How to Easily Host a Cookie Swap

How to Easily Host a Cookie Swap

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How to easily host a cookie swap. What to make? How about one of the easiest desserts out there - Peppermint Bark. Recipe included! #cookie #hostess #recipe
The best part to host during the holidays? And how to easily host a cookie swap. What to make? How about one of the easiest desserts out there - Peppermint Bark. Recipe included! #cookie #hostess #recipe
The best party to host during the holidays?How to easily host a cookie swap. What to make? How about one of the easiest desserts out there - Peppermint Bark. Recipe included! #cookie #hostess #recipe
How to Easily Host a Cookie Swap

If there is one party that you should host during the holidays it’s a cookie swap.

Every heard of it?

Heard of a cookie exchange? Well, same thing basically.

So how does it work, you ask?

It’s simple.

Pick a Date, Time and Place.

Technically you’ll want to find a date, time and place that will work with most people.

Planning on doing it only with family? Then of course, the time your group is all together is perfect.

If it’ll be work related, see if you can do it during work, or during lunch breaks. Scroll down to Those who can’t attend section to see how to make it work at work.

Wanting to do the party with friends, co-workers outside of work, etc.? Then it may take a little figuring out to decide on a date, time and place. Checking in with the intended group before picking a date could help with the actual attendance.

Best bet though, is to pick a date, time and place yourself to present to everyone. This may help lessen the aggravation of having too many dates, times and places to choose/pick from.

But try not to stress yourself out about the date, time or place!  I will give you a work around in case people can’t make it at the end of this post.

Pick a Cookie

Yes, you, as the host, get to make something too to bring…. unless you’re not planning on participating…..

Now, for me, this is a loose term. The last cookie swap I participated in I brought bark – I’ll be sharing the recipe below 🙂

As long as it’s something small (like a cookie) that can be easily divided between people is what you’re looking for. Something like a pie, cheesecake, mousse, pudding isn’t ideal unless you want to make them all individual sized and portable. For example, you could put all these items in their own mini crusts.

Like I mentioned, I’ve taken bark which is so simple to make but is so, so delicious :). People have brought fudge, dipped pretzel sticks, cake pops. The possibilities are endless so have fun thinking of what you could make yourself and/or share with others if you think they’re stuck.

Solidify participants

You’ll want to have a rough estimate of who all will be attending within a week or so of the party so you can get in touch with everyone and let them know how much they will need to make. Also so they have time to get supplies together and actually make their ‘cookie’.

Each participant will need to make enough for at least every person to have one of whatever they are bringing.

The ONE party you should host during the Holidays….a Cookie Swap!

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The Party!

Now, before the party begins and you’ve made enough of your ‘cookies’, you’ll need to make sure you have space for all the goodies that will be brought.

A long table is preferable so that everyone can simply walk around the table to get their ‘cookies’. If you don’t have a long table or access to tables that could be put together to make one long table, or the space to even have a long table (you see where I’m going 🙂 ) then counter space, chairs, end tables – you might have to get creative but honestly no ones going to care how they are put out because they’ll be so excited to get their cookies :).

As everyone arrives they will put their cookies out and wait until everyone has arrived.

Once everyone is there it’s simply a matter of taking their plate, an easily design yourself gift box, premade gift box or a Tupperware container and walking around to get a sample from each container.

If there are leftovers, whoever wants more can simply go around again and get another sample.

Eating

Now’s the fun part! 🙂

Eating your finds! and/or taking them home to share with others or saving them for another day.

Recipes

If people want they can bring their recipes to the party so that others can see it and/or get a copy. Or people want they can swap contact information from each other to get recipes.

Those who can’t attend

If people let you know that they cannot attend the party but still want to participate – no problem!

You’ll just need to set up a time for those that cannot attend to drop off their cookies with you along with a Tupperware container of some sort, if you are not providing a gift box or plates of some sort.  This way their cookies still get to ‘participate’ in the cookie swap for everyone to enjoy! And those that aren’t able to attend  still get to enjoy the cookies that were swapped. You’ll want to make sure you gather the non-attendees cookies first before everyone else starts their rounds so you don’t forget and so when people take their second turns you know the non-attendees have still gotten their shares. Then of course, it’s just up to you or the person(s) who missed to meet up with you to get their container full of cookies.

