Cookie Exchange - technical question....

[jessicacoy]

I am hosting a holiday cookie exchange for the first time this year (next week actually!) I am wrapping up the RSVPs today. Initially I had instructed everyone to bring a batch of their favorite cookies but am noticing on several threads that it seems common to bring a dozen cookies for each person partcipating....what is "standard" for those of you who have attended multiple cookie swaps. I am sending out an email with final instructions today, so any help would be appreciated!

TIA,
Jessica

[Robyn1007]

How many people are coming?

[sha]

for our cookie swap at work (which is in T minus 24 minutes!) we've each brought 2 dozen cookies of 2 different kinds (so 48 cookies, 24 of one kind, 24 of another kind). we've got about 25 participating.

[jessicacoy]

How many people are coming?

That would have been an important detail to include, huh? :o

Right now I have 6 RSVPs....oh, and we are all moms of little kids (it is a local MOMS Group) so I don't want to overwhelm anyone with a huge number of cookies to bring either!

[jessicacoy]

for our cookie swap at work (which is in T minus 24 minutes!) we've each brought 2 dozen cookies of 2 different kinds (so 48 cookies, 24 of one kind, 24 of another kind). we've got about 25 participating.

WOW! You are going to get to sample lots of different cookies! Sounds great!!!

[sha]

indeed, it's good for the mouth, but not as good for the waistline ... good thing the husbeau has got a fast metabolism & is more of a sweetslover than me! we are given trays & they are ridiculously HUGE once all the cookies are piled on.

[sha]

That would have been an important detail to include, huh? :o

Right now I have 6 RSVPs....oh, and we are all moms of little kids (it is a local MOMS Group) so I don't want to overwhelm anyone with a huge number of cookies to bring either!

if it's 6 people, i'd recommend two dozen cookies (can be one type). this would allow busy moms to bake a batch but end up with at least 7 varieties of cookies. since most recipes make about that much, it should be worth their while to have a variety without a crazy amount of effort.

[Kahlico]

Here is a paraphrase from our office manager regarding our cookie exchange and how many cookies to bring:

X = the number of people involved in the exchange. Multiply the # of cookies you want to give away by X and that would be the total # of cookies you need to bring.

We have 15 people involved, and I want to bring home 2 of each kind of cookie, so I'm bringing 30 cookies.

HTH
Emilie

[Kerri]

For my cookie party, I suggest everyone make 4 dozen. I don't specify how much of a certain kind. When dividing them up, I just put a few of each kind on a sturdy paper plate, such as chinet, until they are all gone then wrap securely with plastic wrap. I think you will be ok. The socialization is just as important as the cookies and some people just really don't like to bake. I always encourage freezing cookies so no one feels bad by overeating!

[Robyn1007]

So for 7 people total I would say have everyone bring half a dozen for each person. That means each person will bring 6 half dozens (36 cookies, they don't need to bring for themselves). I think you're better off specifying number of cookies rather than batches because some recipes make 18 per batch while others might make 10 dozen.

[PattiA]

My neighborhood has an annual cookie swap. The way it works is that everyone gets small packages of each cookie that is brought. It's been going on since before we moved here (15 years ago). In the beginning, someone decided that each package would contain 3 cookies. So the hostess counts up the RSVPs then notifies all who RSVPed to let them know how many packages of 3 cookies they need to bring. I like it because you don't have to bake a huge amount of cookies, you get some of every type of cookie, and you get a reasonable number of cookies.

Another that I have attended has you bake 6 dozen cookies. One dozen of each is set out for tasting, then you package up the cookies that you want. Sometimes you don't get any of the most popular cookies. That is one reason why I like the little packages that my neighborhood does.

[Gracie]

So the hostess counts up the RSVPs then notifies all who RSVPed to let them know how many packages of 3 cookies they need to bring. .

I host a cookie swap every year and this year I have given up trying to get people to rsvp and then plan the number of cookies to tell people.

Last year we just put the packaged cookies out and people took what they wanted so if they didn't like a particular kind they didn't have to go home with it.

That actually worked really well however you could tell the cookies that people weren't crazy about as there were a lot of them left! ;)

This year's swap is next week and at this point I just want my friends to come over and not really worry about baking. So everyone will get to take some cookies home but it won't be the focus of the evening. Less stress that way. Whatever happened to rsvp-ing anyway?

