December 22 – Christmas Cookie Exchange Day

National Cookie Exchange Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL COOKIE EXCHANGE DAY STEP-BY-STEP

• “How to Host the Perfect Cookie Swap,” by Martha Stewart.
•  Send a cookie bouquet.
•  Use the resource Christmas Cookies Around the World.
•  Purchase delicious cookies from Harry and David.
•  If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM FOR COOKIE EXCHANGE DAY

A cookie exchange party can be a great way for you and your friends to share in the holiday spirit! Get creative with decorations to show the warmest welcome, and have everyone bring their favorite cookies to trade. Have guests put a title on their cookies if they want – it’s always fun to see what people can come up with! It’s also a great time to gather around and tie together some holiday tunes while snacking on all the goodies that were brought. Cook up an evening of fun by hosting your own cookie exchange before the holidays pass!

NATIONAL CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE DAY:   A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Christmas cookies have a rich history that dates back to medieval Europe when small, sweet cakes and pastries were first baked during the winter solstice celebrations. By the 16th century, the tradition of baking cookies specifically for Christmas became widespread, with German Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Dutch speculaas (spiced cookies) among the earliest examples. The introduction of Christmas cookies to America came with the arrival of European settlers, bringing their traditional recipes.

In the 19th century, the invention of metal cookie cutters made it easier to create festive shapes, popularizing the practice of baking cookies in the form of stars, trees, and other holiday symbols. The rise of mass-produced ingredients like sugar and butter further boosted the variety and accessibility of Christmas cookies. Today, Christmas cookies are a cherished part of holiday traditions worldwide, with countless regional variations and family recipes passed down through generations.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE DAY

