Cookie exchange parties are a wonderful seasonal event where friends and family gather together to share their favourite seasonal sweet treats. For those who love to bake and host at Christmas, it’s a fun way to get an assortment of holiday cookies without spending hours baking different varieties.
Having held cookie parties since the eighties, Martha Stewart is a seasoned festive hostess and cookie party queen. Each year, she goes all out and puts on a fabulous holiday celebration at her Bedford farm. The guest list now goes into the hundreds, and she transforms three separate buildings to accommodate everyone. Stacks of sugar cookies are served up, decorated to a different theme every year.
What is a cookie exchange party?
The concept of a cookie exchange party is simple: each guest brings a different batch of cookies; the cookies are then beautifully displayed on platters, with extra available for sampling, and guests will then pick one from each batch to take home. Generally, bakes are handmade, but you can buy store-bought, too – it all depends on the rules set out by the host. Each platter is often accompanied by a recipe card, to allow guests to bake them at home, too.
1. Plan it Out
As with any festive occasion, planning is key to stress-free cookie party hosting. Start by deciding how many people to invite. While Martha Stewart's guest list may be sky high, if you invite too many guests, quantities can get out of hand. Inviting around 8-10 guests works well and means there'll be a good variety of cookies on offer.
When it comes to the bakes, it’s important to do the math before you start and to inform guests how many cookies they'll need to bake. If you invite eight guests to your party, they will need to bring a minimum of 12-24 cookies (plus extra for sampling) to ensure that everyone will leave with at least one of each type of cookie.
‘While I love baking, sharing, and getting together with friends, I don't necessarily want to come home with 6 dozen cookies,' says says Bonnie Bontempo, founder of Bon Bon Fête Events. 'My book club has an annual Christmas party, and we always do a cookie exchange. We each get a platter and go around and take a handful of each, so everyone leaves with the amount they came with.'
Ann Clark, founder of America's largest cookie-cutter manufacturer, adds, 'for a cookie swap, set a few basic expectations in advance with your guests – perhaps in your party invitations, suggest how many cookies to make, and remind them to share ingredients used, for guests with food allergies or dietary requirements.'
2. Lean Into the Trend for Nostalgia
This year, the nostalgic Christmas theme is particularly strong, think the Ralph Lauren Christmas decor trend and sentimental bakes, ‘like Grandma used to make’.
‘I’m thrilled to see nostalgic cookies taking center stage, they’re exactly what’s fueling my own holiday spirit,' says Becky Geisel, New Jersey-based chef and founder of Bex Kitchen. 'I recently uncovered my cherished grandmother’s old cookie press in a forgotten box, and holding it again instantly transported me back to the bakes that shaped my childhood. That sense of nostalgia is inspiring everything I’m making this season.’
Ann Clark adds, ‘traditional holiday cookie shapes like gingerbread men, Christmas trees, ornaments, and candy canes continue to be popular amidst this season’s nostalgia trend. Old-world shapes like our Santa cookie cutters (Amazon) are trending, too. One reason for their appeal is that they look so fancy and festive when decorated with colored royal icing – but they are sneakily easy to decorate.’
She adds, ‘Wintry shapes like snowflakes, snowmen, winter hats, and mittens are also popular ‘ because they have no particular religious associations,’ and when it comes to recipes, Ann explains, ‘the two most popular cookie recipes, hands down, are classic sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies.’
'Right now, bakers are leaning into elevated flavor twists,' says Maruschka Ang, pastry Chef at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas. 'Brown butter chocolate chip cookies are having a major moment because they feel familiar yet indulgent. I also love pistachio and cranberry shortbread and rich chocolate crinkle cookies. There’s a real return to heritage recipes too – cookies tied to family traditions or cultural stories, which makes baking feel more personal this time of year.'
And embossed cookies are popular too ‘it looks stunning on a cookie platter,' says Jules Grasekamp, founder of Bonni Bakery 'and photographs beautifully at parties.'
3. Incorporate Activities
Planning a range of festive bake-themed activities is a great way to keep guests entertained at a cookie party, especially the little ones, plus they’re a great way to break the ice if guests aren’t known to each other. Try these ideas:
Cooking decorating station: Offer guests the chance to get creative and customize their own bakes to take home. ‘Make sure you have enough space and materials for everyone. Stock up on food coloring sets, royal icing mix, piping bags, piping tips, and any other decorating materials you would like to use, such as sprinkles, sanding sugar, or crushed peppermint candy,’ advises Ann Clark. For an instant flourish, you could also buy some pre-made icing decorations, such as these Sarah's Bakeshop bows from Walmart. ‘Cookie decorating can get a bit messy, so tablecloths are essential, and I’d also recommend wearing aprons if you have them. Set aside space with wire racks for the icing on finished cookies to dry while you’re enjoying food and drink.'
