Cookie Prizes - Categories & Gift Ideas Needed?!?!

[Kate]

I kinda went a little prize crazy lol I'm doing the following:
Best Display: They get a cute holiday wine bag (with a bottle of wine in it), snowflake oven mitt, spatula/spoonula set, and a festive decorative plate with a stand (since the category is "display" I thought the display plate to be appropriate).
Best dressed: Gets the same thing as the display category, minus the plate/stand.
Best Decorated cookie: I got them a set of 4 dessert plates and some pink hot cocoa.
Game 1 and Game 2 (Playing the anter game and the santa unwrap game): Get wine charms and soap.
Raffle: The raffle winner gets a super cute cookie sheet (stainless steel with an orange outside, I kinda wanted to keep that one lol), a snowman spoon holder plate and soap.
I got most of my stuff from TJ Maxx and a few things from the dollar store. I had way too much fun picking prizes out! lol

[maryemc]

Hi all
While it's never too late to start your planning, I thought I'd share some of the gifts/prizes that I've handed out over the years.

I have been doing a cookie exchange at the office for over 10 years and for the last couple we handled out a prize for the best decorated
package of cookies (we prepackage ours to make it easier for those participating -- the prize for the last several years has been a holiday cookie jar which I've picked up at the after Christmas sales. One year, I bought holiday mugs and filled with baggies of snowman soup, a candy cane and some hershey kisses -- these were given to each participant.

I like the cookie cutter idea as well as the golden spoon and/or spatula.

I'm already thinking about what cookies will be made for 2011!
I hosted my first cookie exchange in 2009 inviting only family (sister-in-laws, mother-in-law, nieces and aunt) -- including myself, there were 17 of us but not all could attend due to prior commitments. I hosted the first one -- hoping to start a new family tradition and passed the torch on -- one of my nieces had the 2010 event.

On my invite, I asked everyone to wear holiday attire -- there would be a prize given. One of my nieces was dressed as a snow princess (my description) and she was awarded the prize -- a holiday Yankee candle. I was dressed as Mrs. Claus. I also purchased recipe boxes and cards for all those who attended. We played a Mr. Right/Mr. Left game with giant Tootsie Rolls which everyone took home as well -- like we needed anymore sugar ;D. We also played a game that was similar to "Let's Make a Deal" in which you look for a certain item in your purse but I cannot remember what prize was given to the winner.

[Kim_B]

Last year was my first ever cookie exchange and it went very well considering hardly any one RSVP'd!

I wracked my brain trying to come up with ideas for prizes...being that I didn't know for sure how many were coming, and I didn't want to break the bank purchasing something for every one on my list, I made one prize - The Cookie Queen Award.

Big Lots had ceramic crocks which hold cooking utensils - so I got one of those...then I filled it with all kinds of goodies... There was a Christmassy hand towel, a Christmassy spatula, a cookie cutter, some Christmas cookie themed recipe cards, and a jar of Christmas sprinkles. The girls were FIGHTING over it!

I awarded to the person who put the most passion and creativity into their cookies and presentation...my cousin baked over 5 dozen cookies (our limit was 3) and brought 2 dozen extra to munch on. I received countless emails and phone messages from her telling me how excited she was about the party. It really made me feel like 1) I wasn't having the party just for me, and 2) people were actually excited to participate.

This year, the girls are already planning their method of attack and have determined to dethrone Her Majesty

I've already started picking up some things for the Cookie Queen prize - shortly after Christmas when all the stores put their items on sale. I've got some cookie cutters, a small book of Christmas cookies and trivia, spatula(s), recipe cards, etc.

I really love the Golden Spoon idea...I think I'll try something similar to commemorate the winners of previous parties!

[kimd]

;D I live in a small town and most of our Christmas stuff isn't even out until after Thanksgiving day and then it still comes out a little at a time. I am lucky enough to live close enough to Statesboro which has a Hobby Lobby. About July they start putting out their Christmas ornaments and other small things as December gets closer. I don't run out and buy everything at once. I pick up up things after the holidays and start collecting the ornaments that I fall in love with or I feel others will as well in July. I used these for the left/right game (Lefty Elf) and for my Reindeer Antler game. I picked up things here and there for prizes for my other 2 games as well. (hint) I do this same thing throughout the year for my niece and nephew's birthday parties that I host for them. This year for the reindeer antler game I am giving out a reindeer cookie cutter and a small fun bag to go with it.