Have a Cookie Exchange
December 15th, 2006
Having a cookie exchange with your best friends is one of the most fun, holiday stress-relievers I have ever experienced. Get away from the kids and husbands, forget about the shopping and decorating, the card-writing, and the parties. Spend one evening, just one, having fun and relaxing with your best girlfriends.
This is how we used to do it (before I moved — one of these years I am determined to organize a group of my Southern friends for this):
First, call 4 or 5 of your best friends. Any more than 7 of you will make too big of a crowd. You have to decide on a time and someone’s home — let the one with the fewest kids or the most accomodating husband volunteer to host.
You have to get a definite yes or no from each person you invite, as that will determine how many cookies you bring to the cookie exchange. Everyone should bring one dozen cookies to give to each of the other guests. For example, if a total of 6 people are coming, everyone should bring 5 dozen cookies, already divided into baggies or on paper plates. Then you can bring some to share if you all want to sample each other’s cookies right away.
Plan on spending the whole evening together. Buy a couple of bottles of wine, some egg nog, hot cocoa, or some fancy decaffeinated coffee. Put some instrumental Christmas music on and make sure everyone takes their shoes off and relaxes. Spend the evening chatting.
Here’s something my sister’s group has done– Everyone bring $5. After sampling cookies, have a vote (you can’t vote for your own). The winner gets to take home the pot!
Before leaving, exchange recipes - unless it’s a big secret - and take your “loot” home to either let the children gobble it up or stick it in the freezer and serve when you have Christmas visitors.
Click on the cookies below to get the recipes for my favorites:
Have fun!
Entry Filed under: Cookies, Holidays, Philosophy, Supper
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