Cookie awards: Set categories like best-looking bake, or best-tasting bake, to introduce a friendly element of competition and keep guests engaged. ‘Giving awards or prizes allows everyone to sample the cookies and vote, which is a great conversation starter,’ says Bonnie Bontempo.
Cookie dip station: Cookie dip stations are a fun way to elevate plain cookies. Try arranging a platter of plain cookies in a festive wreath shape around a bowl of flavoured frosting for a festive focal point. ‘Dips are having a moment,’ says Destiny Villarreal, founder of Sweet Grace Bakes. ‘Buttercream boards turn the best part of a cake – the frosting – into a shareable centerpiece. Surround it with cookie fries or mini cookies, and you have the dessert version of a charcuterie board.’
Festive drinks table: No party is complete without a drinks table. Hot chocolates are ideal for a cookie party, as well as cookie-themed beverages like gingerbread lattes. You could get creative with some Christmas cocktails, too. ‘For the adults, pairing cookies with something warm like a hot toddy, transforms the whole experience,’ says Becky Geisel. You could also channel Martha Stewart by serving a classic Eggnog.
4. Dial Up the Decor
Christmas table decorations and beautifully styled buffet tables will really make your party stand out, so take time to plan your decor scheme, platters, and serveware. A beautiful tablecloth (such as this Soho tablecloth from Heather Taylor Home) is a must. Adorning your table with a festive garland overhead will make it feel extra special.
A beautiful stand or creative platter idea can elevate the humblest of bakes. At a previous cookie party, Martha Stewart created a festive scene by gathering stacks of cookies around the base of a Christmas tree, alongside raised log-shaped cookie stands at different heights.
Varying the height of your cookie display helps to keep the arrangement eye-catching. ‘I decorate the tables with cake stands so there are cookies high and low,’ explains restaurateur and hospitality expert Elizabeth Blau, founder of Blau + Associates Hospitality.
For those looking for a rustic theme, wooden boards or mini wooden crates lined with parchment, such as these cute scalloped crates from Michael's, work well. Or, for a more elegant feel, try tiered cake stands and glass cake domes. You could even thread up some cookies and hang them from a tabletop Christmas tree.
5. Create a Packaging Area
When guests are ready to leave, it’s a good idea to have a packaging station near the door where guests can beautifully wrap their exchanged bakes. Simple paper or cellophane bags will do - such as these Gingerbread cello treat bags from Target, but as it’s the season to be merry, why not bring festive sparkle with some extra special gift boxes?
‘The packaging is half the fun! Beautiful wrapping elevates the entire exchange and makes each bundle feel like a gift,’ says Elizabeth Blau. ‘Some of my favorite ideas include clear boxes tied with velvet ribbon, holiday tins lined with patterned parchment, and Kraft boxes with handwritten tags. We stock up on festive tins and the tables are piled high with cookies.’
For something more rustic, 'layer cookies in Mason jars, add a handwritten tag, and finish with classic red-and-white butcher’s string,' suggests Becky Geisel. 'If sustainability is part of your holiday mindset, beeswax wraps (Amazon) make beautiful, low-waste options.'
'Recipe sharing is part of the fun,' says Ann Clark. 'Some hosts compile all recipes into a digital document to share with the group. Recipe-sharing apps like Pepper and ReciMe are fun options.'
Shop Cookie Exchange Party Essentials
Crafted from porcelain and covered with a botanical holly design, this tiered cake stand is perfect for elevating bakes on your cookie buffet table.
Make your bakes look store-worthy with these beautiful box gift boxes. Featuring scallop edging and beautiful on-trend bows, they're guaranteed to make a sweet impression
If you’re planning on creating a cookie Christmas tree, then you’ll need cutters in assorted sizes. This set of 10 snowflake cutters will have you covered.
No cookie packing station could be without festive ribbons - these classic red, green and cream designs will co-ordinate well with a nostalgic theme.
Give cookie party buffet tables a festive flourish with a fun festive garland. Ideal for a nostalgic theme, this 9-foot garland features cute frosted gingerbreads on classic red and white twine.
Share your baking instructions with friends and family using these holiday recipe cards, which can be neatly tucked inside boxes and tins.
Shaped like a traditional gingerbread house, this ceramic cookie jar is perfect for filling with bakes at a nostalgic cookie party.
Sprinkles are a must for any festive cookie decorating. This pack has four different types to give your bakes festive flair.
Perfect for gifting bakes or for cookie parties, these cute bow gift boxes are brimming with nostalgic charm and come with handy note space.
A cookie exchange party provides festive fun for all the family and is a perfect way to celebrate the festive season with the bakers in your life. At the moment, we're loving Joanna Gaines' Silo cookie recipe, which can be cooked on a skillet and served with ice cream as a dessert.
