Yes, it’s National Cookie Day, just in time for the holidays. Time to get started or at least start planning your holiday cookie baking. Maybe even time to think about hosting a cookie exchange.
I love cookie exchanges because you can get as simple or fancy with this as you want. The basics are that everyone brings a set number of cookies, the recipe and a container to bring their cookies home in. The cookies are set out on the table and there is sampling, conversation and cookies to take home.
The cookie exchanges I have attended we each brought one dozen cookies and we took one dozen cookies. I don’t know where the six dozen cookies that seems to be common now came from. You could adjust the number to fit the number of participants if you wish. You could also decide on 2 or 3 dozen cookies if you wish, which is an average size for a batch of cookies. We also took enough copies of our recipe for everyone. That’s the basics. Now if you want to provide containers for guests to take their cookies home in or have a craft time and decorate boxes or provide decorative envelopes for people to put the recipes they collect in that is totally up to you.
What I like about this idea is that it can be customized for special dietary needs and would be great for a support group meeting. You can invite all people who are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, allergic to nuts — whatever your need may be.
Try not to get too obsessed with the details. The point of this is to hang out with friends, enjoy a few cookies and recipes, relax and most of all have fun! Group activities are always good at the holidays. You never know who may need a little bit of light in their lives. You could be the one who brings it and not even know.
Now a few tips on planning a cookie exchange from My Recipes, The Cooking Channel, Good Housekeeping and Martha Stewart.
This article is linked to the Sugar and Spice Link Party.
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More information on gluten free holiday celebration ideas is available in the my holiday book, Have Yourself a Healthy Little Holiday.
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