How to Host a Holiday Cookie Swap, According to an Expert
Holiday cookie swaps are an art form. Here’s everything you need to know to host a good one.
Tis the season for lots of things — hot cocoa, gift shopping, and perhaps most importantly, cookie swaps. These annual exchanges of delicious baked goods have become increasingly popular in recent years, and maybe you’ve been invited to one but aren’t exactly a great baker. Or perhaps you’re interested in hosting your first-ever cookie swap, but have no idea where to start. That’s where Aimee France, a baker and the mind behind the wildly popular Instagram account formerly known as @yungkombucha420, comes in.
France first encountered the cookie swap as a child, when her mother would attend a yearly ladies’ nigh. “My mom would always come home with a ton of cookies, and that was always so exciting, but I never got to experience it myself. Kids weren’t invited,” she says. The idea of hosting her own was a no-brainer for France. “Like two years ago, I just thought it would be fun to have my own little ladies’ night with lots of cookies.”
Now in its third year, France’s cookie swaps are the stuff of online legend. As such, we asked her how to host, what to bring, and what else you’ll need for a successful cookie swap.
Collect all the necessary info
France uses the invite platform Partiful and good ol’ Google spreadsheets to collect information like dietary restrictions and allergies, along with asking her guests what cookies they’ll bring. “It’s so helpful to have all the information in one place, and everyone can add what cookie they’re making and what their restrictions are,” she says. “It’s nice for everyone to see what people need to be accommodated for, like if they’re dairy-free.”
All cookies are valid
Even though she’s planning to bake chocolate dipped coconut macaroons for this year’s swap, France takes a very laissez-faire approach to the cookie swap — for her, any cookie belongs on the cookie table, even those Pillsbury slice-and-bakes with the little Christmas trees in the center. “If somebody brought those, I’d be like ‘hell yeah,’” she says. “In my book, nothing is really off limits. If you want to bring something crazy, go for it. If you want to bring a box cookie, that’s fine too.” With regards to quantity, France suggests baking — or buying from a great bakery — around two dozen cookies, depending on the size of your party. Err on the higher side, too — nobody’s ever mad about having leftover cookies.
Make sure you also have savory food
One cannot survive on cookies alone, even at the cookie swap. France likes to have lots of savory snacks on hand, like crudite platters and tea sandwiches. “It’s really important to have savory food there as well,” she says. “Otherwise it just gets to a point where everyone’s like, cookie-d out and really looking for something savory.”
Establish a BYO Tupperware policy
At the end of the cookie swap, everyone’s ideally going to end up with a bunch of cookies to take home, and your guests are going to need a way to transport them. To cut down on single-use plastics, ask guests to bring their own reusable containers for the treats they plan to take home.
Prepare the spread
When it comes time to host the actual party, France grabs a big roll of butcher paper and spreads it over a table, which means her guests can plop their cookies right down on top and get to swapping. You could also include markers for folks to describe their cookies or vote for their favorites.
Don’t forget the beverages
At her cookie swaps, France typically goes with fancy hot chocolate, a perfectly appropriate seasonal approach. Maybe yours will include different varieties of milk to pair with the cookies — including plant-based options like oat milk, of course — or a selection of teas perfect for dunking crispy shortbreads. Whatever you choose, make sure to hydrate: remember, cookie swaps are a marathon, not a sprint.
