It's Cookie Time!

Holiday Cookie Party!

Last year I attempted to host a neighborhood cookie exchange. I say attempted, because it didn’t quite turn out that way. Now, if you’re unfamiliar with a cookie exchange, everyone invited brings an ungodly amount of cookies depending on the number of attendees so that everyone can walk away with an ungodly amount of cookies. Needless to say, it wasn’t quite popular and only 3 families joined mine. It was fun to mingle, but I would categorize it as a bust.

In theory, a cookie exchange sounds like a great idea, but people are busy. They don’t have time to bake 5 dozen cookies for any party no matter how much fun the event promises to be. And from a planner’s perspective, chasing everyone’s recipes through countless reminders so that you can provide a pretty, well put together recipe book is ambitious. It’s the holidays for damn sakes…you still have Christmas cards to do! Let’s not get out of hand.

So this year, I thought an easy cookie and craft party would be the best route for all involved. Just bring a tray of cookies whether homemade or store bought. Your presence is more important than freshly home baked cookies. And it worked! The party doubled in size this year and everyone had a great time. The craft project offered some additional activity for those not quite sure what to do with those idle hands besides eating.

What’s the magic secret to success you’re wondering? KISS (keep it simple stupid) and stay organized! I didn’t over plan anything. Cookies were the highlight, so I baked a couple batches of a thumbprint cookie the day of. They were tasty and festive. I didn’t do party favors. I set-up a packing station for people to make their own treat bags or plates of cookies to take home with them. That way I wasn’t stuck with a gazillion cookies at the end of the night. The menu was also simple. I followed the rule of lna Garten (well sorta) and planned on 3 appetizers for the guests. I had one main holiday drink for the adults and one for the kids/non-drinkers. Menu below:

·      Cranberry Meatballs - Recipe

·      Slow-cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip - Recipe 

·      Cheese/cracker/olives Tray (this is a no-brainer and a must)

I organized everything from making a clear to do list for the day before and the day of. I had a stationing area in my office for all the party items and I organized them in groups: hot cocoa station items, table decors, main appetizer area, etc. I printed signage a few days before and had them ready to go. The day of the party, all I did was bring everything out of the office and arrange accordingly. No frantic set-up at all.

There are some learning lessons for next year:

·      Have a theme – having an activity is an awesome add on, but I don’t want the event to sound too    girly. I want to encourage a family event.

·      Promote, promote, promote – I have to find a better way to get invites out to everyone and visible. Do I dare go back to printed invites? Maybe. I believe out of site, out of mind. It’s easy to open an email and forgot about it. Social media may have peaked and there are droves of people abandoning Facebook and the likes for more real interactions.