How to Host a Cookie Swap

Hello my loves,

I hosted a cookie swap this past weekend with my friends and it was so much fun! I’d done several before but not since Covid started. It felt so good to do it again! I posted about it on my instagram and got quite a few questions on how to throw one, what to serve, how to set it up etc. so I thought a blog post could be useful.

There were 7 people all together at my cookie swap. I knew I wasn’t going to make dinner for all of us because after all, this was a cookie swap not a dinner party! There’s a lot of prep that goes into a cookie swap, ain’t nobody got time to also cook for 7! Plus it’s just so fun to have cheese and appetizers as a meal. It’s one of my favorite dinners! Pro tip: Trader Joe’s frozen apps are amazing and everyone will love them. If you’re wanting to make something, here’s my bacon wrapped stuffed dates that are a real crowd pleaser!

Below you will see the steps for how to host a cookie swap! I made sugar cookies, gingerbread men, hot cocoa mint cookies and copycat Starbucks cranberry bliss bars. The sugar cookie recipe is an oldie but a goodie, my go-to! The gingerbread men recipe is new for me but it’s my grandma’s recipe. They are soft and chewy gingerbread men, not crunchy and dry like most. The hot chocolate mint cookies are thin and chewy! Not overpowering with mint flavor but you know it’s there. Can easily adjust it depending on your taste preference. And the cranberry bliss bars are just like the Starbucks version except better because they’re homemade. 🙂

 

How to Host a Cookie Swap

It’s always a good time. And feel free to mix it up! If you want everyone to wear Christmas pj’s, include that in the invite! Be sure to tag me @tessa_port so I can see your cookie swap!