Cookie Exchange Party – My Planning Process

December 12, 2010

Soooo I really wanted to try out this party theme this year!

little did i know….. if you google cookie exchange party.. 
you find a ton of hardcore rules! haha.
these ladies mean business! 
it made me laugh and i also realized
 i had no clue what i was doing. sooo…
i kept looking up info on the theme to gather my thoughts and figure out 
what kind of cookie exchange party i wanted to throw.

first off.. i wanted to make it as simple as a cookie exchange can be. i mean it’s kinda an ordeal but i’ve found that those who want to go..really get into it! and don’t mind baking up a storm. :)

but i decided i wanted to keep everything else simple. and fun. and relaxing!
 after all the busy busy in the kitchen i want my party to be some time for 
the girls to chit chat and eat yummy treats.

Here’s my invitation that i typed up fast and e-mailed out to the girls. 
i’m a bit last minute. :) But i’m then i’m going to send out a
 follow up e-mail with more info about the party:
I actually e-mailed most of the girls i was inviting to see if the date worked for them because i know this is a busy time and i wanted to pick a date that worked for most of them! probably if you didn’t know who was coming it would be best to have an earlier rsvp date.


These are my brainstorming ideas….work in progress. :)
As far as the “rules” for the cookie exchange party…i’m keeping it simple but structured.
-Each guest is asked to bring 6 dozen cookies.
 -I will have all of my white pottery barn platters and stands(that i try and use as much as possible because i love them..they are from my wedding! hehe.) And i’ll have them out all pretty on the dining room table for the girls to put 1 dozen of their cookies on..that will be the table 
everyone will go around to sample the cookies! 
-Then i’ll have another area set up with little baggies for the girls to portion out for each guest…and then i’ll have large baggies (with a pretty label on them!) 
for them to take home all their goodies in!

i found some great deals and have been brainstorming on cute favor ideas for the party! 
(i love favors…one of my favorite parts of planning a party!)

I also thought it would be fun to come up with ballots to have the girls fill out..
 voting on different things…cute prizes involved!

I thought i would share with you some of the
 links that i found most helpful!!
So if you are thinking of throwing one of these parties then be sure to check these out.
and i’ll be posting photos of the details for my party that is this weekend. the diy’s i’ll be doing before…and photos from the party itself! i can’t wait to see what the girls bake up!


The Tip Junkie gathered some great links here!



I also loved these cute cookie exchange party invitations from a brooklyn limestone!a little more than i could do for a last minute
 party but i thought they were gorgeous!!

Have you thrown a cookie exchange party before?? 
tips, ideas, photos..please share! link up!


  • Cynthia
    December 11, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    Oh my goodness! I was just thinking of throwing a party like this myself (ok, well not exactly like this seeing as I am not nearly as creative). I, too looked online about the rules and was a little blown away! This sort of thing means serious business for many people ;^) I just wanted an excuse for friends to get together sans little ones to eat, drink and be merry…did I mention eat?

    Hope your party goes well. Thanks for all the great ideas!

  • Brie Herrera
    December 12, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    Just a suggestion, you might ask your guests to write or type up the recipe for the cookies they brought and bring enough copies for the guests you anticipate! It’s always nice to get some new recipes of cookies you know are delicious! Have Fun!

  • Laura@Cowboy Boots
    December 13, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    for years i’ve wanted to do a cookie exchange…i guess my friends aren’t into it as me….i think ppl freak when they think 6+ dozen. i don’t …i think happiness in the kitchen! deep sigh! too bad i don’t live near you…i’d sooo be there!

    one year i’ll get my wish to have my party!

  • Days Gone Design Blog
    December 14, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    We just had a cookie exchange party at my church last month. Fun times! We weren’t overly strict with the rules either…that kinda takes some of the fun away. We did make it a rule, however, that the cookies had to be homemade and not not from a box. We also encouraged girls to be creative and not bake an ordinary recipe. Everyone also included a copy of their recipe for each participant.

    If you have everyone bag their cookies ahead of time, that could save more time for chit chat and snacking. Just a tip.

  • Krissy
    July 22, 2012 at 7:37 pm

    I love the aprons and the favor idea!