1. Cookie Decorating Station: Set up an area with icing, sprinkles, and other decorations for guests to personalize their cookies.
2. Cookie Swap: Have guests bring a batch of their favorite cookies to exchange with others, ensuring everyone goes home with a variety.
3. Recipe Sharing: Provide recipe cards for guests to write down their cookie recipes and exchange them with each other.
4. Cookie Tasting Contest: Hold a blind tasting contest where guests vote on their favorite cookies in different categories like best flavor or most creative.
5. Cookie Decorating Contest: Organize a friendly competition for the best-decorated cookie, with prizes for different age groups or themes.
6. Baking Demonstration: Invite a local baker or a talented friend to demonstrate how to make a unique or complicated cookie recipe.
7. Holiday Cookie Platter Creation: Have guests arrange assorted cookies on decorative platters to take home or give as gifts.
8. Cookie Packaging Station: Provide materials like cellophane, ribbons, and tags for guests to package their cookies beautifully.
9. Hot Cocoa Bar: Set up a station with various hot cocoa toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, and candy canes to enjoy with the cookies.
10. Cookie-Themed Games: Play games like cookie trivia or cookie bingo, incorporating fun facts and prizes.
11. Photo Booth with Props: Create a festive photo booth area with holiday-themed props and backdrops for guests to take pictures.
12. Holiday Music Playlist: Curate a playlist of Christmas songs to play throughout the party, enhancing the festive atmosphere.
13. Cookie Decorating Kits: Prepare kits with undecorated cookies, icing, and sprinkles for guests to take home and decorate later.
14. Craft Station: Set up a table with simple holiday crafts, like making cookie-themed ornaments or holiday cards.
15. Cookie Cutter Ornament Making: Provide materials to create ornaments using cookie cutters, ribbon, and embellishments.
16. Christmas Cookie Story Time: Read a holiday-themed book or story about cookies to entertain children.
17. Cookie-Themed Charades: Play a game of charades with cookie-related actions and phrases for guests to act out.
18. Cookie Potluck: Encourage guests to bring a dish or snack that complements cookies, creating a diverse spread of treats.
19. Cookie Trivia Quiz: Host a trivia game focused on cookies and holiday baking traditions, with small prizes for winners.
20. Gift Exchange: Organize a white elephant or secret Santa gift exchange with cookie-themed gifts.
21. Holiday Cookie Walk: Similar to a cakewalk, set up numbered spots and play music; when the music stops, draw a number, and the person standing on that spot wins a prize.
22. Cookie Guessing Game: Fill a jar with holiday cookies and have guests guess the number of cookies inside; the closest guess wins the jar.
23. Cookie Donation Box: Collect extra cookies from guests to donate to local shelters or community centers.
24. Cookie Bake-Off: Have guests bake their cookies at the party, with a panel of judges deciding on the best-tasting or most creative cookies.
25. Christmas Cookie Piñata: Make or buy a cookie-shaped piñata filled with small treats and trinkets for a fun activity for kids and adults alike.
26. Cookie Decorating Relay: Divide guests into teams and have them race to decorate cookies as quickly and beautifully as possible.
27. Cookie Taste Test Challenge: Blindfold guests and have them taste and identify different types of cookies.
28. Guess the Cookie Ingredient: Have guests guess the secret ingredient in a variety of cookies.
29. Cookie Memory Game: Display a tray of different cookies, then cover it and see who can remember the most types.
30. Cookie Stack Race: Compete to see who can stack the most cookies in one minute without the stack falling over.
31. Cookie Cutter Pictionary: Draw cookie-related items or shapes using cookie cutters as inspiration for a game of Pictionary.
32. Cookie Hunt: Hide cookie-themed items around the party area and have guests search for them.
33. Holiday Cookie Bingo: Create bingo cards with different types of cookies and holiday-themed items for a festive game.
34. Cookie Decorating Contest: Hold a contest for the best-decorated cookie, judged on creativity and presentation.
35. Christmas Cookie Trivia: Quiz guests on their knowledge of cookie facts and holiday baking traditions.
36. Cookie Jar Guessing Game: Fill a jar with cookies and have guests guess how many are inside; the closest guess wins the jar.
37. Cookie Frosting Race: See who can frost and decorate a set number of cookies the fastest.
38. Christmas Cookie Word Search: Create a word search puzzle with cookie-related terms for guests to solve.
39. Pin the Cookie on the Tray: A holiday twist on pin the tail on the donkey, using cookie cutouts and a large tray poster.
40. Cookie Walk: A variation of a cakewalk, where guests walk around numbered spots and win cookies when the music stops.
41. Cookie Recipe Mad Libs: Create Mad Libs using a cookie recipe, and have guests fill in the blanks for funny results.
42. Christmas Cookie Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt with clues leading to hidden cookies or baking ingredients.
43. Cookie Matching Game: Create pairs of cookie cards and have guests match them from memory.
44. Cookie Charades: Play charades with cookie-related actions and phrases for guests to act out.
45. Cookie Decorating Blindfolded: Have guests decorate cookies while blindfolded for a hilarious challenge.
46. Guess the Cookie Flavor: Blindfolded guests taste different cookies and guess the flavors.
47. Cookie Tower Challenge: See who can build the tallest tower of cookies without it collapsing.
48. Cookie Puzzle Race: Make puzzles out of pictures of cookies and race to see who can complete them the fastest.
49. Cookie Hot Potato: Play hot potato with a cookie-shaped item, passing it around until the music stops.
50. Cookie Photo Booth: Set up a photo booth with cookie-themed props and have guests take fun pictures.
51.  Cookie Cutter Ornaments: Create ornaments using cookie cutters as templates, either with clay, felt, or dough.
52. Cookie Mix Jars: Layer dry ingredients for cookie recipes in mason jars, decorate, and attach recipe cards for guests to take home.
53. Cookie Holder Coasters: Make coasters using cork or felt, decorated with cookie-themed fabric or designs.
54. Cookie Tin Magnets: Repurpose empty cookie tins into magnets by decorating them with festive paper and attaching magnets to the back.
55. Cookie Cutter Garland: String together cookie cutters with ribbon or twine to create a festive garland for decoration.
56. Cookie Jar Snow Globes: Turn empty cookie jars into snow globes by adding miniature winter scenes inside with fake snow and figurines.
57. Cookie Plate Painting: Use porcelain markers to decorate plain white plates with cookie-themed designs for serving cookies.
58. Cookie Scented Candles: Make candles scented like holiday cookies using candle wax and essential oils.
59. Cookie Cutter Stamped Wrapping Paper: Use cookie cutters dipped in paint to stamp festive designs onto plain wrapping paper.
60. Cookie Tin Advent Calendar: Repurpose small cookie tins as compartments for an advent calendar, filled with treats or small gifts.
61. Cookie Cutter Wreath: Arrange cookie cutters in a circular shape and attach them to a wreath base for a unique holiday decoration.
62. Cookie Jar Terrariums: Create mini terrariums inside cookie jars using small plants, moss, and decorative elements.
63. Cookie Cutter Soap Bars: Make homemade soap bars using cookie cutters as molds, adding holiday scents and colors.
64. Cookie Sack Gift Bags: Sew small drawstring bags and decorate them with cookie-themed designs for packaging cookies.
65. Cookie Sheet Memo Board: Repurpose a baking sheet as a memo board by adding magnets and decorative elements.
66. Cookie Cutter Sun Catchers: Fill cookie cutters with melted crayons or wax to create colorful sun catchers for windows.
67. Cookie Jar Bird Feeder: Turn a cookie jar into a bird feeder by attaching a plate to the lid and filling it with birdseed.
68. Cookie Tin Clock: Transform an empty cookie tin into a clock by adding clock hands and numbers to the lid.
69. Cookie Cutter Photo Ornaments: Insert small photos into cookie cutters and seal them with resin to create personalized ornaments.
70. Cookie Jar Planters: Repurpose cookie jars as planters for small indoor plants, adding holiday-themed decorations around the base.
71. Cookie Cutter Garland: String together cookie cutters with ribbon or twine to create a festive garland for decoration.
72. Cookie Tin Lanterns: Use cookie tins as lanterns by adding candles or battery-operated lights inside and poking holes in the lid for light to shine through.
73. Cookie Cutter Stenciled Napkins: Use cookie cutters as stencils to paint festive designs onto cloth napkins for a decorative touch.
74. Cookie Jar Snow Globes: Turn empty cookie jars into snow globes by adding miniature winter scenes inside with fake snow and figurines.
75. Cookie Mix Ornaments: Layer dry ingredients for cookie recipes in clear ornaments, decorated with ribbons and tags for gifting.
76. Peppermint Bark: Layered chocolate and peppermint candy pieces, broken into small squares for easy sharing.
77. Gingerbread Truffles: Bite-sized balls of gingerbread-flavored truffle, coated in chocolate and decorated with festive sprinkles.
78. Cranberry Orange Scones: Flaky, buttery scones studded with dried cranberries and orange zest, perfect for a morning treat.
79. Eggnog Cheesecake Bars: Creamy eggnog-flavored cheesecake bars with a graham cracker crust, dusted with nutmeg for extra holiday flair.
80. Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies: Buttery shortbread cookies dipped in rich chocolate and decorated with holiday-themed sprinkles or crushed nuts.
81. Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes: Moist chocolate cupcakes infused with peppermint and coffee flavors, topped with creamy mocha frosting and a sprinkle of crushed candy cane.
82. Almond Snowball Cookies: Tender almond cookies rolled in powdered sugar, resembling festive snowballs.
83. Caramel Pecan Brownies: Fudgy brownies swirled with gooey caramel and topped with toasted pecans for a decadent holiday treat.
84. Spiced Apple Cider Donuts: Soft and cakey donuts infused with warm spices and apple cider, perfect for pairing with a cup of hot cocoa.
85. White Chocolate Cranberry Blondies: Chewy blondies studded with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries, offering a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavors.
86. Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies: Soft chocolate cookies sandwiched together with creamy peppermint filling, reminiscent of classic holiday flavors.
87. Pistachio Cranberry Biscotti: Crunchy biscotti loaded with pistachios and dried cranberries, perfect for dipping into a cup of coffee or tea.
88. Raspberry Linzer Cookies: Delicate sandwich cookies filled with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar, adding a festive touch to any cookie platter.
89. Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread: Pull-apart bread made with cinnamon roll dough, coated in cinnamon sugar and drizzled with cream cheese icing.
90. Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles: Smooth chocolate truffles infused with hazelnut flavor, rolled in chopped hazelnuts for a nutty crunch.
91. Pumpkin Spice Thumbprint Cookies: Soft pumpkin cookies filled with creamy spiced cream cheese and topped with a drizzle of caramel.
92. Maple Pecan Pie Bars: Buttery shortbread crust topped with a gooey maple pecan filling, offering all the flavors of classic pecan pie in bar form.
93. Cranberry Orange Bread: Moist and tender bread flavored with tangy cranberries and bright orange zest, perfect for slicing and sharing.
94. Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles: Classic snickerdoodle cookies infused with warm chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.
95. Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies: Fudgy chocolate cookies rolled in powdered sugar and infused with peppermint flavor, creating a festive crackled appearance when baked.
96. Caramel Apple Hand Pies: Miniature hand pies filled with caramelized apples and wrapped in flaky pastry, ideal for enjoying on the go.
97. Gingerbread Biscotti: Crunchy biscotti flavored with molasses, ginger, and warm spices, perfect for dipping into coffee or hot chocolate.
98. Coconut Macaroons: Chewy coconut cookies dipped in chocolate and toasted to golden perfection, offering a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
99. Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies: Buttery almond cookies filled with tangy raspberry jam and topped with a sprinkle of sliced almonds.
100. Chocolate Peppermint Pretzel Bark: Layers of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and crushed peppermint candies, topped with salty pretzel pieces for a sweet and salty holiday treat.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National Christmas Cookie Exchange Day?  Please share them!