How to Throw a Successful Cookie Swap Party

This cookie swap party is a sponsored post, written by me on behalf of NABISCO Cookies and Crackers for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

A cookie swap party is so much fun to throw at Christmas. Everyone likes to bake and show off their skills this time of year, so I’m going to show you how to throw a successful cookie swap party, helping you to share treats and recipes with friends.

I’m also going to give you this amazing and easy Dulce de Leche Nilla Bites cookie recipe that your guests will love. They are festive, and the caramel makes them just heavenly! Yes, I do mean you might hear angels sing when you taste them. Cookie swaps are tons of fun. Besides getting to take a break and hang out with your friends, you get to eat and take home lots of yummy treats. I love finding new recipes, and a cookie swap party is a perfect place to get some new recipes for holiday parties or gift giving.

Cookie Swap Party 101

How Many People to Invite to a Cookie Swap

When you begin planning your cookie swap, you will want to decide how many people to invite and how many cookies they need to make. I find that ten people is a manageable amount, and I ask them to bring three dozen cookies each, this allows each guest to take home about 4 of each cookie, and you will have a 1/2 dozen of each for tasting during the party. Not everyone will be able to attend, so send out 12 to 14 invites to allow for declined invitations. If you decide to invite more people you may want to lower how many cookies each guest brings, or you will be taking home more than you can ever eat!

Cookie Swap Party Invitations

Make your invitations on your computer or just print out this fun invite I made for you below. You can print out these 5×7 cards and fill them out with your party information, put them in envelopes and mail them to your guests. Don’t forget to mail them early enough to give them enough time to decide on a recipe.

Click Here to Download Cookie Swap Invitation for Printing

What you need to provide when hosting a cookie swap party:

I usually have a few cocktails, wine, hot cocoa and of course, milk for my cookie swaps. I make a few savory and salty appetizers like these Cheesy Ritz Potato Balls for people to eat because they will usually taste a few cookies before they’re on sugar overload. You can buy cute paper plates and napkins or use your nicer dessert plates. I lay out two or three empty platters to place a few of the cookies out for tasting as well.

For some great appetizer ideas and tips go to NABISCO Party Planner where they’ve done most of the work for you. Right now Nabisco is offering exclusive coupon savings at Publix to save $0.55 when you buy a package of Oreo Cookies, Wheat Thins Crackers or Triscuit Crackers. They make your party planning easier and more affordable than ever. You will want a second table for everyone to put their swap cookies on so each person can go and get their cookies to take home. There are two ways to handle swapping cookies, and you have to decide which works best for you.

I jokingly call this the high-class option, but it really is more festive. Go to your local craft store and buy a cake box or cookie tin for each guest. Make tags with guests names on them and ribbon. When guests come in, take out a few cookies for tasting, then put their container on the swap table. Then, when they are ready to leave, each guest takes their box around the table to get the pre-set amount of each cookie to place into their box. After they’re finished, wrap the box with ribbon and the tag and give it to them to take home.
Place multiple platters on the swap table and have guests unload their cookies onto the platter. Place a few of each cookie on to your tasting table. When you’re ready guests can take the container they brought their cookies in and fill it up with all the yummy treats everyone brought to take home.

One other fun tip is to ask your guests to email you their recipe when they RSVP. Type them up and print a set out for each guest to take home so they can make the cookies again.

You may be asking what kind of cookie should I make for my cookie swap party?

Not to worry I’ve got you covered! Dulce de Leche Nilla Bites are the perfect cookie for any sweet tooth and are super easy to make. Keep your cookie swap recipe easy because you’ll have enough to do getting ready for the party.

These sweet little bites are made with only five ingredients: Nilla Wafers, Cream Cheese, dulce de leche caramel spread, sweetened coconut and candy coating wafers. They are creamy on the inside, and the toasted coconut and cookies give them a great crunch. They can also be refrigerated overnight for a more cake like texture from the Nilla Wafers. Mix the cream cheese and caramel spread together and spread it on a Nilla Wafer, placing a second wafer on top. Roll the cookie in toasted coconut, then decorate with the melted candy wafers. I made a double batch, and it took me less than an hour to make 40 cookies.

It doesn’t get any easier that that and these are so yummy. The caramel is amazing with the Nilla Wafers and seriously you won’t even realize these are made with a Nilla Wafer when you are done. Your guest will love you for giving them such an easy recipe to impress guests with over the holidays.

When you’re ready to decorate for your cookie swap party, here is one quick tip.

Transform your everyday decorations with just a few Christmas items. This is a soup tureen I keep on my dining room buffet. It has a fake flower arrangement in it during the year.