If the swap will happen at work and there is no way to actually have everyone together, there is no reason the cookies couldn’t be put in a central area (break area) and then everyone can go around and get their cookies when they have their breaks. Now of course this will assume everyone will be honest and only take their portions 🙂 and that non participants don’t decide to participate.

And that’s pretty much it!

Not much to it except for making a cookie to have so that you can participate 🙂

So on that note! Here is a recipe for Peppermint Bark – one of the easiest desserts you could make and enjoy!

Peppermint Bark

This is one of the simplest dessert recipes I’ve ever found (adapted from delish.com’s Simple Holiday Bark) and it’s so delicious, too!!!

All you need are three (3) ingredients = Chocolate chips, White Chocolate chips and Peppermint Candy Canes.

You simply crush up some candy canes (a mortar and pestle works great for this!) and then melt the two (2) chocolates in separate bowls.

You’ll spread the melted chocolate onto some wax paper that’s on a cookie sheet. Not too thin yet not too thick.

Spoon the white chocolate in drops on top of the chocolate. Then, using an edge of a knife spread/swirl the white chocolate around and through the chocolate.

 

How to easily host a cookie swap. What to take? How about one of the easiest desserts out there - Peppermint Bark.

Once you have your swirls then sprinkle the crushed up candy canes on top and press down gently so they set into the chocolate rather than sitting just on top.

Place your bark in the refrigerator for an hour or so to solidify.

Once it’s solid, break it apart into smaller pieces.

And there you have it! The best, easiest, yummiest Peppermint Bark 🙂

How to easily host a cookie swap. What to take? How about one of the easiest desserts out there - Peppermint Bark.

Peppermint Bark

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 12 minutes

Yield: 20-30 pieces

Ingredients

  • 12 oz Chocolate Chips
  • 4 oz White Chocolate Chips
  • 2 Candy Canes

Instructions

  1. Crush the candy canes. This can be done with a mortar and pestle, a ziploc bag and a dough roller, etc.
  2. Place some wax paper or foil on a cookie sheet.
  3. Melt the chocolate chips and white chocolate chips in separate bowls. This can be done in the microwave starting with a 1 minute interval then 20 second intervals until the chocolates are melted. Stir in between intervals. Or use 2 double boilers until the chocolates are melted.
  4. Spread the melted chocolate onto the wax paper. Not too thin and not too thick.
  5. Drop spoonfuls of the melted white chocolate evenly around on the chocolate.
  6. Using the edge of a knife make a swirl pattern in the chocolate.
  7. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top and gently press them in so they will set in the chocolate.
  8. Place in the refrigerator for about an hour.
  9. Once the chocolate is solid again break apart into pieces.
  10. Enjoy 🙂

Notes

Adapted from delish.com's Simple Holiday Bark.

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https://www.whitesandsandcoolbreezes.com/cookie-swap/

What would you take to a cookie swap? Have you ever hosted/attended a cookie swap?Please share you ideas in the comments below! Thanks and happy baking, Holidays and Merry Christmas 🙂

16 thoughts on “How to Easily Host a Cookie Swap

  1. Yammy thx
    زهرة بوزيد

  2. This has been on my to do list for years!! Thanks for the tips!

  3. Yummy. I love cookie exchanges. We also do a wine exchange party. Kind of the same way.

  4. I’ve honestly never heard of having a cookie swap party. My youngest daughter just shared with me a day or two ago that she plans to do a holiday cookie exchange with her sisters this year. I’m just sitting back waiting for the store bought cookies to appear since most of them don’t really bake haha.

  5. I love cookie exchanges. I’ve hosted one for the past 3 years and had so much fun with family and friends. I’m always looking for a good recipe to try out for the exchange. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Nice! This is a fun and simple thing to do for the holiday season! Awesome!

  7. I love cookie swaps! My work has them every year around the holidays and they’re so much fun! And that bark looks delicious – thanks for sharing the recipe!

    A- simplylovely90.com

  8. I love this idea!! I don’t usually host parties (i’m a huge introvert) but this might be one party I can see myself getting behind and hosting!

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