Loren

[Bonappetit]

I just hosted my first cookie exchange on Sunday and I had 10 women over. I have gone to a couple of cookies exchanges over the years and those have been bring "a dozen cookies per person attending" events. i have always thought this was a little much, first of all that is a lot of cookies to make and secondly a lot to eat, especially if they were not good:o

So, this year everyone brought between 3-4 dozen, depending on their recipe, and brought them in their own containers. The containers were put on the table, opened, and everyone went around and placed 3-4 cookies on their plate to take home. not only that, everyone got a recipe for each cookie and they were happy that they were going home with a respectable amount of cookies.

Hope that helps:)

[Kathy B]

So, this year everyone brought between 3-4 dozen, depending on their recipe, and brought them in their own containers. The containers were put on the table, opened, and everyone went around and placed 3-4 cookies on their plate to take home.


That is how we have always done it, and it works great. You don't have to make 10 - 12 dozen. You don't have to limit yourself to a small group to prevent baking large quantities. You don't have to worry if people show up unexpectedly (or don't show up!). Everyone has a reasonable ssortment AND a reasonable amount to take home.

Note that everyone walks around the table and takes a few of EVERY kind of cookie. (I can't really imagine skipping cookies you don't like....I mean someone went to the trouble of baking and bringing them....). Occasionally someone does something really fancy and doesn't make as many....so everyone takes one or two instead of 3-4. It ALWAYS works out.

Love the idea of asking everyone to bring copies of their recipe!

Have fun! :)

[SusanMac]

Our cooking club does an exchange every year. And what we found works best is to not overthink it. The first year, we tried to be scientific & make x cookies.

Now, everyone just brings whatever they have time to bake. You take cookies that you like best, and leave behind ones that you don't so much (someone else will like them better). If you didn't have much time to bake, then you go home with fewer cookies. If you made a ton, you go home with a ton. No one counts. It's much easier that way.

[Donnaluv2cruise]

This year will be my 6th cookie swap. I don't know why, but I've always had people bring 6 dozen cookies. Most people will make 2 different kinds.

[amyvn]

The cookie exchanges I've done haven't had a set number to bring. We've been asked to bring as many cookies as we wanted to take home, packaged in bags of 6 each. If you bring 4 bags, you take 4 bags home; bring 6 bags you take 6 home, etc.

That keeps anyone from being obligated to take home more than they want, and everyone gets
a number that corresponds to the labor they put into it.

I didn't realize there were exchanges that were more regimented, but it makes sense. . .

Amy

[Donnaluv2cruise]

The cookie exchanges I've done haven't had a set number to bring. We've been asked to bring as many cookies as we wanted to take home, packaged in bags of 6 each. If you bring 4 bags, you take 4 bags home; bring 6 bags you take 6 home, etc.

That keeps anyone from being obligated to take home more than they want, and everyone gets
a number that corresponds to the labor they put into it.

I didn't realize there were exchanges that were more regimented, but it makes sense. . .

Amy

Amy, I was surprised too when I started reading on the internet about different ideas. The six dozen is the only thing I request for mine, but I've read where everyone votres for their favorite cookie, best tasting, prettiest, etc...giving out prizes and all kinds of things. Honestly, I think me serving cocktails and making it as an adult only night, that encourages more peopleto get in the kitchen to bake. :D

[jessicacoy]

It seems that there are *many* ways to organize it. I was going for the easiest really!! I decided to have everyone bring about 3 dozen cookies (we are up to 8 or 9 participants I think). I am going to have everyone go around the table and take 2-3 cookies of each type and then we can go around and take more....that way everyone will get some of each at least! I am also going to try and make 2 kinds of cookies to help out a bit. I think it should be fun and the kids can play while we are swapping!

I love the idea of a Mom's Night Out with cocktails and appetizers and also love the votes (prettiest, most holiday themed, etc) but with this group that would just be too much! Maybe next year :)

Thanks again for all your GREAT ideas. I knew I could count on this board to answer my question!!

I can't wait for the cookie swap now (FYI: I am making chocolate almond biscotti this weekend for it and then will make the Gramma's Molasses cookies on Monday night - that way I don't eat them all before the exchange!)

Jessica