Choose a date, place and time to hold the exchange. This type of get together is best when hosted in either yours or one of the other ladies homes. Since the home would already be decorated for the holidays there is no need to decorate and besides it generates an atmosphere of Christmas spirit and hospitality.
Hand out invitations at least a week in advance to give each lady time to purchase the ingredients she needs and to have time to do her baking.
On the invitation, ask each lady to bring 3 dozen of her favorite Christmas cookie. Specify that the cookies must be homemade. No store bought snacks for this event!! However, some Christmas treats use store bought cookies as a base or as part of the ingredients and that is fine.
Suggestion: You can also ask each lady to bring enough copies of her recipe to share with the other ladies, but that is optional.
You will want to make sure you have plenty of coffee, milk and hot cocoa on hand for the occasion. There will be a lot of sampling going on.
Provide each lady with a small gift box or cookie tin to take a sample or two of each cookie home, providing there is any left, lol.
Hint: No matter where this gathering is hosted, for added fun and festivity, create a Christmasy atmosphere by playing Christmas music in the background. Play a game or two, i.e. pin the nose on Rudolf. Go caroling or have Christmas Carol karaoke.
If there are plenty of cookies and you are feeling generous, make up several goodie bags with a variety of cookies in each. Then hop in the car and distribute the goody bags to the older folks in your church and neighborhood who are home bound for the winter and who might be in need of a little Christmas cheer. You might also do a little caroling for them.
Whatever you decide to do, have a great time. Enjoy the wonderful holiday season and
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I haven't been to a cookie exchage in ages! How fun! Maybe I could think of an excuse to have one this summer! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
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