, rolls, mimosas and wine.
From left, Carolyn Pointer, Judith Foltz, Amy Williams

From left, Carolyn Pointer, Judith Foltz, Amy Williams

From left, Dawn Ford, Juda Brown, Ranee Randby

From left, Dawn Ford, Juda Brown, Ranee Randby

Cheryl Bartley, left, hugs Margaret Rodgers

Cheryl Bartley, left, hugs Margaret Rodgers

Marion Allan's hat was the hit of the day

Marion Allan's hat was the hit of the day

When it’s time for the actual exchange, everyone picks out a cookie tin and heads to the table for “the big grab!” These normally polite, reserved women turn into barracudas as they cram their tins with as many cookies as possible.
Tami Hartmann selects a Santa Claus tin

Tami Hartmann selects a Santa Claus tin

Dawn Ford, right, shares her cookie-grabbing strategy with Phyllis Nichols

Dawn Ford, right, shares her cookie-grabbing strategy with Phyllis Nichols

From left, Judith Foltz, Amy Williams, Juda Brown load up

From left, Judith Foltz, Amy Williams, Juda Brown load up

Shaun Fulco makes a selection

Shaun Fulco makes a selection

Michelle Hardin takes this very seriously

Michelle Hardin takes this very seriously

Here is a look at a few of the cookies:
Shaun Fulco brought Christmas Gems

Shaun Fulco brought Christmas Gems

Cheryl Bartley brought chocolate chess pie in puff pastry cups

Cheryl Bartley brought chocolate chess pie in puff pastry cups

Ranee Randby brought choco-hazelnut latte cookies

Ranee Randby brought choco-hazelnut latte cookies

These "Thumbprints" came from Tami Hartmann

These "Thumbprints" came from Tami Hartmann

These are the cookies Sheena ended up with. She's not the only one who couldn't close her tin!

These are the cookies Sheena ended up with. She's not the only one who couldn't close her tin!

Here are a couple examples of husbands lending a hand.
Peter Acly helped crush the candy for wife, Ellen Robinson's, peppermint bark! Perhaps a little overkill?

Peter Acly helped crush the candy for wife, Ellen Robinson's, peppermint bark! Perhaps a little overkill?

The best husband in the world (mine!) made sure all the guestss - and the cookies - made it into the house without getting wet!

The best husband in the world (mine!) made sure all the guests - and the cookies - made it into the house without getting wet!

OK. Here are those tips, as promised.
  1. Send out the invitations WAY in advance. We shoot for a month. It’s a very busy time of year.
  2. Ask the guests to tell you what kind of cookie they plan to bring so you can monitor for too many duplicates. You are aiming for a wide variety.
  3. Ask that the cookies be brought on large platters. Occasionally, someone will attempt to package their cookies in individual baggies or such. This doesn’t work very well because you can never be sure how many people will show up.  Nine times out of ten, we’ve had to break into the baggies and rearrange. Easier just to bring a big plate for them.
  4. Don’t plan to serve dessert. Everyone wants to sample the cookies instead.
  5. When you get home, divide the cookies up into small baggies depending on what kind of cookies they are. If you leave them all in the tin, you will find that the peppermint-flavored cookies will infuse the others with that taste, as will the peanut butter ones. Also, the soft chewy cookies will make the crisp cookies soggy. So break them out and group them together with similar cookies.

Finally, here’s the invitation we sent out. It has a few other “rules” on it. I hope you will organize a cookie exchange next year. It makes for a very happy season!

cookieexchangeinvitation2009larger

Credits: Ellen Robinson took the photo of Peter Acly. Julie Bernal of Moxley Carmichael designed the invitation.

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9 Responses to How to be sure you and your friends have plenty of cookies for the holidays: host a cookie exchange!

  1. Shaun Fulco, on December 14th, 2009 at 3:52 pm said:

    Attending this party has become one of my favorite holiday traditions! Jacob (my teenage son) awaits eagerly for me to arrive home. This year, he took it a step further by housing the entire tin in his room!

  2. Heather Sutton, on December 14th, 2009 at 3:54 pm said:

    All of those cookies look oh so yummy! It looks like there was quite a spread. I’ll certainly keep this in mind when planning Christmas events next year. My friends and family would love it!

  3. Ranee Randby, on December 14th, 2009 at 4:16 pm said:

    Your photography is great, Mox! The cookie photos look as mouthwatering as the real thing. Now I wish I’d brought a stash of them with me to the office. A cup of coffee and a holiday gem would be wonderful right about now!
    Thanks for starting and maintaining this holiday tradition. My WHOLE family looks forward to it every year!

  4. Tami Hartmann, on December 14th, 2009 at 4:34 pm said:

    OK, now here’s the secret ingredient for a successful cookie swap: The hostess has to be a relentless organizer. She keeps up with everyone’s selections and makes sure everyone has a plan before party day. That way no one cries, “Oh, I forgot!” and runs out for Keebler’s. Great job, Cynthia! With each person contributing their favorite cookie, everyone enjoys the best of the best!

  5. Jack Rose, on December 14th, 2009 at 9:33 pm said:

    Mox, please ask Susan what kind of cookies I should serve with champagne.

    Nice photos, too. See? All it takes is a camera to be a great photographer. Even writers can do it.

    Jack

  6. Cynthia Moxley, on December 15th, 2009 at 5:25 am said:

    Thanks, everyone! It’s the great group of people who attend who make this so much fun. The cookies are just a delicious excuse!

  7. Laurie, on December 15th, 2009 at 1:52 pm said:

    You’ve inspired me to (maybe) try this next year! I have a question about the ratio of size of your group vs. the 6 dozen cookies. How many invites did you send out?

  8. Cynthia Moxley, on December 15th, 2009 at 11:35 pm said:

    Laurie: We have between 20 and 25 people attend. Since there are about 72 of each cookie type, everyone gets three or so of each kind. Of course, it’s not an exact number everyone brings. But that’s about right. You should definitely do it. It’s a ton of fun!

  9. Pingback:Blue Streak » It’s cookie time in Tennessee!

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