My first cookie swap

[Cookie Swap virgin]

Hello again,

I re-read my post this morning and decided I was a little too vague on the details of my party. You might be wondering why I am throwing my first cookie exchange for so many people. Well, I was quietly talking about it with a friend a couple of weeks ago, when my son overheard me. It's amazing, they don't hear you when you shout there name but they pick up the slightest whisper. He told a lot of the kids in his class, then the mothers came up to me excited so now I have half his class plus my friends coming. I need to keep this very casual and simple. I will not be having a contest for best cookie design, best tasting etc...
I would like to give parting gifts though. I will also be supplying nice christmas boxes for everyone to take their cookies home in. I thought I could just have everyone come up to the table when they want to, give them a box and say take such and such amount. In addition to the cookies, we will be serving hors' doeurves and sandwiches.
Thank-you for listening. I will appreciate ANY advice you can give me on how to make this day go more smoothly, starting with how many cookies do I tell them to bring?

[Robin]

Hi CS Virgin,

First off, I like to ask people to bring 6 dozen cookies.

You wrote:
I thought I could just have everyone come up to the table when they want to, give them a box and say take such and such amount.

STOP!!!! That cookie swapping formula is a recipe for disaster!

What will happen with 25 people. Without question... some cookies will be very nice, pretty, appealing looking and delicious. Others will be so/so... boring, or burnt or nothing special.

If you let people randomly "pick what they want" -- all the good cookies will be taken first and left will be the less desirable cookies. And then you can look forward to complaints when the party is over.

Make a time for the actual swap together -- it only takes about 15 minutes. Get everyone together, ring a bell or yell cookie swap time!!!

Have everyone circle the table, do not have table against a wall if you can help it. Everyone gathered, elbow to elbow, walks slowly around the table in one direction taking a few cookies. Tell everyone to take 3 to 5 cookies if it's a large batch or 2-3 cookies of a small batch. By the time you've circled the table 3 times all the cookies should be gone.

Since you'll be providing boxes that look alike, get sticker labels with the attendees names so after the swapping everyone knows which is their box of cookies.

Good Luck!

[bonnieb]

I went to a party last year where the hostess said "oh whenever you want just get your cookies." Well by the time I did they were so picked over and some that I really wanted were GONE. I actually felt sorry for the cookies still standing - the ones largely untouched. I think everyone should take their share of EACH type of cookie brought. If you don't like them (and keep in mind your kids or husband may) give them away after you get home.