Cookie Exchanges!

There are several ways to host a cookie exchange, but the idea is the same - bake your favorite type of cookie, print up several copies of the recipe, share the cookies with your friends at the party, then return home with all your friend's favorite Christmas cookies! Sounds great, doesn't it? I myself have attended several of these and I always come home happier than when I left! Unofficially, you should bake a dozen cookies per guest attending the exchange, so you'll need to know ahead of time just how many folks are participating. For example, if you're told the number is nine, you'll have to bake nine dozen of the cookies you're making. You can also use an arbitrary number, such as four dozen cookies per person (each person would leave with four dozen assorted cookies), it depends on how serious the bakers are. Robin Olson at Cookie-Exchange.com has a great listing of the typical rules of a cookie exchange:

1. All cookies must be homemade and baked, and the main ingredient must be flour. No "no-bake" cookies, meringues or bars are allowed.
2. Bring a total of six dozen cookies.
3. The theme is "Christmas Cookies" - no chocolate chip cookies allowed - unless they are really different!
4. Arrange the cookies in a basket or on a platter and be creative! Bring a large container (i.e., Tupperware) to carry away your cookies and bring copies of your recipe...or collect email addresses to email them out.
5. RSVP as soon as you can and let the host know what type of cookies you are planning on baking - no duplicate recipes are allowed.
6. If you don't have time to bake, or have ruined your recipe, but still want to attend, you must go to a real bakery and buy six dozen yummy cookies.

More information on cookie exchanges:

• About.com Entertaining: Hosting a Cookie Exchange
• Kraft Foods: Hosting a Cookie Exchange
• AllRecipes.com: Cookie Exchange Party

Happy Baking!!