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Post by Mary Anne on Dec 3, 2004 11:03:05 GMT -5
Hello all--
I am hosting my first cookie exchange this year on Sunday the 19th. I am VERY excited. A few things that I am doing a bit different...
I had several men interested in baking cookies for the exchange, so it has now become the "1st Annual Coed Cookie Exchange." We have 5 men baking cookies, (two of whom are married, but the women are not making cookies, one divorcee, one married guy whose wife is particpating, and a single brother-in-law). This means that spouses are definately welcome at the party. Everyone is amking 6 dozen cookies plus 1 dozen for tasting. (My husband is going to make an extra set of cookies, and particpate in the exchange, but offer up his cookies towards the tasting also. That should leave us with plenty for tasting, (and my husband and I definately do not need 12 dozen cookies in the house, so that works for us!).
Anyway...my question is this...
I sent out 16 invitations, and have had every person respond that they are coming, (we are a very close family). Some of the ladies are concerned that with so many particpants, they won't get very many of each kind of cookie. Have you had people express this concern before? I think some of the older AUnts are used to doing a dozen cookies for each person coming, and then getting a doxen of each kind back. Problem is, that would be 16 dozen cookies...that's just craziness...
Anyway...just wondering if anyone else has had people express this concern. I have one Aunt who keeps e-mailing me and telling me not to let anyone else get involved, because she is only going to have 5 of each cookie as it is. (Even though she will have 6 dozen cookies overall). Then at the end of her e-mail she says...
"Should we still stick to only 6 dozen?"
It is getting frustrating.
HELP!
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Post by SJayneW on Dec 3, 2004 11:25:17 GMT -5
That's funny; I'm having just the opposite issue. I even had one girl call me and ask if I were serious about 7 dozen. Anyone who bakes on a regular basis would know that 7 dozen cookies is not much, really. Most batches yield a few dozen anyway.
Good luck with your exchange! Sounds like you're going to have a wonderful time.
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Post by huffjoann on Dec 3, 2004 12:29:18 GMT -5
Maryanne -
I don't think it really matters how many you end up with of each kind. Besides, if someone's cookies came out horribly wrong and were not that great, would you want to have a whole bunch of those anyway. To me the idea of the exchange is to get lots of different varieties of cookies that maybe are not your speciality and you might not otherwise bake yourself! What is the big deal, if she is using them to serve for holiday company or some such, she can arrange the cookies in a sampler type platter. I would not let this slow you down one little bit. If it bothers her that much, she could always choose not to participate. My motto this year is, my house, my rules! I have had a few people challenge the cookie concept and try to tell me they are bringing things like haystacks or divinity. I have had to politely redirect them, however, I have not had anyone worry they won't go home with a certain amount of each cookie.
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Post by Bonnie on Dec 3, 2004 12:56:05 GMT -5
That's an exellant way of putting it huffjoann "sampler platter." That is how I always considered my collection after each exchange. If I like a cookie a lot I will get the recipe and make it myself.
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Post by Mallory on Dec 17, 2004 23:40:59 GMT -5
I just wanted to weigh in on this topic. I had 17 ladies bringing 6 dozen each and I myself was the only one worrying about not having a large number of each cookie. It was no big deal, we each got up to 4 of each cookie and there were more cookies on the platters (as one person arrived late) and it was fine. The concept of the sampler platter really is accurate. For guests who want to re-arrange your rules. I say a polite but firm "This is the way we're going to do it this year at my house, if that doesn't work for you, maybe we'll see you next year." might send them the message. Don't invite consultations with the general public. Pick one or two close friends and bounce party ideas/rules off of them. that way, you discourage "suggestions."
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Post by Jennifer in Oregon on Jan 15, 2005 15:35:40 GMT -5
Hi!
My Cookie Swap was on December 5th and we had about 25 people in attendance! Not everyone understood the rules so some brought 1 dozen of 6 types of cookies while one brought 6 dozen of 6 kinds!!! Anyway--we all ended up with a freezer full of yummie, wonderful cookies, biscotti, bar cookies, candies and treats!
Jennifer
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Post by terrileeg58 on Jul 10, 2005 7:06:29 GMT -5
My Cookie Exchange experience:-
I have hosted two Cookie Exchanges in my own home - I like to keep things to what is "manageble" for me so I have had 6 ladies participating...I ask them each to bake 6 dozen - 1 dozen x 6 ready to give (festively presented) plates.
The first year we did our swap and the silly thing was... we each took home one of our own as well!
Last year we baked the same number but I asked the ladies if they would mind if the 6th plate went to a family from our Church who had a little premmie baby who was still in hospital. Everyone thought this was a great idea!
I like to keep it to 6 ladies and we each prepare 6 dozen - we have a lovely time and the cookies we take home are absolutely gorgeous and much appreciated by our families!
One of my friends who joins in the Exchange was organising a ladies Christmas party at Church. We had a very different cookie exchange to the one I host at home but it suited that particualar situation - larger number but the actual number was a complete unknown. We asked each lady to bring one dozen home baked cookies. They were all displayed and looked lovely of course!
During the evening we made a gift card, chose a gift box (all provided for us free of charge) and at the appointed time we all went along and chose 12 assorted cookies.
Things I noticed from the Exchange at the Church
- the loveliest cookies went first(!)
- the everyday or plain types remailed (the organisers chose their's last... sadly that is what they were left with)
I think that is the disadvantage with the style of exchange where you go and choose some of each kind. I do think it is a really good way to go when the numbers of participants is large.
Koala hugs
Terri
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Post by Carmenhowdy on Jul 24, 2005 14:23:58 GMT -5
Instead of having the guests select their own cookies, we will have the hostesses line up with gloved hands and place the alotted number of cookies in each guests container....this way when there are several participants the cookies get better dispersed and you get fewer "greedy"....oh I'll take more of those types!  |
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Post by Jennifer in Oregon on Aug 24, 2005 0:46:31 GMT -5
I know this is an onld question but I just had to respond. We had 25, yes TWENTY-FIVE participants last year. It was a blast! Everyone brought 6 dozen cookies and each of us walked away with 6 dozen beautiful cookies. It didn't matter that we didn't get a ton of any one kind, they were all so good!
The more the merrier for us!
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Post by ChrisNY on Sept 9, 2005 21:20:34 GMT -5
I host an exchange every year and ask for a half dozen per person, individually wrapped. Then each person just grabs 1 plate/bag/container of each person's kind and it's done. Have done it this way for years, it's more work beforehand, but well worth it afterward.
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Post by Nicole on Sept 30, 2005 13:43:39 GMT -5
Too many participants? NEVER!  I had about 16 to 18 the last several years, but word has really spread, and I have had about ten ladies ask (teasingly...kind of) "When am I going to be invited to your cookie party?" So, this year, I am looking at at least 25, if not more! I agree that it doesn't matter if you end up with a few of each...my family decides which ones they like, and I make them! That's why you bring the recipes!! At first, people would say, "Whoa, how many dozen?" (I think I ask for 8 dozen, normally) But after the first year, they realize why. Give people plenty of notice and it will be great! Good luck all! |
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Post by ejs mom on Oct 26, 2005 13:49:17 GMT -5
The way I do it is ask everyone to bring 7 dozen cookies. One dozen for the sharing table, and 6 dozen to exchange, wrapped in individual packages of 6. I have them set their packages out in one pile (or in the basket or bag they brought them in) with everyone having their own spot all around the tables. At some point eveyone is told to go to a station (doesnt matter if it is their's) and then everyone takes a step to the next station and takes a package, then to the next station, etc. until everyone has acquired 12 little packages of different cookies. I had about 24 women last year. Two didnt have time to make cookies so they judged the sharing table and selected a "Best Overall Cookie" winner. Everyone else went home with 12 kinds of cookies. It doesnt matter how many you have as long as no one takes home more than they brought. We also had an award for "Best Packaging" and it was unbelievable. We had everything from handmade cloths bags to handpainted flowerpots and stamped chinese food boxes. Seeing all of the different packaging ideas was as much fun as trying all of the cookies!
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Post by jennifers399 on Oct 27, 2006 2:19:44 GMT -5
I've replied to this before, but I've had HUGE exchanges and last year's was a smaller exchange. All were great! I have a tiny house so we were really close but it was so much fun anyway!
I'm having two this year! Wish me luck and send pointers my way!
Jennifer in Oregon
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