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Our stockings are hung by the mantle with care, in hopes that your cookies will soon arrive here!

I have been intending to write this post for some time now, but I have to tell you: the task seemed rather daunting! Teach someone else how to throw a cookie exchange? Mine has gotten a little "over the top" throughout the years, so contemplating telling you how to do what I do initially seemed impossible. I envisioned a 10 part post...ha ha.

But then I told myself to get over it (just like I'm always telling my daughters...)! This isn't Genetic Theory. It's a cookie party. Plain and simple. Well, perhaps not so simple in my case, but it doesn't have to be that way. So, over two three quick posts, I will do my best to impart to you, my cyber friends, the cookie exchange wisdom that I have gained over the 16 years that I have been holding my party. So, grab a cup of hot chocolate (or hot toddy), a notepad and let's get started!

The main idea here is simple. A cookie exchange is a perfect excuse to plan a chick night with your friends. If you are married, this tends to be the type of event that husbands look forward to with baited breath because after all, look at what the fruits of your baking labor will produce: a lovely assortment of goodies for your family. I know many a husband who has expressed extreme dismay when he has learned that his wife has to miss my cookie party for some reason. Yes, it's a commitment to make all those cookies. But you go home with a few of each participant's offering, and that really makes it worthwhile. Plus, even if you bring a "dud", you still get to exchange! There are no "Loser" designations at my party, only winners. (We'll discuss that more a bit later!)

First, decide how many people you can comfortably accommodate in your home (or whatever venue you choose for your event). As my party has grown, I have learned that the time of year, the commitment of making 6 dozen (yes, that's 72!) cookies, and even a person's culinary skill and/or interest will affect your attendance.

Write your invitation. Include:

• A Name for your Party
• Date, Time ( I start at 7 p.m.), Place
• What they are expected to bring: I ask for "6 dozen of your favorite homemade cookies or candies (all the same recipe, please), along with a copy of the recipe". If you have an idea how many people to expect, you can even tell them how many copies of the recipe to bring.
• Let them know if there will be prizes: "There will be prizes for the following:"
  

• The Prettiest/Most Creative
• The Best Tasting
• The Best Overall

• Let them know that, after sampling, they will go home with about 60 cookies! (if you have them bring 6 dozen)
• RSVP request. I do ask for an RSVP for this party. If I say Regrets only, many people don't respond but don't show up either. The RSVP's help, but in today's world, people often don't respond, so you will want to factor that in, as well.
• I also let them know that they should come to my house hungry! I love to cook, so I want them to know that they will be well cared for.

More about my cookie exchange:

• 300 Christmas Cookie Recipes
• Holiday Cookie Exchange Reverie
• Planning Your Holiday Cookie Exchange!
• Planning Your Cookie Exchange: The Details
• Planning Your Cookie Exchange: Final Words of Advice