How to Plan and Enjoy a Cookie Swap

It's crunch time: everyone's busily trying to squeeze in parties, recitals, exams and all kinds of other stress-inducing events that might be fun if there weren't so many of them, all piled on top of each other like ornaments on an Ethan Allen tree.

So, although I'm about to recommend you plan one more, a cookie swap is not such a tough sell considering that:

• It's easy.  Just a few simple steps, and you can add or remove frills as you wish.
• It's cheap.  Food expenses are minimal, your house is already decorated for Christmas, and you're actually saving money on gifts you might have otherwise purchased.
• It's fast.  You can schedule one on a weeknight or a Sunday afternoon -- anywhere you have a couple of hours free.  People tend to get down to business right away, and afterwards they're eager to get home and distribute their plates!
• It's fun!  A few hours of socializing will do wonders for your mood.

So why am I not hosting one this year?  Well, last week we tore out our kitchen and adopted a puppy.  (I wish I were kidding, but both are true.)  I'll live vicariously through you, though, if you just follow these easy steps:

Choose your guests.  It's wise to remember that everyone will be leaving the party with roughly the same thing, so if you invite all the moms from Girl Scouts or everyone in your Bible study, you can't gift your spoils to that crowd.  I like to choose a few friends from several different circles -- it's more fun that way anyhow!  

The easiest way to invite people (and perfectly acceptable for such an informal gathering) is to use an online site like pingg or evite.

Make your rules.  The general principle, obviously, is that each guest brings the same number of a different type of cookie; at the party, everyone exchanges so that they all have an equal assortment.

I tend to be flexible about numbers (some people just don't want to end up with 12 plates) but I do want to make sure everyone is bringing a different (and pretty) variety.  Some years I've gotten fancy and requested (or assigned) recipes ahead of time, printing cards for all the guests.  

Stock supplies.  You'll need about two plates per dozen cookies, since it's prettier (and sturdier) to double up: cut around the edge of one plate with scissors or pinking shears and place it on top of another plate.  You can cut tissue to add another layer if you want, too.  

The other thing you really need are cellophane bags in which to place the decorated plates before filling them; these really make your gifts look professional and protect the cookies in case you're freezing them for later.  Most paper plates are 9 inches in diameter, so get sleeves that are 9 x 12 with an adhesive strip; you can fold the extra under the plate and seal for a polished look.  Ebay is a great source.

Ribbons, stickers, jingle bells and tags are optional -- but boy, will people love you if you have them on hand!

Have some refreshments.  Snacks add to the festive atmosphere. I ask each guest to bring half a dozen extra cookies and we make up a big plate for tasting, but it's nice to have drinks and something savory -- vegetables and hummus, popcorn, etc.  Don't get crazy here, though; it's more fun as a low-key event.

Kick back! At most parties I'm running around pulling dishes out of the oven and refilling glasses, but after everyone's settled in the cookie room I can relax and enjoy myself while decorating plates with goodies.

Recipes?  Why, yes, I have a few.  These are especially well-suited for freezing:

• Chocolate Rum Balls: This unusual recipe calls for you to bake a brownie, then crumble it up, add rum and form the mixture into balls.  They disappear fast, so watch out!  (Sanding sugar, which makes them so pretty, is available at most craft stores with a baking section.)
• Swedish Cremes: A friend brought these one year in star shapes, with the filling tinted light green.  They disappeared faster than you would believe for such a simple recipe.
• Raspberry Ribbons: The same friend (oh, she's delightful!) brought these in bright red; they looked lovely next to the green stars.
• Biscotti: Last year the cookie swap got snowed out and I ended up with a LOT of these.  Thankfully, I had made three different varieties based on a single recipe: anise extract and seeds, chocolate-dipped cherry almond, and chai (cardamom, cinnamon, sultanas and pistachios.)  My friends loved them!
• Chocolate Chip: Ordinarily I wouldn't deem these fancy enough for Christmas, but this recipe is simply transporting, especially if you have time to let the dough sit overnight before baking.  You can dress them up by substituting dried cherries and toffee bits for some of the chocolate chips (and I've never used those fancy feves, so don't worry.)