If there’s one thing I love about the holiday season, it’s the excuse to consume alllll the treats! It also brings a little extra pressure to hit the Echelon afterwards, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s all about balance, right? Right. I’m a firm believer that the sweet things in life are meant to be enjoyed! And there’s no sweeter way to enjoy said goodies than with your best gal pals by your side. The LIY Team recently hosted our first annual holiday cookie exchange and today, we’re sharing everything you need to know to host your own!

ps. We understand that in-person gatherings aren’t a reality for everyone this holiday season. Never fear! We’re also including a step by step process for organizing a doorstep drop-off cookie exchange so you don’t miss out and can enjoy the goodness from the safety of your own home. Stay well, friends!

How to Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange

• Step 1: Invite your guests! Round up a few of your local girlfriends to participate in the exchange, then decide on a date and time that works best for everyone to get together. The holidays can be a busy time of year, so organizing a doorstep drop-off version might work best for busy schedules!
  • Doorstep Drop-Off: If you decide getting everyone together isn’t going to work this year, decide on a set date to have the cookies prepared. As the host of the event, you’ll be picking up each batch of cookies from your gal pals, putting together the plates, and dropping them back off at each participants home. While this option is a bit more time consuming, it’s totally worth spreading a little extra cheer after this past year!
• Step 2: Select your recipes and start baking! For this type of event, it’s best to have an assortment of cookies and recipes. Pro Tip: If baking isn’t your jam, never fear! Several of us girls here at LIY purchased our favorite store-bought cookies to share. Shoutout to the Lofthouse frosted sugar cookies with sprinkles, am I right? Whole Foods also blew us away with their Apple Brown Butter Cookies. One word: WOW. And if you want to get festive, may I suggest the BEST holiday cookies around? You can thank me later. 😉
  • If your cookies are homemade, we suggest including a recipe card for doorstep drop-offs! For in-person gatherings, display it near your batch so guests know what kind of cookies they are and how to make a batch for themselves when they get home!
• Step 3: Let’s party! Get ready to be the hostess with the mostest – this is the fun part! You’ll want to be sure to provide to-go containers for each of your guests, or let them know ahead of time to bring their own Tupperware! Once your company [and cookies!] have arrived, guests will fill up their containers with a few of each to take home. Christmas music and holiday cocktails not required, but highly recommended. Enjoy, friends!
  • Doorstep Drop-Off: If you’re opting for doorstep drop-off, you’ll pick up each batch of cookies and separate them into individual plates on your own. Once each plate is full, drop them off at their respective households!

Easy as 1, 2, 3! We hope this simple [yet festive and tasty!] gathering inspires a fun tradition for years to come! While the holidays can be a busy and stressful time of year for many, nothing beats catching up with old friends and making memories. That’s what the season is all about – that, and cookies obviously. Enjoy!

Just Add Cookies: